, 1873-03-13

VA TERMINUS TEnM1NATED.- The loca-
ton of the eastern end of the N. P. II.
L. seemed unaccountable to every one
acquainted with the location exeep:
those who were cognizant of the fact
that the Company was controlled by an
inside ring of private specnlatos, or
ganized on the precise principles of the
infamors Credit Mobilier of the Union
Pacific read, intent only on their own
personal asgrandizement, regardless of
public interests, the ultimate success of
the road, or the security Of the bond
holders, beyond making all these con-
siderations subservient to their own pri-
vate interests. This ring first secnred
TO themselves all the elegible town sites
that they conld get possession OF ON the
route, and then directed the surveys,
location, and used the funds of the com.
pany for the Improvement of their own
private property, at the same time levy
ing onerous contributions upon all set
tiers upon the line of the road, and OBJ
tanning large donations from others by
promises which they never intended to
fulfil.
Prom the inception Of the project for
this Northern Pacific Railroad, DO conf
petent engineer or experienced railroad
man, ever recommended any other ter
minal points for the road than Superior
Bay, at the head Of Lake Superior. on
the east. and Elliott Bay, at the eastern
extremity of Puget Sound. en- the west,
Stevens survey demonstrating that the
shortest and most practicable route was
to be obtained between these two points,
affording the best harbor accommoda-
tions at either end. But the occupation
of these natural advantages, though be-
yond all question the best for the inter
ests of the railroad company, did not
accord with the interests Of the Lake
Superior and Puget Sound Company. in
which was majority of the aai1road
Directors. They found the people of
Superior City occupying the only safe
and natural harbor near the head OF
Lake Superior. This harbor is at the
mouth of st. Louis river, upon a bay
formed by creseent-shapei peninsul,
extending from the west bank of the
river several miles between the lake and
the bay nearly parallel with the mair
land, making safe harbor sufficiently
commodious for all the demands of com
merce. The property holders of Supe
rior City were willing to donate to thu
Railroad all the land and water from
necessary 70 its use, but were no
disposed to concede to the member!
ofthe ring. for their own private benefit
the largest portion of their possessions
by way of bribery or black mail. Henc,
the location of the terminus was mad
above the neck of tie peninsula, upol
bluffy, barren. bleak shore, on tn
most exposed position of the most tenn
pestuous of'the northern group of lakes
where there was not a single natural ad
vantage for harbor, and where expert
Ments have since demonstrated, neithe
breakwaters or piers can ever be con
structed to withstand the batteT1ng- ram
of ice propelled by the north easter
gales, to which they are subject ever,
winter. After expending immense sum
taken from the treasury of the railroad
in the vain attempt to construct har
Dor, permission was obtained from tn
State of Minnesota to cut canal acros
the neck of the peninsula and turnin;
the channel of the St. Louis river thro
the canal, thus giving Duluth access t,
she bay as harbor for its shipping, b.
destroying the harbor of Superior thru
which the. channel of the river ran. :
Duluth and the head of the Bay is il
Minnesota, Superior City and the lowe
portion of the Bay is in Wisconsin. J.
The Wisconsin authorities commenced
suit in the United States Court to ipjoil
work on the ship canal, and that sui
: has been compromised by vlrtua
abandonment of Duluth, the ring hav
ing disposed f their principal interes
In that town, leaving the loss to fall up
on innocent purchasers, and buslnes
men, who invested upon their faith i
the Railroad Company. Tie followin,
extract from the message of Governo
Washburne to the Wisconsin Legisla
ture will show the terms upon whicl
the compromise was effected. We learl
from good authority that General Gas
and Jay Cooke are determined to rid th'
Company of this Credit Mobilier ring
and carry ont in good faith the orlgina
project, or withdraw from it. II thu
ring continue the control, every man O
character or credit had much better b.
out of it than in it, for any good thai
they or the public will ever derive from
it.
Gov. Washburn. after relating the cir
cumstances under which negotiations
were opened, gives the following con
illusions:
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD
SEcRETARY's OFFICE.
New York. Jan. %, 1878.
The Northern Pacific Railroad Co.
will agree to build a branch from The
main line of the Lake Superior and Mis-
sissippi in Duluth across Rice's Point
and Connor's and along the shores O
the bay of Superior to the Nemaji rivel
the line to be located with a view tc
economy of construction and connect