The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-05-06

"The Importance of the completion of
the Sault Canal can hardly be over:estim-
ated, and its consequence will be the vast
facilitation and increase of the commerce
of Lake Superior, and the incalculable en-
chantment of the value of the public lands,
while a tide OF emigration may be looked
for from Norway, Sweden, and the north of
Europe, as well as from New England
States, pouring into the northwestern
wilderness, and subduing the forests and
extending far and wide the area of freedom
and civilization.
"The country lying between Lake Supe-
rior and Hudson's Bay is now known to be
one of the most important mineral regions
in America and it should be borne in mind
that there are deposits Of native copper on
Copper Mine and Mckenzies rivers, in the
same kind of rock that contain the stipend
Gus t0des of this metal on keweenaw Point
and the Ontonagon river. Every means
that tend to carry our population farther
northward tend to bring to light and to
practical utility the mineral treasures of
those regions while trade in furs and seal
skins will be brought nearer to us by enter
prising men, i; matters not whether of the
British provinces or OF the United States of
America.
"lhe time is now come when the public
faith is settled on the value of the mineral
productions, and it is understood that good
working mines are sure to command and
reward the energies of capitalists and
miners, since it is proved that mining is
liable to no greater risk in failure than by
the Adventures in the selection of their
mines and in working them to advantage
THE TOWN OF SUPERIOR.
Under this head we can do no better
than to copy from a description of the place
given BY a former editor of this paper, and
will let him take us back to its birth
THE Town of Superior is situated on the
Bay of Superior. at the extreme West end
of the Lake and of the entire chain of the
great lakes. Therefore all the great works
of internal improvement connecting with all
or either of the lakes-every improvement
of the numerous old channels of
commerce from the waters of the St. Law.
renee to the Saut canal, and every new
artificial communication, will tend directly
to promote the commerce and prosperity
of Superior. Occupying as it does this
commanding position, with a magnificent
haTbor, penetrating nearly the heart of this
continent, it seems designed by the Great
Architect of the Universe AS the site of Il
vast clty-the emporium OF a vast trade
AMI commcrce-where goods can to ship
ped direct from Liverpool without once
breaking bulk, and transported hence as
the natural outlet to all that great and
fertile region lying west and north of this
point, to the Saskatchewan valley on the one
hand and the Rocky Mountains ON the other.
The only question whctheri lis future growth
its already rapid development into the form
and proportions of a city, depends upon the
rapidity with which the immense extent oil
country naturally tributary to this point
the great prairies to the west Of us, the
garden valley of the Red River, etc-shall
be taken up by immigration.
The entrance into the bay of Superior, on
the south shore OF which the town is situat-
ed, is about six hundred feet wide, and for
the last six years has not been less than
ten feet deep on the bar. Inside. the bay
expands to more than one nile in width.
and is seven miles long, furnishing an
available coast Of more than fifteen miles
in extent, for the accommodation Of com
merce and manufacturing establishments.
Immediately beyond this bay is another
the Bay Of St. Louis nearly equal
extent and advantages.
The harbor is the best natural one on the
whole chain of lakes, and Of sufficient capa.
city to accommodate the largest commerce
A narrow strip of land, seven miles in
length, putting out from the Minnesota
shore, and thrown up by the clashing of the
waters of the lake with those Of the St.
Louis, forms the outer or sea-wall. The bay
is completely land-locked, and i'll it vessels
can defy the storm.
The Town was surveyed and the plat re-
corded by the 9th day of November, 1854
| The site is one of the most commanding as
we'll as the most beautiful of western cities
1t is elevated thirty four feet above the
water, and as you leave the bay there is q
gradual ascent, scarcely preceptible, vet
atfording an excellent drainage. At regular
distances it is also drained by abrupt rayines
running toward the bay. TO the eastward
of the town lies the broad expanse OF Lake
Superior, whose dark blue waters spread
out as far as the eye can discern. On each
shore the mineral ranges rise in all their
beauty and grandeur casting their deeI
shadows in the placid waters beneath"
\ correspondent of this paper speaking
of the town, which he visited last summer
says:
II expect to see Superior great city. A
more delightful place to spend the summer
it seems to me cannot be found in the
| Northwest, and hereafter, as the means o
reaching there become known, and by lane
| improved, thousands will 90 in the summer
to look out on your splendid harbor, anc
| climb the picturesque ridges on the Nortl
Shore. For my part expect to live to SEE
1t an attractive city in the winter; where
! can 90 and eat delicious lake fish, attend
| your operas, your theaters, your concerts
and whatever else is pleasant and refined
"If one sovereign can build great cit,
at St. Petersburg, let us see what a thou
sand sovereigns can do
| The town fronts on the Bay, the street!
running parallel with it and the avenues a
right angles. The streets are eighty fee
wide, and the avenues one hundred.
The parties who projected and laid on
the town organized in the spring of 1854
ander the title of " Proprietors of SUPERB
or" and were w W Corcoran, of Wash
ington, d c.; Robt. j Walker, New York
G " Cass, Pittsburgh, Pa; Horace S Wal
bridge, Toledo, Ohio; Daniel \ J Baker
d A Robertson, Geo f Nettleton and h +
Nelson, Of this county and State; and Benz
Thompson, Edmund Rice, James Stinson
and VIM. II Newton of Minnesota,
VIM. II. Newton was appointed Agen
| aud ttnrnnr in fnct Z mnntu lots in lif