The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-01-13
THE COMING CITY.

Given, any legitimate tendency, and
definite development is only question of
time. Sites at the terminal points of ex-
tended water courses, that lie in an east and
west direction lin which direction the cur
rents of trade have flowed from time imme-
moriaD are inevitably developed III process
of years, as commercial centres, seats of
transfer and traffic.
Had an individual stood thousand
years ago at the head of Lake Superior, he
would have known just as oltainly as we,
that city was yet to be on this Bay. Tel
him in advance the date of the first contact
Of civilization with the new world, ana he
could predict approximately the very cen
tury of that development. Give another
date with the rate Of progress, and he could
name the decade. An understanding in
advance Of the American railway progress,
and European immigration would enable
any observing mind to name almost the
year in which the city at the head of Lake
Superior should begin to be.
The early settlers of Superior were not
as far wrong as they seemed. Southern
Wisconsin was settled, and Northern Wis
consin bid fair to come next in order, But
the attractive force of the epidemic for
prairie farming was underestimate, and
few could foresee the crash Of 81 and the
war Of '6l. But the matter Of development
at the head of Lake Superior is now q GER
tainty. One writer has yentured to name
the month of the completion of the North
ern Pacific, and its chief tributaries. An
other ha$estimated the population in exact
thousands, that will be at the head Of the
Lake at that time. The lines are drawn
closer and closer.
Everything confirms and nothing contra
diets the general expectation Of the imme-
diate development Of commercial city at
the western extremity Of Lake Superior.
Sure as the early prosperity of the Phpni-
clan cities at the eastern limit of the Med
iterranean, will be the late and long pros
perity Of tie new Phenicia at the western
limit Of the Mediterranean Of the new W orld.
Some, indeed, think tho speculatino squirt
yclept Duluth a bran new village built with
Philadelphia capital on the north shore hills
is the coming city" But large wart or
the finger could as well assume the fingers
place. Duluth is a fungus, unhealthy
excreseence, forced growth. It must fail
when capital grows aweary ofsinking prin-
cipal and interest in fighting fate.
Here on the magnificent site of Superior,
where nature built breakwaters, canals,
dredges, grades, and bridge-connections
thousands Of years ago, will be the city
that will welcome the rushing railways from
all quarters of the western world. Duluth
in advertisements is formidable. She
''stcals our thunder as the western phrase
hath it. She pratcs far and wide of the
immense advantages of being situated at
the aceatern ertreoity Of Lake Superior.
Superior, the real site, is ignored. But it
IS a good advertisement for this place,
Let the thousands come. For Duluth they
will soon learn to read Superior.
Our railway enterprise will turn the al
ready trembling scale this present year.
The Fictitious prosperity founded on de-
ception and chicanery will fall like house
of cards. On with the Railway. The first
North Pacific train that thunders to our
docks will break the spell of centuries Of
silence, and on this beautiful plateo", be
tween the rivers and the ranges, all men
Will see the broad foundations of THE COM
ING CITY.
nRFnGING OUR HaRBOR.