The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1902-08-29

Looking to the future, Duluth can
point to many things on which it can
base prudent prophesies of further
greatness. The numbering business en-
ploys thousands directly and indirectly,
and may reasonably be expected to do
SO for many years to come. Iron min
| ing is colossal and constitutes a strong
staff on which values here may safely
Irest. Railroad and shipping interests
make Duluth a permanent point on the
Imap, and with the railroad connections
and extensions expected to the north
Duluth will be the great north central
railroad center of America Manufac-
turing and wholesaling are developing
every day, and the future is bright,
indeed. Lately, a new factor has come
into existence, which, as much as any
! other will form in time solid and per-
manent constituency for all the bust
ness interests of Duluth.
| For nearly. fifty years the westward
tide of immigration has flowed through
the Twin Cities, northwesterly. The
lands north Of Duluth both northwest
and west, have been ignored It was
unknown land, and, being quite mac
! cessible, was condemned as worthless.
| Not so now For the last four years the
United States land office here has
ltransactedMR business in dis
posing of the public domain of any Of
! fiece in the county. In that period
nearly million dollars has been paid
into this local office for government
lands, and an area equal to several
Southern Minnesota counties has been
disposed of.
Much of this land has been taken
| for it's timber, some of it for its mineral
prospects, and perhaps one-third of it
has been entered by settlers who pro-
pose to farm. They come in large num-
| bers from Iowa and the older parts of
Minnesota, and many from the windy
plains of the Dakotas. Under present
regulations, homestead entryman is
required to see his land before filing,
and these people, most Of whom are
good judges of soil, are enthusiastic In
praise of it's quality.
Besides these hundreds of hardy emi-
grants from Europe, usually men who
have labored in the woods, mines or
cities for a few years since landing,
are and have been making entries, and
the free land they get is better than
very large areas in their native cOun-
tries, which support millions of people.
The settler always finds good water,
and there is wood for fuel for genera
lions to come. AS to the soil, there are
in the river valleys on the north Dor
| der, quarter of a million acres of
splendid land, in Western Itasca and
all through Beltrami countries. there
is a belt of black vegetable mould equal
| y1oo
wood country is settled by large
number of resident farmers and directly
north of Duluth and Two Harbors there
are several belts of fine soil.
Farming communities already possess
Aitkin and Carlton counties, all trib-
utary to this city. Within ten years
there will be at least 10000 farming
people Immediately tributary. 1 speak
only of that circle of inhabitants who
will look to Duluth as their city who
will come here in. person for business
or for relaxation, and who will dir
ectly patronize the retailer, the hotel,
the doctor, the lawyer, and the insti-
tutions of learning.
The effect OF this support on the
growth of Duluth, which has so many
other causes to grow, will certainly be
very favorable. Those who are doubt
| full Of these northern lands of which
write who note the roughness, the
absence of roads and the difficulty of
clearing, should recall that much of the
oldest and best of this country was
once as rough as North Minnesota.
Almost one half of Minnesota lies north
i of the Northern Pacific railroad. 1t is
not to remain longer in the possession
of the moose. It's time has come. Three
railroads are pushing for the northern
borders from Bemidji, Deer River and
Virginia respectively, there to connect
with the Canadian lines which run
thence to the great Canadian north
WeSt.-News Tribune.