The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-11
the MINNESOTA WATER ROUTE.
Speech Of Hon. VIM. H. c. Folsom,
The Importance of the Lake Superior
R0ute-.Negsected by Senator VIM
dOnA's Rcport.-The Feasibility OF
the Proposed st. Croix and superior
Canal. Why the State Should Cause
a Survey to be Made.
delivered in the State Senate, March 81

Permit me to occupy few moments OF the
time of the Senate upon subject which IN
1874 has been discussed freelycheap trans
pOrtation.
This great scheme Of cheap transportation is
lust in its infancy in the United States. And
the great good that flows from these enterprises
as advocated, are national in result and char
acter. When we look upon the rapid growth
and sure advancement OF the Central states,
the Northern States, and more especially the
Northwestern States; when we cast our
minds eye back over the past, and gather up
from history, the march Of public improve
ments, a thoughtful people will take example,
and initiate those examples where experience
has proved them correct. Minnesota, as
State, is just in the age of development She
is rising up to power ana ln niue ICE
ponds upon our Legislature than depended
upon the Legislature of the State of Few York,
when they, in their wisdom, actuated under
good counsels, connected the waters OF the
Hudson with the waters OF Lake Erie-the
rision, by those opposed to the measure Of the
great De Witt Clinton project. /
But the wisdom of that man advanced the
settlement Of the great west, through his I'M
firing energy, at least one quarter OF a century.
Minnesota, in her location, holds the tn key Key
water on the globe-Lake Superior-to one OF
the most fertile and extensive wheat growing
countries that ex SITS on the earth, and which
will soon vie with the Black Sea wheat coun-
try of Europe, i'll its quantity OF production and /
quality of grain.
Shall we stand idle, while our neighbor .
States are moving-when such noble citations !
are at hand-while cheap transportation
(which is the lever that moves the world) is !
claiming the attention of Congress, who Is !
sending forth her men and means to ascertain /
the most feasible routes upon which to center
hor ai1 franc nortinp the vast surplus OF
our products, which willy soon arise and must
find market in Eastern cities and across the
ocean?
have had the pleasure lately Of examining
the report made to Congress by that commit
tee appointed as national men with national
views on cheap transportation, and found on
that examination that Minnesota's great gate
way to the East by Superior, has not been
alluded to in that report
The improvement connecting Lake Superior
with Lake Huron, known as the Sault Ste.
Marie's canal, is wholly ignored in this able,
though partial, report.
The connecting OF the waters Of the Upper
Mississippi with Superior was not dreamed OF
by that NATIONAL committee. The highest they
assembled to the north was the Fox and Wis
cOnsin river improvement. | shall not find
fault with their theories as far as they advanc-
ed | do think Minnesotians and the people
OF Dakota. Pembina and Montana, have Just
reason for complaints. When money is used
by the general government, for the general
welfare, Through her entrusted agents,-we
expect that impartiality should govern the ex-
penditures and reports Most especially when
the opening up OF the great water avenues OF
the nation are in question which does now,
and must ultimately effect the nation from the
Atlantic to the Pacific. On this improvement
FOX and Wisconsin, they dwelt elaboratelv-
of this route, the Fox and Wisconsin,,
desire to speak f,w words.
Much has been done-years have rolled by
81 nee the much talked OF route, via the Fox
and Wisconsin river improvement, was hrst
projected. Public meetings were held at Prairie
du Chen and other parts OF Wisconsin lerrl-
tory as early as lS4O-4l.
To bring this great important thoroughfare
before the public, memorials were sent to Con
gress, asking the survey and opening up OF this
route Unauthorized survey has ever COM
mended this as a cheap route.
The fact that these two rivers, the Fox and
Wisconsin, approach each other within 9 miles,
has caused many a wild and vague conjecture
to be thrown broadcast before the reading pub
lie No authenticated record has established
this to be the route desired over all others.
Ills a we'll known fact that the Fox and Wis
consin rivers are neither Of them good navigable
rivers. (The greater part OF the public arr
favorably overestimating the facility of opening
these rivers for thoroughtare which may bt
susceptible OF carrying on the great shipping
trade OF the great Northwest.) Many naviga
ton company have associated themselves to
gether tor the purpose Of trading upon thu
Wisconsin river, and establishing line o
boats, and have tailed.
1t is river, known for its aand bars from
the Dalles to the mouth; ever changing; chan
mel unreliable No pilot in ascending it woul,
ever think of descending it by the same land
marks, ON accoun. OF the uncertainty Of it
channel The navigation OF this river is
Lullity.
Only one mode can ever be adopted by viii j
athoroughfare, profitable to the governmen
and to the Northwest. can be made, and tina
q ship canal on the Wisconsin river from it
portage to its mouth.
II the government can be prevailed upon t
open up this route, no one will deny but tha
itwould be OF incalculable benefit, let its friend
move forward then to add one to the man
connecting links, which must ultimately bin
and blend the Great Lakes, to the Fathe
of Waters.
To Minnesotians would say let Wisconsi
have much of our aid: trust it will not tax
SIS years of the future to open up what So year
have been conjecturing and projecting upoi
Wisconsin ought to have caused this gre:
work to have been done years ago. II it stima
accomplished AS chesply as some have eean
ted.
Let Minnesota look nearer home. The S
Croix river runs up and approaches nesrer
Lake Superior than any other stream whic
can be said to Ike navigable Large MISSISSIPPI
U<SstS NAVE AWAY Iuu ivy. 49, e'
mess demanded it, to the Falls. In fact boa
from St. Louis made their regular trips to
Croix Falls before st. Paul existed, and woul
again were business to call them there. leo,
tend the route via st. CroiN nver to come
with Lake Superior, to be one OF the most fea
ible routes that can be found, and, undoubtet
", after careful surveys shall have bee
made, will prove one Of the cheape
routes that can be opened, for Il
shipping OF the future millions OF bushels
wheat, which will and must find its outl
through some OF our rivers to the great lake
The St. Croix route is directly connect<
with the whole OF Minnesota, especially Gel
trail Minnesota Let us then ask ot our Sem
tors and Representatives in Congress to d
some respect to our memorials to Congfr
which we have % often applied through for
appropriation to scrvey this route, and bril-
these undeniable facts before the people n
Congress.
When we look along down the future .,