St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-08-05
The Visit of the Minnesota Edit
OrS to Lake SUI
perior.
They Witness the Solid Growth and
Prosperity of the City
of Duluth,
Enjoy Ride on Calm Day Over the Lake to
Bayfield,, Washburn and
Ashland,
And See What the Railroads Are Doing
for the New south Shore
Towns.

was reassembled for its annual excursion at
White Bear the next morning. Including
ladies and few other guests the party num-
bered 1877 persons. From White Bear to
Duluth the party were accompanied by Mr..
j. F. Faulkner, representing the Lake Su-
peror transit company, and was in charge
of Mr.. Randall, the regular conductor OF the
st. Paul and Duluth train on which we rode
to Duluth. Both gentlemen were attentive
to the party and aided in pointing out OBJ
jects of interest along the road.
Forest lake was seen and admired and an
ecdotes of good feed and good fishing, from
those who had visited the lake and stopped at
Marshs, made all of the party acquainted
with its chief attractions.
Through Washington and Chisago coun-
ties it was noticeable that but little harm had
come to growing crops from storms. The
hay crop appeared to have been well secured.
The harvest of small grain was in progress,
with stacks Of early grains already made and
good deal of wheat and oats in shock Evil
IDENTITY the general yield of small grain is
something above the yearly average. The
corn crop looks as if it would yield largely,
and vegetables of all kinds are ripening and
growing without harm. Potatoes seemed to
have entirely escaped the damage by bugs
which has for several years been evident IN
the fields of this region.
The numbering interests of Rush City and
Pine City appeared as strong and active as
ever, and all along the st. Paul 81 Duluth
line the saw mills, lumber yards. and piles
6 fnlaf nh
poles showed the continued predominance
of industries devoted to cutting and market
ing the timber Of the country But there
are also many evidences that the farmers
who have located in this forest country
are marketing good deal OF
grain and other produce, and are
doing well in ali lines of agricultural enter
prise.
The dinner at Hiuckley was entirely salts
factory ia all of the party, as it always is to
travellers over the st. Paul 81 Duluth road.
The line of this road, through the forest
region, shows the worst of the country. 1t
runs for long distances through burnt woods
and among jack pines and tamaracks, but
occasionally gives glimpses of fine groves
of hard woods and white and red pines. AS
rule the only signs of permanent settlers in
the woods are the frequent piles of wood and
ties they hauled to the track last winter under
contract with the railroad company, which
buys at the track all cut by settlers on its
lands. In going over the divide between
the waters flowing into Lake Superior and
into the Mississippi the charcoal pits, where
coal is burned for the Duluth blast furnaces,
were noticed by all the party as curious
things to be inquired about. A few Indians
were also seen, and the excurslonists were
somewhat surprised that many of these berry
pickcrs were deccnty clad in civilized cos
tunes.
Our conductor having a little time gain ed,
kindly stopped the train in an unoccupied
blueberry patch, over which the whole party
was soon distributed, picking and eating the
largest Of berries, ripe and delicious, and also
gathering wintergreeus, which were nov
city to most of the party.
A LOST REGULATOR.
In riding up the road some of the editors
were reminded Of the great benefit resulting
to Minnesota from the opening Of the st.
Paul IL Duluth road, about sixteen years ago,
in the immediate reduction of freight rates to
and from the east, and they remembered that
this road added about ten cents bushel to
the value of all the grain Minnesota then had
for export. In conversation following men
ton of this fact they were also reminded of
the time, only Il few years ago, when this i'm
portaut road could have been purchased in
the interest of st. Paul or Minnesota for ST.
$50, 000-when it was proposed.in the legis-
laturc (by c. II. Lienau and olhers) that the
state should buy it 10y an issue of bonds
for the amount named, and should hold 1t
as n regulator of freight rates; when f. K.
Dclano supplemented the proposition by an
offer to lease and operate and maintain and
improve the road, with regulations and rates
fixed by the state to secure the common in
terests of It's people. Political considerations
were united at the time with railway inter
ests aud the proposition was easily defeated.
The road has since been purchased by COM
binatiou If railroad companies and though
Il is liberal in its management and
operated to great advantage of the country,
Especially of the country II traverSes) it is
no longer Il factor to be considered by rail
way men in forming pools and fixing rates.
1t belongs to the combined railway system
of the Northwest and as far Us the producers
and shippers are concerned may be counted
Rs a lost regulator. Had it been bought by
the state, when the state could have bought
it. the state would have had greater power
and easier to exercise than it possesses in
its sovereignty, for the regulation of rates
and fares on all railroads
ST. LOUIS DALLEs.
The ride from Thompson down the banks
of the st. Louis river is full of interest. But
our eXcursiouists noted that the march of
improvement has taken away some of the
natural attractions of the Dalles The log
driving company which has undertaken TO
open and perfect log channel from Knife
Falls to Fond du Lac, has taken most of the
water away from the rocks and at this season,
when the river is low,
there are no long stretches
of water beaten into foam and spray; but in
stead acres Of slaty rock on edge form most
OF the bed of the river. Something of the
iuteres; attaching formerly to the ride down
the st. Louis river has also been taken away
by the Improvement Of the road bed, and
especially by the bridges over the deep
ra,iues being strengthened and iron COW
cred. There is no longer the suggestion of
possible danger in the view of gorges over
which We rode, hundred feet or more above
their bottoms.
At the foot of the rapids and head of the
stili water, we glided by Fond du Lac, the
ancient settlement, where long ago Indian
missionaries and Indian traders were the