The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-31

/ An examination of any good map will show the
great number of lakes along the proposed route and
the curious nterlocking of the head waters OF the diff
ferent streams For instance Big Rice Lake, the head
of Kettle river tributary the ST. Croix Is out JoAr
miles from the St. Louis river.
! At twenty five miles south of Fond du Lac, OWNS
reached the top of the water she'd He says page 2lS
| "From this point to Kettle river the country pre-
sents succession of small lakes swamps, meadqws
and ridges, covered with birch and small pine
We think these facts demonstrate that canal
could be struced which would reach the summit
level by imperceptbe stages from the south, wale
abundance of water would be found the highest lev
els Given these requisites, with no wall OF rock ito
cut threagh with river beds and deep yalleEsfa 5s
advantage of it seems plain that there is nothing
prevent the construction of canal, connecting the
Mississippi and the lake.
But the question will occur how far can the natural
courses be used upon such route? Upon this
ALSO Owen affords considerable information.
The Nemad or Left Hand river, enters the bay of
Superior from the south. Owen says of it, page 302:
"Nemu ii-ti-que ay or Left Hand river, far
poration made, miles above the mouth of
Black river tthirty-ive miles in a is from twenty
thirty yards wde and from three to ten feet deep 1t is
entirely free from driftwood and, except few ineon-
siderable ones (Which easily ascended by canoe)
unobstructed by rapids"
Here then we have natural channel, requiring lit
tie improvement for canal boats for thiry-ve miles
of the river equal to about twenty miles OF the eighty
four to be overcome.
The of the Nemadji and Kettle river not
" interock but communicate through Hornhanging
/ lake, p. 2lS.
Where the exploring party first reached Kettle riv-
er, on their way southwark, it considerable
stream "sixty yards wide and deep enough to float
steamboat full of boulders however, and hardly fit
/ for canoes" See p. 273.
! The Upper St. Croix is described "a succession
of rapids separated by broad shallow basins of com
paratvely still water
There could be little difficulty in improving the Up
per st. Croix by locks and DAMS and thus eaeing
/ slack water navigation. If this done, it would
leave but about hoeag mites of canal 10 construct
through the drift of the summit fed by lakes streams,
and swamps.
Such ca al would pass within forty miles of the
great beds of magnetic iron associated with meta
morphc States, situated in the Penokie Range. These
beds 'are of extraordinary thickness-from 25 to 90
feet" One specimen analyzed by DR.. Owen yielded
66 per cent of iron. 1t is of the character
the famous Swedish iron 1t cannot be worked to adj
vantage IN St of the absence of limestone.
Owen SAYS "These mines NAV be worked hereafter at
a profit, and rival the works of Northern Europe"
Owen passed in his up the St Croix to within
twenty miles of the mines. With canal and rivers
and lakes reaching the very ore BEDS the could
be cheaply brought in boats the Mississippi river,
aud there the Upper and Lower Magnetism Limestone,
in which the bluffs abound, could be used a fux,
and our great powers utilized; while the Mssis
sippl river could be used bring coal for fuel from
the coal beds of Iowa. With uninterrupted water
communication north and south, insuring cheap
transporation with fuel hand the other,
and water usIanca our mIrsr NE ma
vet add to other resources of Minnesota aor-
nous manufacturing interest
i We hope delegation in Congress will see that
the next Congress orders survey Of the proposed
/ route.