The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-13

foreign birth. I'm 1873 the number had
grown to Q, 1000. and the increase has
been practically constant ever since. al.
belt there have been occasional reac-
tionary lapses following periods of over.
booming. When the cornerstone of the
new Board of Trade building was laid
the other day. the town had for years
passed the experimental period. as is
evidenced by the fact that the contracts
for the structure call for the expenditure
Of $3.50, 900.
1t is not SO very long ago that the
claims of those who foretold d great fu-
ture for Duluth were laughed to scorn by
those who had not properly considered
them. The most famous piece OF fun
poking In connection with Duluth was
the speech delivered in January, 1871.
by Hon. j. Proctor Knott Of Kentucky.
then a member of the house Of represent
atives at Washington The occasion Of
its making was q resolution for the ex-
tension OF the time allowed FOR the COM.
pletion Of railroad TO the young city, I
and the address was such q masterpiece
In its way as to attract the attention Of
the entire civilized world. 1t was dur.
ing this speech that Mr.. Knott dubbed
Duluth THE Zenith City Of the IN
salted Seas " His words embodied the
most extravagant but sarcastic prophe-
cies as to the future Of the town, but
they made Duluth famous and actually
helped its progress amazingly, They
also established Knots reputation as
the wit of the house
It has been often stated that the
speech was really written by that agile
penned promoter, P. Donan. with the
intention of assisting the Duluthian
boom. and it has been pointed out i'm
support Of the story that Knott never
after delivered q similar speech. Those
who know him best say that there isiI
very little probability that DOMAIN was
the author Of his address, and these
who are familiar with Dosiamss style
agree with them MR. Knots speech
was mot besprinkled with such prcfusion
of polysyilabfc gems as DOMAIN prodnc-
eions always show, and in manner and
phraseoloQy IL was similar to many aft
er dinner addresses that have been de-
iivered by the Kentuckian. The reason
he has never delivered another similar
public speech Ii believed by his friends
10 lie i'm the fact that he realized that
he had made the mistake of his life In
allowing the comic muse 90 dominate
him when on the door Of the house.
Duluth's indignation because Of this
attack was intense at first, but 1t van-
ished as soon as IL was seen that the ef.
feet was good and not bad In 1890 the
Kentuckian was made the guest of the
city. A public reception was held In the
daytime. and In the evening there was al
grand banquet. atwhich he was the
chief speaker. He then embraced the
opportunity to take everything back,
and his remarks were received with the
utmost enthusiasm.
The Duluth board Of trade was organ
ixed In 1851 by nine business men "a
handsome building was put mp in 1885
at cost Of $1I5, 900. including site. In
February this structure was destroyed by
Ere, and the site, which cost 80, 900 In
1855, would now sell readily for $50. Y
900. There are not many towns in the
United States in which real estate val
| mes OF 1894 are so much higher than
! were the values OF 1885. The member
ship Of the Duluth board Of trade at the
| present time is 1875. Last year the wheat
receipts aggregated SO. 9IO, 900 bushels.
the -four receipts. 6,979, 900 barrels,
z, ,Oss, 900 u which were ground in the
local mills The wheat shipments for
I 1893 were SO 100, 900 bushels and the
fiour shipments Q, 902, 900 barrels.
The harbor Of Duluth IS now visited
by seagoing vessels that make their way
thither through the St Lawrence. the
j great lakes and the Welland canal, 1t
was at Duluth that the first whaleback
boats, the carrying craft of the fn-
ture, y were first built