St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-05-21
warehouses; and for manufacturers ii win b,

warehouses and for manufactures it will be
found very convenient. 1t penetrates a
heavily timbered country, containing the
best varieties, and large deposits of copper
ore are known to exist on its tributaries. It's
course is through some of the best farming
land in the north and its banks are extreme
ly picturesque, affording a delightful interior
boat excursion.
THE ST. LOUIS RIVER.
which enters Superior bay at its head, is a
most important tributary. 1t takes its rise
and is really the primary source of the st.
Lawrence. 1t is long, winding stream,
very variable in width and depth, and fire.
quently indulging in laughing leaps down
rocky descents. Much of the country it ira
verses is extremely fertile and productive,
and much is covered with dense growth of
valuable timber. There are extensive
meadows in its course, producing an unri-
vailed quality of hay. The st. Louis river is
nayigable for steamers for twenty miles to
the village of Fon du Lac. Careful sur
veys have demonstrated the fact that
over SO, 900 horsepower can be easily made
available from the wster below the rapids
without impairing the navigation of the river
and that at a small cost the channel can be
deepened sufficiently to allow the approach
of the largest vessels to the Touring and saw
mills that would be found profitable. From
this section of the neighboring country the
wealth of Superior would be enhanced, as it
will contribute agricultural productions, lum-
Der, minerals, building stone and slate.
LOCAL ADVANTAGES.
1t will now be understood that Superior pos
sesses all the necessary physical attributes re-
quired in the development of large city,
an admirable confirmation of surface
over an area of nearly ten miles square, ex-
tending from the unequaled water front to
an extensive range of hills at the south, and
from st. Louis bay to and beyond Alloues
bay, eastwardly. 1t is provided with two
convenient natural canals penetrating its
limits, and making easy the processes of
commerce, manufacturing and transporta-
ton. Its regularly level surface makes ev-
cry part available for teaming, while the gen
tie in cline to the lake affords ample drain
age.
MANUFACTURES.
No city in the country is better located for
he profitable transaction of manufacturing,
and the country in the immediate
neighborhood will supply the ma
terials for the production
of many staple articles for which the market
is always ready and certain. The great wheat
fields comparatively so near this port will
supply the best grain known, and it can GER
tainly be ground into flour cheaper here than
further east while saving will be made on
the freight to eastern markets. The pro-
ducts OF the fast developing mines of the
great western territories will find their way to
Superior, where the reduction of the ores
will become source of profit. Blast fur
naces, foundries and smelling works
will have an abundance of occupation,
the iron, copper and silver ores be-
ing supplied from the rich mineral districts
around and near this convenient center
The manufacture of lumber is destined to
be the chief industry and it has already de-
veloped to considerable extent, there hav-
ing been two hundred millions of feet cut in
1888. Superior stands almost surrounded
by the best pine timber in the northwest
and the most reliable computations place the
amount easily availyble at over twelve thou
sand millions of feet. This would afford
employment for a vast number of mills for
more than half century and furnish mate
rial for the building of countless towns and
villages on the broad, open, treeless plains
to the west. The st. Louis and Nemadji
rivers and the north and south shores will all
contribute to this industry for the prosecution
OF which Superior is admirably adapted in
water and land conveniences and means of
distribution. There are in the forests adja-
cent to this favored point, red oak, maple,
bass, elm, black oak, black birch, poplar,
white birch and white cedar timber, and
hence the establishment of variety of Ger
tainly profitable industriesis feasible, among
them being the manufacture of furniture
tubs and pals, matches, wagons, agricultural
machinery and wood-pulp paper.
The existence of minerals in inexhaustible
quantities in this vicinity, is as well known
as the more obvious presence of vast forests.
Immense deposits of iron and copper are con-
cealed in the hills in Douglas county, of which
Superioris the county seat, and in the extensive
ranges on the north shore. There are also
great veins of copper mixed with silver. The
iron is known to be the purest and best in
the world, and its manufacture must add to
the importance of this commercial and pro-
ducing metropolis. The reare vast uuarries
of granite, red sandstone and slate near by,
and excellent brick are produced from the
underlying clay in the vicinity
There is another industry which is con-
stantly increasing, and which must become
OF great value: the fishing interest. The
fish OF the lake, owing to the regular temper
ature OF the water, are possessed of a flavor
and richness that make them eagerly sought
when fresh, and very popular everywhere
when sailed or smoked Lake Superior trout,
white fish and herring have national repu-
tation, and the business of catching and
shipping them should become most impor-
tant factor in the commerce of Superior
AGRICULTURE.
1t must not be thought that this region of
country is dependent on the outside world
for the necessities of life, nor that fish is the
only article of food produced. There are in
the immediate vicinity of the town many
acres of the best farming land, the red, rich
loam OF which produces all grains vegeta-
bles and small fruits in unlimited abund-
ance. AS long ago as 1858, Mr. James S.
Ritchie (still living in Superior) was awarded
a special diploma at the exhibition of the
United States Agricultural society held at
Richmond, Va, for specimens of winter
wheat, corn, potatoes, tobacco and all kinds
OF vegetables grown on this town SITE The
lake appears to act as regulator of the eli
mate and sudden, disastrous changes are un-.
known. Agriculture is profitable and the
raising of stock has been found eqally so.
Herein Superior can be Independent as re-
CARDS the necessities of life
THE RAILWAY CONNECTIONS.
have endeavored as briefly as possible to
show the advantages of Superior as port,
harbor, manufacturing center and as a
point for large commercial transactions. I
have said it was natural place for the rail-
road center, and that such is the factis shown
bV the number of railroads now here and