The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-07-13
The Head of Lake Superior.

The Head of Lake Superior.
To The Editor OF the Chicago Tribune.
DULUTH, June, ST. write you
this from one Of the most interest
ing points on the CONFERENCE.-THE
westernmost terminus of the Great
Lakes, and the starting place OF the
Northern Pacific railroad.
From my window as l write, I
look out upon the placid waters Of
Lake Superior, and only wish tn,d
the beauty of the scene could be in
some degree impressed on the i'm
agination of your readers.
| shall not say much about Du-
luth. 1t is a small town Of about
5000 inhabitants, and is beginning
TO show signs of recovery from it's
long depression. us population was
once twice as great as at present.
SO also with Superior City, its form
er and perhaps It's future rival, the
houses of which, at a distance of
about seven miles, are distinctly
visible across the bay.
These places were called into
being by the wand of speculation;
and for a lime kind of spurious
prosperity dawncd upon them But,
speculation having died out, these
towns collapsed, and at present re-
mind one of a once portly beer
drinker, who having for some rea-
son been deprived of bis customary
fluid, has in consequence degenera-
ted into a mere shadow ofkls former
self.
We care not which of these towns
in the long run "wins the belt"
Duluth. having the railroad, is now
ahead, and may continue to hold The
advantage it has gained; but Supe-
rior City has the better town site,
and in time, for all we know, may
nave the railroad too.
One thing is sure, and that is that
city of large proportions and of
commanding importance will in the
ialure hold the keys of this mag
niicent position. There is no finer
situation in America, nor one more
intimately connected with the de-
velooment of the Northwestern Ter
rItoiies and with the interoceanic
relations of The STATES.
But, important as is this part of
the country and that of The vast
region beyond 1t. the Grossest ig-
norance prevails in regard TO it. l
lave met With but few men who
could give me aIy reliable informa-
zion concerning it. | have come
out here, therefore, to '1ook at the
thing" for myself, and unless my
senses play me sad tricks and de-
ceive me, as some of the ancient
saints are said 10 have been deceiv-
ed, your correspondent will trans
nit to you nothing but truthful OBJ
ServallOns.
So far | have been much pleased
with what | have seen and heard.
New as this section is, its evolution
has already begun. The head of
the lake has even now the most val
liable railroad connections; with one
2rm OF iron over $50 niles in length,
it has laid hold upon the Mississippi
1T st. Paul; with another mighty
arm nearly 500 miles in lgth land
which will soon be extended) il.
grasps the Missouri at Bismarck,
the present westrly terminus of The
Northern Pacific railroad.
Who can measure the consequen-
ces of these thin-,s? 1t is now clear
that this country is in the infancy of
its growth, and that The stupen1ous
results which the future has in store
Tor it no human capacity can
fathom.
Dut the things which are dim to
us will be clear 20 our descendants.
and to them we will generously
leave the solution of the problems
which are altogether too deep for
US.
In passing Yesterday over the
road from 81. Paul TO Duluth, was
struck with the general wildness of
the country, and in parts with its
sin ..ular beauty. Nothing could be
more utterly unlike 10 the prairie
scenery | had met with in southern
Minnesota.
The road runs through an almost
continuous forest, ihterspersed with
meadows and openin rs, and &c mined
with lakes and screams. We must
have passed by fully twenty lakes,
and have crossed at least a dozen
running brooks.
But | nave no space to enlarge
upon this tempting bject, "althou h
the halt is not yet told"
twenty-five miles west of Duluth.
tie ST. Paul road forms junction
with the Northern Pacific, and The
vwo roads use common track 10
vie lake.
The beauty, The grandeur, the ro-
matte wildness of the scenery lying
between the junction and Lake Su.
pericr | would like 20 describe to
you, but indeed my dull pen lacks
the magic power TO give your read
ers even the faintest idea of it.
In all my travels in Europe and
In America | have never seen any,
thing moro remarkable or UNIQUE.
1t is simply wonderful! And yet,
until day or two ago. | had never
heard single person call the least