The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-12-17

WAITER COMMVN1CA1NON BETWEEN
TIL & MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND LAKE
SUPERIOR.
A petition for the improvement Of
the Fox and Wisconsin rivers having
been presented to the St. Paul Cham
Der Of Commerce for signatures, called
forth very considerable discussion, and
was the subject Of addresses Of some
length aud Of much force from Sena-
tors Donnelly and Drake in opposi-
ton. The petition was indefinitely
postponed, and a resolution adopted
asking the Legislature to make an
appropriation for the survey of = line
for a canal within this State connect
ing the Mississippi river and Lake,
Superior, so as to ascertain if such
canal be practicable.
THE JOURNAL has not been, from
the first, very strongly impressed with
the propriety Of Ninnesota's urging,
on its own behalf, the Fox and Wis
consin rivers scheme. 1t is entirely
outside this State, and if practicable
at all, would afford our producers but
a very limited measure Of relief, and
nothing at all in proportion to its cost.
If nothing better for Minnesota could
be had, then we should say, give us
this Wisconsin outlet; but something
better can be had, and the resolution
adopted by the St. Paul Chamber of
Commerce indicates what this some
thing better is-a canal within our
own State, connecting the Mississippi
river with Lake Superior.
Mr.. Donnelly indicated in his ad-
lress three routes for a connecting
canal, that which should be the most
practicable to be select ted after a sur
vey by United States engineers, viz:
one from the Mississippi river far
above Little Falls; one from Anoka,
via the Rum and Snake or Kettle
rivers to the St. Croix and one from
raylor's Falls, following the upper
st. Croix, to enter Lake Superior Ola
the St. Louis or Nemadje river
From an examination of the map of
he State and from what We can learn
about the country over which the
liferent routes named would pass, We
nave no doubt that the first mentioned
altogether the most practicable and
he most desirable. The Mississippi
liver is navigable for andis navigated
" steamboats, from Minneapolis to St..
loud ; at a reasonable cost it could
'e rendered navigable to Aitkin, from
which point steamboats, have run
regularly to Pokegama Falls. Be-
tween Aitkin and Pokegama lies
andy Lake, on the cast side of the
Mississippi river and within mile of
It. 1t is connected with the river by
IN outlet, and some years ago the
,teamer Ans. Northup made its way
! through this outlet to the lake. From
sandy Lake to the st. Louis river is
only about twenty miles, and we are
| told that the intervening country is OF
a character favorable to the construc-
| ton Of canal. The principal OBJ
truction from the point where a canal
would enter the St. Louis river to
lake Superior would be the Dalles,
md these are by no means 80 formida-
lie as to prevent the route indicated
rom being the best, shortest and most
practicable between the Mississippi
river and Lake Superior that has yet
'een presented.
The members of the Legislature
from the northern part Of the State
would naturally feel an especial in
terest in this route, which lies at their
very door, and it is to them that the
people will look for united action in
securing favorable legislation this
winter. If it were possible to have
preliminary survey made before the
Meeting of the Legislature, so that
iefnite information as to grades, dis.
ance, streams, etc., might be obtained,
would be Of decided assistance to
he friends of the project. And such
) survey could be made in a short
lime and with but little expense
What say the people Of St. Cloud to
laving a survey made at once?