The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-06-22

weeks afterwards, he says " the canal he'd
no detrimental effect" Why? Because a
different state of things then existed, and
this was simply the addition Of a few ribs
to the piers at the entry. How unfortunate
it is that this little bit Of crib work was not
/ foreseen.
As an Illustration Of the accuracy Of the
data on which the Major forms his judg-
ment of our harbor, he asserts that the
channel between the piers frequently freezes
to the depth of 4 or feet. Had he said
Is or IS inches, he would have been cor
rect; so far rs we know the thickest ice
ever found at any part OF the bay was %
inches; ice 5 feet thick in the channel would
be truly "prodigious."
Major Houston having satisfied himself
that the efficiency of our harbor entry is in
dependent of the canal and the dixie, and
the large rivers flowing into the Bay of
Superior, he aflirms that it is dependent on
the ebb and flow of the lake, and that again
is dependent principally on the MOON, a
most fitting resting place for all specula-
tions on the subject. We ought to be
thankful fer having at last found the key to
all the eccentrieities of lake and bay cur
rents, even though it be in the moon, and
we hope that cold Probabilities" will give
US timely warning Of shoals and tidal waves
DfG ba i,1ar,r' +hara n
that we may not blame the Canal limo
cents at Duluth.
We cannot conclude without d reference
to Lieut. A NJ Miller's reports, as they APP
pear in the g Letter" Like himself, they
are most frank and straightforward. What
he asserts in June he sticks to III Decem-
Der. After careful examination he attrib-
utes the shoaing of the entry to the canal,
and reports the work on the dixie to be
poorly executed, and entirely inadequate.
CLARA CTERLSTICS or NORTHERN MN
NESOT4.
That portion Of Minnesota through which
the Northern Pacific railroad runs, is Of so
varied a character that description true to
all it's grand resources and capabilities Is
almost an impossibility, and yet even
glance at the principal features of that IN
ferestino region brings many important and
interesting facts to light which will aid rs
in understanding its latent capabilities anc
value TO the State. No one can fail to see,
after giving the subiecta moments thought,
that the "bettnr half" Of Minnesota lies
north of the Falls Of Saint Anthony, and
that the Northern Pacific Is the great Plo-
neer in opening up to civilization this New
Northwest.
Between the head of Lake Superior and
the Mississippi river is q heavily wooded
country, furnishing nearly ineXhaustible
supplies Of the soft and hard woods. The
importance and indispensable value ofthese
great forests cannot be over-estlmated The
farmers Of our prairies are dependent upon
them for the materials for their fences and
out-budings; our towns could not spring
up in q nirht without them, and to almost
all branches Of manufacture they are q
prime necessity
OF Minneapolis itself, it may with the
strictest accuracy be said, that aside from
her wonderful natural advantages, she owes
her past and present prosperity more to the
careful development OF this resource than to
any other cause.
From the Mississippi river to the Red
River valley, q distance Of 40 miles,
stretches diversified country-prairie and
forest, lakes and cIearrunning streams, al
ternatlng-rich in all the elements OF pros
porous agriculture. The soil in Ottertall
County is a quick, warm, sandy loan, east
ly cultivated and free from indigenous
weeds, which yields large returns Of ali the
grains and furnishes rich and abundant pas
turage for stock.
That this region will compare favorably
with other sections of the country IN the
production Of wheat, oats, barley, buck
wheat and potatoes, will be seen from the
/ following statement, taken from the report
Of the Agricultural Bureau at Washington
/ for Ohio and Iowa, and from the Commis-
sioner of Statistics in Minnesota for Otter
tail county:
wheat. Oats Corn Barley. wheat, Potatoes.
Otterta 1888 1855 1913 2215 IL2l 88.07
/ Ohio Il.3l 1856 3I37 2n3S 1927 72.l2
Iowa q * % "a hip 23O7 94q SlOl