Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-11
CORRESPONDENTS.

West Superfor-A City While NoE
 wait-Business Chances-The ClI-
 mate and Surroundings.
 WEST SUPERIOR, Wis, April 24. Tothe Editor of the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 It may be interesting to your readers to hear something of the phenomenal growth of this city at the head of Lake Superior. To many people in the east, even in the city of New York, this city is perhaps un- known; and yet here we have a city that is in no sense "boom town," but a thriv ing populous city of twenty thousand people. Five years ago what is now West Superior was practically wooded marshy tract of land seemingly only likely to be- come of any value on account of it's un- rivalled geographical position. To-day it is well-built modern city, with miles of graded and paved streets, fine hotels and business blocks, churches, opera houses, ship yards, elevators, &c., &e. Here we have every modern improvement, inclu ding all applications of electricity and the lake advantages. All is hustle and activi- ty, and the city is rapidly outgrowing its sister city Duluth) across the bay. Du- luth is twenty five years old and has at present about forty thousand inhabitants, but it is unfortunately fanked by rocky hill which is impregnable and prevents its growth except along the lake shore, and in very narrow limits.
 West Superior, on the contrary, is level and there is no limit to the direction in o1, is not addressing you in the interest of | any corporation or individual; he has no "axe to grind" but having travelled very extensively, he has been impressed by the | great possibilities offered by this city, and | if your readers are interested and led to | personally investigate, his mission is ac- | complished, and he will feel that he has been of service to the people of Connecti- cut and to the city he claims as his birth place.
 First, there are few plain facts which
 may not be known to you in the east, but
 which are of great interest; Superior's grain shipments last year were greater
 than those of Chicago; freight rates on
 coal from Buffalo to Superior by water
 were the greater part of last season fifteen
 cents per ton less than to Chicago, and the
 actual distance is twenty-five miles less in
 favor of Superior.
 The tonnage of vessels making this port
 last year exceeded those at the ports of
 Liverpool and London. Here at this point
 is the western limit of navigation. Yes
 sells of ordinary draught can now come to
 this port from any part of the world, and
 there are now being built here at the ship
 yard two vessels (haH submarine, the so-
 called whale backs) for the South Ameri-
 can trade. might recount many other
 interesting facts, but let me speak of some
 of the advantages offered to eastern par,
 ties for locating their plants here and in
 vesting their capital. With view of in-
 parties owning the land in this vicinity are offering to eastern parties who will , come here and erect factory and agree tc
 employ a certain number of men, not only
 a free gift of the land, but a liberal cash
 bonus.
 have just been east and talked with large manufacturers and their first re
 mark naturally is: ''Oh, we cannot in vest quite so far north" but when YOU ) consider the extent of country which if E subject to Superior, and the points te which freights are shipped via Superior
 you will readily see the great advantagei to be derived from the plants located here Iron can be had here very cheap, as tn, mines are close at hand. Coal is twenty , five cents per ton less than at Chicago ! and timber Gnciuding hard wood can al : most be had for the cutting. All northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, ant s even the cities of Minneapolis and St | Paul, are tributary to and get their freightl via Superior. Already there are located
 here many factories which are doing thriving business and employing thou sands of men. forbear mentioning an, 8 by name, as I have no desire to give fire, : advertisement to any concern; but ther , 1 is room for more, and many of your larg concerns would do we'll to correspond with @ view to erecting western branche q in this city. I can assure them they woult 8 reap rich harvest.
 The secretary of the chamber of com
 merce here is very courteous and desiroa - of extending all possible information t. D eastern parties; correspondence sddresseC n to him will receive prompt attention. a might tell you stories (true tool whicl would read like an "Arabian Nights tales, of the fortunes that have been mad
 here Land in the city seems to me to b
 held in some cases at too high figure e but in the suburbs there are great bar it gains, and money is made every day on