Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-04-09
Important Interests.

ticularly unfortunate for Minnesota in
one respect, although there was much
less suffering here during the hard times
that followed than there was oughout
the most of the settled territory of the
United States. The grand railroad sys-
TEN necessary to the prosperity of the
State was not near completion, and some
of the shrewdest business men were able
to see that developments of the greatest
Importance, which. would alter the prin-
cipal channel of trade of Minnesota and |
Dakota, were to be brought to the surface
at an early day. A grand system of
lakes and rivers, extending from the
seaboard to the center of the continent,
fortunately reach the eastern border of
Minnesota, and invite the commerce of
100000 square miles of territory to util-
ize its advantages. Some of the ablest
business men in the country saw this,
and quietly invested considerable sums
Of money about the head of Lake Su-
perior. But the crash came, railroad
building was suspended, and the people
were compelled to follow the old lines of
trade and business. For years there was
but little progress, except thatwhich was
secured by laborious effort. Recently
times have changed, however, and there
is every prospect that the natural chan
nels of trade will soon assert their su-
periority over those which are almost
wholly artificial. The crash of 1878 was
particularly unfortunate for Minnesota
for the reason that it caused one of the
leading factors in the development and
prosperity of the State to be suspended
for years. What Minnesota and Dakota
need, and will have within few years,
is system of railroads centering at the
head of Lake Superior. The removal of
obstructions in, and the projected i'm
provement of, the water route to the
seaboard, will afford to Minnesota and
Dakota the cheapest possible transporta.
ton for both exports and imports, an d
give a decided advantage to-, all the re-
gion of country that is nearer to Lake
Superior than to Lake Michigan. 1t
will make navigation more important
element in the trade with the East, and
in the means of transportation between
here and the seaboard, than it has ever
been before. This advantage goes into
the pocket Of the farmer, and enhances
the value of every acre of land he owns.
Leading railroad men very clearly com
prehend the logic Of events, and are al
ready making arrangements to complete
at an earlysday great through northsrn
line Of railroad that will connect with
the roads that will terminate at the lake,
and with the roads centering at St: Paul.
The large commercial center to be built
at the head of Lake Superior could not
compete with Chicago, iflocked from the
outside world by the ice in the lakes for.
half the year; therefore the projected
northern line Of railroads along the
southern shore Of Lake Superior is not
only q necessity, but gives competing
line with the, Chicago route the year
around. This is 2 matter Of great impor-.
lance to the agricultural interests ola:
vast extent of territory, and effects the
value of every acre Of land naturally
tributary to the northern route. The
railroads and the lake system of navi-
CATION will result in the building Of 3
large commercial center on Lake aSu-
perior, that will help the tributary coun-
try almost as much as the improved
means of transportation. The country
needs . recognized grain market and .
wealthy community Of business men at
the head Of the lake. Otherwise there
will always be . discrimination. in favor
Of St, Paul. For instance, the salt
brought to Duluth by water is sold IN
St. Paul at exactly the same price that It
is sold for in Duluth. It is delivered in
St Paul via. Duluth, and over the st.
Paul d Lake Superior railroad as cheap
q it is delivered in Duluth. But a.
soon as there is wealth enough 1t the
commercial center to be built at the
|lake to make itself felt IN business cir,
| Icles, this unjust Discrimination must
cease. These facts bear directly upon the
future prosperity Of Morrison county, Is
we here find the agricultural district
nesrest the Ake, and zee within the
borders Of our county III the diversified
resources necessary 70 the highest degree
of prosperity
a special telegram 70 the Pioneer
Press, dated s Washington April 8. i
los follows =.
.eThs Chippewa IndiansI who came shsrs
from Wisconsin ascosple Of weeks ago, have
completed Arrangements with the interior do
Iartnent. under which the valuable pine lands
owned IS them viii bs sold for their benefit.
LIE has been found impossi BILE 20 protect
| these lands from tinhar thieves and their 4als
q the public swould bring q laxgs rsysnusto
ths Indiaass,. Z;
This i probably the manner ii which
Ithe Mile Lacs Indian reservation win
untimately s. disposed q