The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-12-02
WHAT CHANGES.

Today the town is the eastern term
nus of the Northern Pacific railroad,
stretching across the continent to the
Pacific Ocean 1000 miles away, and
running its trains regularly from our
depot to Montana; and the northern
terminus Of the great Omaha" system
of over 1000 miles, placing us by daily
trains within seven hours of St. Paul
and Minneapolis, fourteen hours of
Madison, sixteen hours of Milwaukee,
and eighteen hours of Chicago or
Omaha.
A little over year ago we had no
business to speak of; our buildings
were terribly down and decaying, our
sidewalks, streets and docks were the
very pictures of neglect Today we
have miles of excellent sidewalks, our
streets are in good order, the public
dock is improved and extended, and
an entirely new wharf, the largest
and best on the lakes, built by the
Northern Pacific railroad company at
cost of 100000, adorfs our harbor;
our old buildings stand erect and with
their fresh coats Of paint and other
Improvements, proudly contend for
good looks, with the many new struc-
lures in their midst. We have now
twenty or more stores, several hotels
one handsome three story structure
built Of Milwaukee brick aud elegant
" furnished, at total cost Of $4,000;
we have a National bank. two If BE
largest saw mills at the head
of TIE lake, giving employment
to 800 men the year round; three
graded schools with seven teachers,
four churches having resident pastors,
and a busy, active, prosperous and
rapidly increasing population.
Last year the total assessed valua-
ton of Douglas county was S6SS, 296;
this year it is 1887, 591. Last year
lots on Second street were assessed at
500 to $50 apiece and found no
buyers at those figures; this year they
are assessed at $500 to $500 and sell
readily as fast as offered. Last year
lots on Sixth street were assessed at
So apiece; this year they are down
for $50 to 5000, at which prices sales
are being constantly made.
This certainly shows wonderful
changes for year. Yet, we still
lack good deal. There is room for
improvement in many directions. We
need more saw mills to manufacture
the pine timber that surrounds us; we
need elevators, and Touring mills; we
need men here to build docks and
handle coal, salt, lime and heavy arti-
cles over them; we need wholesale
houses and manufacturing industries
Of all kinds. There is a grand open
ing here for men of capital and snap
to engage in these and many other
kinds Of business. Coal, iron, salt
and all goods can come here by water
from the east as cheaply as to Chicago,
the distance being alike, and when
here they have new, fresh and active
market, in the great and growing
country to the west, northwest and
southwest, which, for thousand miles
in those directions Superior can con-
troll against all opposition.
We need to see our property owners,
especially those non-residents, taking
more interest in the welfare of the
town; they must help us lift up the
town and push it ahead, instead of
adding their own heavy weight to the
load. They must offer their lots at
reasonable prices to new men and ac-
tual settlers. And right here we may
as well give all property owners warn
/ ing that unless they sell their property
and act literally, retaliation will come
upon them and that, TOO, before long.
for this town by reason Of its railroads
and lis natural advantages. is bound
TO grow aud I'LL up with people, who
will locate here as .uatters and on
tax titles if they can get it in no other
way, and once here will soon take the
whip, and we may be sure they will
use it well in the way Of levying taxes.
Already, this year, our owners will get
taste of the coming order of things
in their largely increased tax bills
Those who will within the coming
year, sell their lots and realize from
them before taxes absorb all values,
will be wise
Truly, year has witnessed most
wonderful changes in Superior, and
the indications are that the chronicler
a year hence will be called upon to
record still more marvellous ones.