The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-05-10

matter may not be settled IN one day, but the
peculiar circumstances under which this
meeting is called and assembled, Will show
in our history that it was the Beginning OF
a Great Destiny for the city of SUPERIOR.
4 SHIP CANAL FROM THE ST. CROLK TO
LAKE SUPERIOR
The ST. Paul Pioneer Of the Goth ult.,
says in reference to the supposed difficulties
of constructing a canal between the Saint
Croix and the Lake:
The summit level of the Erie canal at Buffalo, is 645
feet above the Hudson river at Troy. The highest
level the Fox and Wisconsin River improvement is
200 feet from Lake Winnebago to Green Bay and
169 from Portage City to Prairie du Chien All the
problem about building canal, anywhere, is supply
of locks in crossing the highest elevation.
Does any one doubt that feeders could be found be
tween the St Croix and Lake Superior believe
that any height would be met equal to that OF the
Erie canal? If not, why may not Minnesota have a
water channel direct connecting with the great lakes
The inquiry is very pertinent, and timely.
The only reliable and permanent check on
excessive rates of freight per railway lines,
ed by water routes. The country feels to-
day, on this subject, as it did not feel even
a year ago.
The extortions of many lines of railway,
and especially the daring combinations
lately made by the railway monarchs, and
the evident maturing of projects for sub
verting the whole transportation interest Of
the country by national union of the va
rious monopolies now existing, has alarmed
all classes of the people from the farmer to
the legislator.
Such enterprises as the Lake Champlain
canal, the Fox and Wisconsin River I'M
provement, the European Line via the Mis-
sissippi River and the Ship Canal from the
St. Croix to Lake Superior, all of which
were laughed at or ignored, short year
ago, now receive public attention in lengthy
discussions in the press, on the platform
and in Legislative assemblies.
1t is high time indeed, for the people Of
the Northwest to press the matter Of water
communication with Lake Michigan and
Lake Superior. But, cheap as water trans
portation is, the shorter line of two water
routes is well worth the seeking for, as it is
only comparatively speaking, that time and
distance are nothing i'll transporting by
water.
Hence the people of Minnesota and of
n Northwestern Wisconsin, will find it better
for their interests to carry freight, via a
Oh; .I,o ~,
days from ST. Croix falls to the head of
Lake Superior, than to steam several days
run down the Mississippi to Prairie du
Chen, and then wind in and out for many
days more, before reaching Lake Michigan.
The route is certainly practicable. \
few locks and comparatively small i'm
provement, would carry boats around Saint
Croix Falls, and as far as the Upper SAINT
Croix Lake, which is but % miles south by
east from the head OF AlIouez Bay At
this part of the divide, the waters Of the
Upper S.. Croix and the Brule river almost
touch, and there is no reasonable doubt
that proper supply of feeders for canal
could be obtained
The Lake Superior south shore range is
always sure of copioRs supply of water, as
the great Lake furnishes abundant vapor.
which is attracted and condensed to the
falling point by this range
Engineering science can devise one Of
several routes from the headwaters of the
St. Croix and Brule to Superior Bay, none
of them over 36 miles long, and one at least
as low as 81 miles. One route could be
made to reach the Nemadji river, and enter
Superior Bay from that direction.
OF course all this will cost money, but in
decade after completion, it will save the
Northwest tenfold its cost. The nation
can well afford TO be at the expense of this
great project. Minnesota and Wisconsin
should press the matter to favorable con-
clusion; the time has come for it. The
attention of Senator Window and his Com
mittee on the transportation question, should
be called Immediately to the vital import
ance of this short and feasible water route,
to the future interests of the Northwest.
BRIDGES
Look out for the bridges. The r. r.