The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-10
THEN AND DNOW-SUPERIOR IN 1878 CON
PLETES THE WORK of 1888

PLEIES THE WORK Of 1858
a large and enthusiastic meeting of the
citizens of Superior convened in a hall on
Becker Avenue, on the evening of the oath
of February, 1858, to urge upon Congress
the Importance of providing for the con-
struction of "a Northern Pacific Railroad :"
Judge Perry was chairman of the meeting
and Hiram Hayes, Esq, Secretary. a
committee previously appointed to draft a
suitable memorial TO Congress on the mat
ter in question, reported at this meeting
through their Chairman. This Committee
was comprised Of Messrs Daniel Shaw, M.
S Bright, and J. A. Markand.
The report set forth in on able manner,
the reasons now well known to the whole
country, why this Northern thoroughfare
should be opened. 1t dwelt upon the duty
of Congress to foster internal improve
ments, especially so important route to
the Pacific as the railroad referred to; il
noted the advantages of Superior as the
eastern terminus of such a route, being sit
uated at the head of the Lake system and
possessing so fine harbor; it set forth the
favorable points in the climate; the short
ness of the Northern Route compared with
others the facilities of lake and river nav
igation along this line; referred to the min
eral and agricultural wealth Of the belt,
showed the favoring trend or profile Of the
intermediate country; the facilities for rail
road construction; the abundance of fuel;
the salubrity of the whole region; and its
inviting features in respect to European
immigration.
Corresponding resolutions were reported
by Mr.. N. S. Bright Of the Committee,
and the whole report was unanimously
adopted with thanks, and forwarded to
Congress and the Legislature, after being
duly circulated for the signatures of the
citizens of Superior, by the following Com
mittee: Messrs. Geo T. Holcomb, John A
Coburn, II. Robbins, E. W. Anderson, J.
\. Markland, ID. Dean and N. S. Bright.
The country at that time was already on
the down grade of financial and political
distress. It wasin no condition to build
the shortest line projected to Superior,
much less the splendid Route of national
and international transportation, which our
citizens at that time, met to advocate with
such oneness of purpose, clearness Of com
prehension and enthusiasm of feeling.
1t was twelve long years afterward al
most to day, before the first shovelfull OF
oI +lf5 4 ha 1.
Of Northern Pacific railway construction in
the wilderness, 24 miles west Of Lake Supe-
rior. But since that opening work, al
though but a little over three years has
elapsed, the whole face of the country has
undergone a remarkable change The
Northern Pacific Road unrolls 500 miles of
its iron ribbons toward the setting sun; this
very day, if all goes well, reaching the Mis-
souri, river, the ''yelIow Tiber" of America,
not far from some future Rome, CONNER
cial mistress Of the Northwest Empire, and
the world.
Along the half thousand miles Of the
Northern Pacific Railroad now actually
constructed, and IN running order, cities,
towns and villages, colonies and farming
communities have sprung up, and are rap
idly laying the foundations of future states
New swarms of immigrants are arriving
every week from New England, Old Eng
land, Norway, Sweden and Germany. I'M
migration goes ahead Of the Great Road as
the skrmishers and drum corps ahead Of
an army. The work is pushing along this
season up to the Yellowstone region, and
soon 10 be within hail Of golden Montana,
where rich mining and agricultural enter
prises already developed, await the benefits
of railway transportation.
The rapid progress of road on which
SO much depends, is having its natural eff
feet in attracting to the head of Lake Supe-
rior various railroad enterprises of estab-
lshed solidity and on business basis, in
gratifying contrast to the many schemes
that were only the toys of speculation in
the past.
At an early day, the citizens of Superior
expect to hold railway meeting, that will
properly form part and complement OF the
enthusiastic meeting of Feb. oath, 1858. |
Then, we looked forward hopefully, to the /
beginning of the Northern Pacific Railroad I
in the distant future. Noac, we deliberate
with the officers of that road, and the Off
GERS of such roads as the Wisconsin Cen
trail, Milwaukee and Saint Paul, Chicago