The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-15
EoRTHERN WISCONSIN AND OUR STATE PRESS

aORIH1hN W1oCoNSlN AND OUR STATE PRESS.
Owing to the attractiveneSs of prairie
farming, and the consequent fact that the
tendency Of emigration has been westward
rather than northWard, the great social cur
rent which beat at an early day against the
western shore Of Lake Michigan, streamed
through our state without setting It's north
ern sections. But at a later period bv a
singular combination of events, we find this
living tide when once beyond the MIsSs-
slppl, turning toward the north, prefrrriug
the northern prairies to the more westerly
ones. And to-day, we have the strange
spectacle of rapid development OF North
ern Minnesota, while Northern Wisconsin
is yet comparatively wilderness. THUS
an older state is seen falling behind a new
er one, and the newer state displaying at
least in its northern half, an older ciyiza-
ton
We may account for this abnormal state
OF things III part by the peculiar location
Of our state; the famous Mis-, is>ppi Iaving
lis western boundary, and forming in all it,
association, with the ample Resources and
unknown wealth of the great w est, "A stand
inc invitation to those whom the easy
route Of The lakes had wooed to Wiscon-
SINS eastern border, to come over and see
Tor themselves what the immediate valley
Of ne Mississippi had in store tor the
mover" On he olner hand the early as
soclatlon~ Of Lake Saperor with rocks, and
copper, and cold, and ice were a poor en-
courdgemtnt TO the Immigrant 10 make a
home in the wilderness of North Wiscon-
SIN The great river and It's prairIes seem
cd 10 present TOO srong attractions, to be
counterbalanced by the great lake OF the
north, with its dense forests, and cool eli
mate. But the foregoing considera ions
Will not altogether account TOR the unusual
lact we have noticed.
The climate of Minnesota has told in her
favor, ana the same thing ought to have
held good IN the case OF Northern Wiscon-
sin. Testimony enough was at hand rs to
its bracing healthiness Not only trap
perS, surveyors, and lumbermcn, but com
munitles on the Lake border Of Wisconsin,,
have stood ready to furnish, and have
furnished, much testimony III this re-
gard Mother rhousd the u,nPiv iUrvsU
growth Of this section as against the
prairics of North Minnesota, have been
suffered to p1ss a sufficient reason for
allowing migration to sweep by uusohcit-
ed; the bleak Wind-sWcpt plateaus Of Up
per Minnesota and Dakota, might well COW
ct the friendly forest shelter for man and
beast, with which kindly Nature has tenn
pered the bracing wintry airs of the Lake
Superior region; and even as far >outh as
Iowa, or IN states yet below that, trces are
actually being planted, not only of private
enterprise, but according to legislative en-
couragement; thus showing the value Sc
upon TO ests even by the men who ori NAL
Is settled III the prairie states, because of
the very lack of forest growth 1t is a sig
nificant fact TOO in this connection, that the
most gigantic proposition which has ever
been before Congress for repIenishing the
treeess wastes of the West with growing
timber, came from a Minnesota Congress
man.
These lessons of fact should be motel, /,
and ponlered by the press IF Wisconsin,
AMI enable Tn m with more confi,l nee and
zeal than tiny have hitherto exhibited 10
urge upon the attention of immigrants,
whether from the east Of our own land, or
from Europe, the many advantages of a set
tlement III the healthy, fertile, sheltered
and wel-watered rec on of Northern Wis
eons.n
We are by no means charging that the
pre-s ct our STATE As whole has been de-
react this mat On the contrary we
know, and could m ntIon, many of the most
public spi ted and well informed prints of
the State, that have given tul at ntlon to
the matter, and early and late have called
the attention OF the public TO North Wis
consin, and that MT without some effect.
And we hope that all such papers Will re-
new their zeal in behalf Of this section, and
assist in the good work of stirriug up TO Il
new action III the matter, such of our State
press as may have yielded themselves up
TO the control of the foolish IDEAS formerly
current with reference to Upper Wisconsin.
1t is not only high time that every paper in
the State were fully walked up in regard to
the subject, but we have every encourage
ment TO disseminate information upon it at
this particular time.
Not only do State pride, md State IN
tnrnst cal unon lis 10 deNelape our own ter