Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1903-07-15
THE HEAD OF THE LAKES
CENTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
Some of the Present Industrial Achieve.
mentS and Future Possibilities of the
Cities of Duluth and West Sup.
eriOr, as viewed by the
Editor.

There are few more interesting
American cities for the tourist to visit
than Duluth and West Superior, stu.
ated as they are almost in the center
of the great North American CONT
nent, holding positions of CONNER
cial advantage excelled by no other
inland cities at the head of the
largest and last of the greatest chain
of fresh water lakes on earth, a
natural gateway of commerce to
every country in the world, and about
which lies a vast undeveioped coun-
try, rich in fertile untitled soil, upon
which stands a boundless expanse of
the finest forests, and beneath which
rests countless tons of valuable
mineral deposits. 1t is the market
and shipping center for one of the
greatest producing sections Of the
world, in products hewn from the
natural forests, grown upon the sur
face, or dug from the bosom of the
earth as we'll as the gateway through
which the mined and manufactured
products of the east must pass to reach
| the vast territory of the northwest,
! including the great Canadian posses
sions and the western states, making
section to which these cities are
! directly tributary larger in itself than
J 81 d.
of its beautiful surrounding scenery,
it's vast resources, its commanding
situation, its industrial development,
and the char acteristic wealth and sue
cessful business enterprise of its
people, Duluth affords most delightful
attractions for the visitor
In response to an invitation from
Mr. Chas. S. Hazen, of the Boston
and Duluth Farm Land Company, the
writer spent last Thursday and Friday
in the city of Duluth, during which
time he was most delightfully."- enter
! tanned While two days is far too
short time in which to thoroughly
cover city and learn of its natural
and material resources, yet we saw so
much of interest that it proved to he
one OF the . .ost enjoyable trips we
have ever taken.
Leaving Decorah in the morning
via the G. M. q st. p. R'y, we ar
rived at st. Paul that evening where
| nd nvf
morning left for Duluth over the
Northern Pacific railway. passing
through section of rolling farm
land, approaching the timber country
at White Bear. The remainder of the
journey was made through partially
developed country, mostly "cut over"
timber land, dotted here and there
with cultivated farms; through Rush
City and Harris, great potato market,
from which potatoes are shipped to all
parts of the world; Pine City, wide
awake little city about which stretch
miles of pine forests; through more
barren timber country to Hinkley,
memorable for the great forest fires of
q few years ago, and Carleton, a rail-
road center of some prominence. We
soou entered a mountainous timber
country, gliding in and out amongst
huge hills of dark colored granite
and slate, down which trickle spark
ling trout streams and waterfalls.
gradually winding our way down the
hills to the beautiful city of West
Superior. nesting at the foot of the
bluffs on the shores of the great Lake
Superior. Here live about $4,000
people, an enterprising Wisconsin city
whose principal business interests,
like Duluth, are shipping and ship
building, receiving and saving lum-
Dor. shipping and blasting iron ore,
burning coke, wholesaling and job
bling, handling grain, coal, etc. West
Superior has splendid harbor, good
railroad facilities, and the same
superior advantages over other cities
as Duluth, the two being practically
the same city, separated only by the
ST. Louis river.
Speeding across the state line into
Minnesota, a view of the city of
Duluth unfolds before us like beauti-
full panorama. The city stretches for
miles along the shores of Lake
Superior, on the sides of steep hills, a
veritable amphitheatre, overlooking
the placid waters of the lake. The
saying that it is twenty-five miles
long, a half mile wide and a mile
high" is almost literally true. The
view is beautiful both from the hills
on one side and the lake OH the other
A boulevard driveway of about TWEEN
ty- five miles along the crest of the
hills, overlooking the city and the
lake, through numerous parks and
over manv sparkling brooks, with the