Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-01-21
'i ERIE VOL. "a, NO. 81.

permanently since the opening of the
canal across Minnesota Point!
I'd. Has there been any change in
the Bottom of the Bay, or through
the channel entry into the lake since
the opening of the canal?
also requested that careful meas
uremen:s and sounding on the outer
or lake side of Minnesota Point be
made, and the same so plated and
laid down as to show any change in
the position of the shore or depth of
water since the soundings were made
in 1861.
TIE Secretary promptly acceeded
to my request, and detailed Col. d.
@. Houston for that purpose, and l
employed to assist him and verify his
observations, w. II Newton, Esq, =
very competent civil engineer, and for
many years residing at Superior, but
at present resident of Minnesota.
In the month of July, the work was
entered upon and has been prescott.
ed with great care, and the results
will be found embodied in the report
of Mr.. Newton, VIII oh will be laid
before you, together with very com
plete map showing the whole situa-
ton. This survey demonstrates -
That the water in the Bay has been
permanently lowered one foot since
the opening of the canal; that the
channel has undergone great changes
in many places, having been shoaled
up five TO six feet, and in some in
stances much more. The surveys
outside of Minnesota Point show,
that since the canal was opened, q
great change has taken place there,
which if it progresses will finally wear
that point entirely away. Observs-
tons in regard to the tide, made in
the most careful manner for over thir.
ty days, failed to discern any oscilla,
ton exceeding one inch, and utterly
dispel the idea of tidal harbor.
For the purpose of indicating the
rights OF the State, ] retained Hon.
II. S. Orion, of Madison, and Hon.
Ii S Setter, of Superior, to bring a
suit in then of the State, to secure
the removal of the dyke and the clos
ing up of the canal.
A suit for the removal Of the dyke
was brought in the Circuit Court Of
Minnesota, and on a hearing of q
motion for an injunction, which was
sustained by the court, Mr.. Justice
Miller presiding. The court having
held that the Supreme Court alone
had jurisdiction, bill was filed in
that court in October, and rule tax
EN- against the defendants-the city
of Duluth, Sidney Luce, mayor, and
the Northern Pacific Railroad Com.
pany, to plead within ninety days.
At the hearing, there can be bat
little doubt that the nuisance of the
dyke will be ordered to be abaied,
-. 9TH r---~- -ii''s5" WA NC I0Avli
to close mp the canal.
The folly of attempting to war with
the Almighty, and to create a safe
harbor whsre nature has interposed
almost insuperable obstacles, has been
recently made manifest, and it Is
quite likely that the project viii be
abandoned. The attempt to de ,troy
the hsrbor Of Superior, if not aban-
doned, is pretty sure to "return 70
plague the inventors
The wanton and reckless expendi-
ture ofthe money of any corporation
in priv ate schemes has never strength
ened the credit of the corporation,
and when persisted in, always leads
to cut one result.
The recent change in the manage
ment Of the North Pacific Railroad
Company is favorable omen, and
there is good reason to believe that
there will be change of policy, so
that it will be controlled in the inter
ests Of the stockholders and of the
public.
On the 18th day of November, a
storm visited lake Superior, of great
force, though similar ones are not un
common. It's effect is described to
me IN the following language by n
gentleman residing neither at Duluth
or Superior, and whose testimony l
have no doubt is perfectly fair and
dlsinterested.
"At Bayfield,, little or no damage
was done, and tugs and other boats
were uninjured. At Ashland, the
damage was trifling a few scows
were driven ashore, and the docks
slightly injured. AT Marquette,
understand, the damage was serious,
but have not learned TO what extent
nor in what 1t consisted. AT SUPERB.
or, there was no damage the piers
at the entry are, learn, uniniured -
But Duluth has suffered seriously
The breakwater is worse than gone,
much of it taken clear out, including
that portion nearest the shore and
protecting the elevator, railroad
tracks and warehouses. The remain
der has been showed out of position
portions carried away, and so much
damaged that it cannot be used in
any repairs, and il would have been
far better it IL had been taken away
clean. Scows loaded with stone and
the great mass of the stone from the
cribs of the breakwater, timber and
debris Of every description are sunk
and strewn within the space com.
prising the harbor behind the break
water. The railroad track along the
lake running to the elevator and
warehouses has been worked out Of
position, and settled down in the
centre so that it cannot be used
This track, you will remember, is Of
solid cribbing filled with stone, and
was supposed to be beyond the pow
er Of the elements. The elevator wal
somewhat damaged this is slight
howeyer,) and the foundation wal
showing signs of giving away wher
the storm subsIded. II it had con-
tinued twelve hours longer, nothing
could have saved it, and the railroad
tracks, warehouses and everything