The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1872-06-06
FROM SuIGMnsOTA.
DULUTH, MAY 26, 1872.

euC HCstu VI Le&hc koupCiiOi. w
travelling companion and I left ST.
Paul ria Superior 4 Mississippi rail.
road, att o'clock Friday morning, and
after travelling about one hundred and
fifty miles over some of the roughcst
country the good Lord ever made, We
arrived at the greatest commercial
center (2) of the Universe, Duluth,
about 8 o'clock, r. NJ, same day. Cam
dor compcls me TO say, that as an agri-
cultural country, that portion Of terra
.ja,ma which has found a lodgment
between st. Paul and Duluth, is not a
success.
II any person, however, who has
not seen pine country (and this was
the case with me) il is very interesting
to travel over this road and see the cx-
tensivc pine forests that limo both sides
of the road, for distance of more
than one hundred miles from Duluth.
1t is one dense aud continuous forest
of pine, birch and tamarack. The
forest fires that prevailed here last
fall, has killed the trees in great
many places, but where they have not
been affected in that way they look
very pretty. Itlooks like shame to
see men cutting down handsome pine,
and other evergreen trees, that we
would prize 80 highly, and cndcavor
so much to cultivate at home.
In passing along the road from st.
Paul to this place, we have a fine view
of the st. Louis river, and I must say
that it is one of the most picturesque
little rivers ! have had the pleasure of
seeing. Tho 1Dallcs" of the st. Louis
river can only be appreciated when
seen. No pom, not mine at least, can
portray tho grandeur and beauty of
this work of nature. The st. Louis
river, which is but rivnlet when first
seen, Gin coming over the L. s. & M.
railroads) is constantly being fed by
hundreds Of crystal springs, deepening
and widening as it tcourses along, now
surging along its rugged banks, and
now rosling like an avalanche, as it
rushes wildly over its rocky bed to-
wards its destination; until, q II its
very waters had lost its power of
locomotion, it finds relief and quiet in
the st. Louis Bay, where it seems to
linger for the purpose of recuperation
before venturing amid tho terrible
waves of the great Lake where it is
swallowed UP in the waters of its Su-
pcrior. But, Messrs Editors, as
spread eagle e6usionist, how is that?
l don't think / am a success, and l
must therefore 'shurry to be in haste"
to get nearer the shore, and will there
fore return to Duluth. Well, I suppose
You have heard of Duluth, although it
was not on the map wncn You and 1
geography; but find by re-
ferring to map, in tho Bayvicn
House, where. ! am stopping, $3.50 per
day for my hash, that The great city is
located somewhere OH tho head
waters of Salt-no not Salt
Lake Superior. Du-
luth is certainly great city.
Proctor Knott foresaw the importance
of Duluth, when he made his speech
in Congress on the propriety of Gov
crnment aid 10 build cattle yards TO
facilitate the shipment of Buffalo, Q
have not seen any yct) from this point.
Duluth! why Lake Superior would
not be worth a third class cuss without
Duluth. Milwaukee and Chicago are
negotiating, now, with Duluth, to sell
out to the latter place. Duluth, Il am
sorry to say it) but the truth must be
told, is fast gobbling up the CONNER
cial trade of the entire Northwest-l
have found out now what makes trade
so dull in Ottumwa. This is confidcn-
tial, and l don't want the Ottumwaites
10 know it, or they will all be coming
to Duluth. Ottumwa is too close to
Duluth. 4
But seriously, Mcssrs. Editors, this
town, (they call it a city, has a good
location if'it only had the country to
back it up. Being at the head of the
Lake, and the eastern terminus Of the
N. +. railroad, gives it y commercial
importance of no mean prctentions.
But there is not within a radius of
hundred miles a place where
they can raise a hill of beans, or a
drum-head cabbage. l think if Gree
ley would come to Duluth and tell
them how to farm successfully in this
they would all vote for him.
They might raise plug tobacco here,
but it would be mighty small plugs;
but then they could sell them in pro-
portion to the size. Duluth claims a
Of thirty-five hundred.
They may have it.
The air is cool here, but person
don't chill like they do in Iowa. The
air is very pure, and one feels tirstratc.
/ can't tell much about vegetation,
for there is nothing here but pine and
tamrock and "sich," and that is is al
ways green.
There is plenty of good spring wa
ter here, but is SO hard that the natives
don't use it only for washing aud cook
ing. Il think they break II for both
purposes.) When they want drink
they never think of drinking water too
hard, you know.
Tomorrow we go out on the North
Pacific road. learn the Indians are
resisting tho progress Of the work be-
yond the Red river. 1 guess Uncls
Sam will have to put all tho Lo famil,
on wheels and sell them to tobacco
dealers TO put in front of their shops
for signs.
l don't know when will be home
but may write again. Still
ON The WING.
r. ST. forgot TO tell you We hay
ice here yet. don't mean that that /
put up to make jnlips with, but rca
~enuine. native ice. I see il stickin