Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-04-24
State, and in the Territorial court for Dakota
Tarritnru
The Lake Fort Of Mimnesota.

The Lake Port of Minnesota.
The growth of Duluth as a mercantile ship
ping and manufacturing point and the devel-
| opment of the country near TO it, will have an
important bearing upon railway traffic and in
time upon the policy of railway companies
operating in the Northwest. Hence the GLOBE
to be convinced of the existence of solid basis
for the late revival of confidence, energy and
! investment at Duluth, few days ago sent a
| representative to visit Minnesota's lake city
and to inquire into it's prospects. He found
the people of Duluth, old settlers and new
corners alike, confident that their city has en-
tered upon second period of growth, in which
1t will equal, if it does not exceed the sanguine
predictions of the founders of the city.
The lately vacant dwelling houses and bust
ness blocks are now being occupied by paying
| tenants. Selling values of real estate are re-
established and in this direction it is only to be
feared that holders of real property will be so
extravagant IN their estimates as to turn both
men and capital away. The railway companies
are making great Improvements in their freight
handling facilities and in the harbor dockage.
Owners of steam and sailing vessels have
greater expectations as to the business of the
past. new grain elevator having capacity
for one million bushels will be completed this
summer. There is considerable increase in
frelghts and travel, to and from the city, as
compared with the corresponding season of
former years. There is a better demand for
merchandise of all kinds and larger employ
ment for mechanics. Brick makers and stone
cutters and masons are needed. New manu-
featuring houses are being established which
will give employment to hundreds of mechan-
les and skilled laborers.
Outside of the improvements making and in
augurated by the railway companies,
the blast furnace may be regarded
as for the time the most important
of pending new enterprises. This was begun
nine or ten years age, but work was suspended
about seven years ago, and the company orig
inally organized to build and operate it aban-
dOned the enterprise after over 100000 had
been expended on it. Lately it was bought in
by Col. @. II. Graves, for new company, COM
posed of himself J. P. Ilsley D. M. Ssbin and
others. This company is completing the
buildings, machinery and fixtures and will be
ready to put the furnace in blast about the LIST
of June next. To furnish charcoal for this
furnace between two and three dozen brick
kilns have been erected at Matowah station,
about thirty-six miles south from Duluth, and
number of stone and brick kilns have been
built and put in operation near the furnace.
Besides this, liberal offers have been made to
settlers in the timber, which will induce
hundreds Of them to become charcoal
burners while clearing their lands. The ores
for the furnace will come from the
Lake Superior mines. About so men will be
employed in the furnace and the dock labor
ers, coal burners, teamsters, ETC., will bring
the number of employees to about $50. The
establishment, which is to be a complete one in
every detail, is being made ready for the chris
tening of the stock and going in blast under
the SUPPLEMENTARY of Col. s. Brownell, an
experienced iron master. The furnace is stu
ated on Rice Point, and its docks extend into
the inner harbor SO that it will have slip of
900 feet with 1890 feet of dock front. The
new company, under the name of the Duluth
Iron Company. contemplates adding to the
furnace, in good time, rolling mill.
Another quite important manufactury is be-
ing established at Duluth by Barton 81 Rich.
These partners came to Duluth few months
ago to set up machine shop and foundry.
Having secured the ground for
their permanent buildings on Rice's
Point. near the blast furnace,
they began work in little shed about 24x12
and have since kept busy all the force they
could employ in their limited space at machine
making and repairing. A large building for
their machine shop is now nearly completed,
and the foundry building will be erected within
a few weeks. The GLOBES visitor also noticed
a new sawmill just started, and was told of two
more to be erected before midsummer. The
pine logs are brought across the bay from the
mouth of the Nemsdji river, and immense sup
plies may be brought from the pine forests
The improvement of the great water pow
ers of the st. Louis river, supposed to
be contemplated by the parties in whose
interest James Smith, Jr., of this city,, has
bought and holds all the river shores, from the
head falls above Thompson to below the last of
the rapids, near Fond du Lac, would undoubt-
eddy add greatly to the Importance of Duluth
and to the business of the Northern Pacific and
st. Paul & Duluth railroads. It is supposed
that Jay Cooke, or persons who are to unite
with him, are represented by Mr.. Smith, and
that the intention is to form joint stock COM
psny for making the water powers available
and employing them in Touring wheat and
saving lumber and for various manufacturing
purposes.
Still farther this way the st. Paul &
Duluth company has begun a branch
railway which will bring it a large lumber traf-
6c from the extensive pine forests on the ST.
Croix river and its tributaries. A steam saw
mill with capacity of 5000 feet day, is in
successful operation at the present terminus of
the branch, near Knife Falls. So far the rail-
road companies and other builders have taken
it's lumber produce for use at Duluth, but
when Duluth is supplied by its own mills, the
St. Louis river lumber will be sent south to
st. Paul or west over the Northern Pacific.
The pine timber of the st. Louis extends from
Knife Falls hundred miles, and the St. Paul
& Duluth branch will be extended up the river
so as to open up the whole forest to lumber
men, and have scores of saw mills and lumber
ing villages built up.