The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1871-07-29
TYF PPEsEET IMMIGRATION TO THE NORTH
vTsT-sJ7EEL0R HAS WAITED FOR IT.
AID WILL ADVANCE WITH IT

IT Is . common saying that Rome was
not built in 4 day. The rapid rise of Chi
eago and San Francisco seemed to almost
destroy the effect Of this suggestive pro
verb. and the West has devoted the last
twenty years to the founding of towns ana
cites, which were expected to grow rapidly
Is tie great ports Of Lake Michigan, and
tie Golden Gate. The great majority of
these embryo cities have failed to be dcvel-
opeli some, owing to the patent fact that
they were surrounded neither by gold
mines, nor wheat fields, nor by the equiva-
leats Of this mineral or cereal wealth; 9TH
ers because they were not really situated
on the natural courses, or at the natural
centres Of trade.
Il is not from this last cause that, Supe-
rioc has failed to rank already as North
err Milwaukee or Chicago, for if there is
natural trade course II the world it is Lake
superior; and il there is such thing as a
material centre OF trade to be found in the
world, every thoughtful mind would place
It al the head Of the great lakes OF North
America. Nor is the growth OF this place
retarded 50 much by 2 lack Of mining and
frnllng, IS bv delay Of these things.
There ) q wealth hidden IN our hills, and
forests, that needs but the miner, and guar
gym:n, ana farmer, 10 make Superior 2
town Of importance.
Then taking wider range there are
broaa belts OF state, and territorial wealth
Yet 70 be developed, that viii make this
place city. Ind there are national and
international lines Of commerce that simply
al,tst converge At this point, till in time Sn-
periog vii 30 2 great city. This has been
toreseen AMI prophesiod Of by statesmen,
orators, travellers, publioists and the press
till it has become az old story.
And the question naturally arises why
then Is Superior uot a city y? From the one
fact that the Northwest has not hitherto
hal inhabitants enough to demand q com
mcrcial poine at the head Of Lake Superior.
Fifteen years ago immigration seemed so
rapid, SO large, and at such steadily IN
cre1sing rate, that q city was judged soon
to he needed IN this region.
Bat thetendency ofthe tideas due V est was
not sufficiently noted, nor the broad extent
Of tie new country sufficiently appreciated,
Tor ! dozen years the hundreds Of thou
sands poured into the West, and seemed
scarcely to be noted IN its vast area. And
yet whole states have been settled and
formed, since the foundations Of Superior
were laid And had the tendency Of immi-
grafton set in as strongly toward the North
west fifteen years ago as it did toward the
West, there would have been such states
s. kansas aud Nebraska lying west of us,
while Superior would st least have been by
this time d Kansas City, on an Omaha, with
speedy prospects Of expanding INTO 4 De
tro.t OF Milwaukee Of the North.
But we have been forced to wait till the
streams Of immi grafton sought this quarter
Of the American continent, and the cheering
fact $ that this time has now come. The
railroads north Of St Paul running to this
lake aud up the Mississippi; the great rail
road stretching away toward the Red river;
,al railway steadily approaching us from
tao southeast; these alone would tell US Of
. Sw.ts coming immigration, in these days
when population follows the railroad lines /;
but leaving the future effect Of these roads
out of tie question, it is fact that even
nov, immigration is actively seeking the
Northwest as It has not before IN all the
history o. the country.
Aad as .hc latest phase Of immigration
. the coming in colonies, II other words,
Whole toHu- and counties 1t time, it will
he but few years before iho whole North
west viii be thicllly settled with growing
villages and towns, Inyr;ads Of wheat grow
ing farms, and many branch railways, the
trade Of al which must come 50 our doors
10 reach Lake Superior.
NFc have been waiting fifteen years for
the tiie OF immigration 70 turG toward the
Northwest II has now turned in that iii
rey.ion, ana the Dext fifteen viii do as won
der.gl / work III Northern Wisconsin and
Mpaesota, il Dakota and the Red River
valley, rs the last fifteen has done for Iowa.
Kansas, and many other parts of The West.
Every year of incoming population is one
0. clear gain, and manifcs, progress in the
section settled. It's future Is by So much
tag >urer, and the nearer.
s year a immigration begins changes
that centuries o. waiting could not accom-