The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-28
RUSSELL RECALLS X,
HISTORIC FIGHTS
North Dakotan Reminiscent Of the
Monitor Victory and Duluth
Superior Dispute.
BY w. w. Jermane.


Washington, Jan. 2S.-None Of the
presidential electors bringing the votes s
thoroly enjoyed the trip than B. s. Rus
sell of North Dakota. He carries his
50 years as lightly as most men do sixty.
MIR. Russell lived for many years in the
east. In New York and Pennsylvania
many of his friends Of the old days are
still alive. s@. l.'"-.-
:, There are two events in Mr.. Russell's
life in which ne takes especial pride.
One had to do with the building Of the
historic Monitor, and the other is his
connection with the settlement of the
dispute between Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin, away back in 1873, over harbor i'm
proponents at Superior and Duluth.
ns S5te eSc a the s5e2 da7 NJ R Masa
told these two stories. He said: -
the coal which was burned in develop
ing the iron plates used sin the con-
struction of the ,Monitor. In 1862 I
was in ToWanda, Pa, operating a small
Gently gone into the hands of q receiver.
One morning his Eesei xer Uniformed me
that he had recsiv 81 an order from
Corning, Winslows il,d , ship builders Of
Troy, n. for oa*loads. or $50
tons of coal, for milking the Monitor s
iron plates. The. mlHe was back on
the mountains. and tae.eon vas semi mi
thus peculiarly adapted for the use.
"The receiver told me that if my
bank would discount the paper Of the
Troy firm, he could accept the contract,
and agreed to do 50. After the fight
in Hampton Roads. this paper was pre-
ton, and I Forwarded with it, a state
ment that the coal had built the Mont
tor, and asked if the paper ought not
therefore to be looked upon as gilt
edged. The New York banker sent me
letter, in which he said that it was
not only 'gilt-edged,' but 'iron-bound.
Pioneer of Duluth.
Mr.. Russell went to Minnesota shortly
luth, with whose early history he was
prominently identified. The older set;
tiers in Wisconsin and Minnesota will
remember the dispute between Duluth
and Superior, when the former began
to cut the present channel into Duluth
harbor. The old channel was at the
mouth Of the St. Louis river, and the
people of Superior feared the improve
ment would ruin their harbor. entrance
By 1873 it had reached the supreme
court of the United States in the form
of an application for permanent in
junction restraining Duluth from pro
ceeding with her channel, on which she
had already expended 100000:
In November, 1872. Cadwallader q
; Washburn was elected governor Of
Wisconsin, and a few days after hi
inauguration committee Of Superior
citizens waited upon him to explain
; their grievance against Duluth. The
t governor immediately called on tht
, legislature to take action, and a JON
l resolution was passed setting apart $40,
900 for defending Superior.
D When word Of this reached Duluth
: a secret meeting of prominent citizens
l was arranged for in the First ~Nationa
Mayor Sidney Luce and former Mayo
4 J. B. Culver, among others. ines
e three were directed to proceed to Wash
D ington and lay the question before tn
a Minnesota senator's. Messrs. Luce AM
Culver met Governor Washburn il
New York and explained the Minnesot'
case. With CHARACTERISTIC fairness, tn
e governor admitted that there were tW'
= sides and suggested that all hands pro pro
e ceed to Washington, where ne ynls+ VIII i
: ing Just to both cities. Mr.. Russell
t Joined his colleagues and Govern
{ or Washburn in Washington. and tn
4 party proceeded to the capitol for
I conference in the committeeman O
g Senator Timothy O. Howe Of Wisconsin
\ There were present Senator Howe, Alex
: ander Ramsey and William Wlndom
t senators from Minnesota; Philetus Saw
}. yer, congressman from Wisconsin, and
n member of the rivers and haRbors SUB
: committee in charge Of appropriation
for the Great Lakes, and jeremiah Rusk
: member Of congress from Wisconsin, an
representing Superior.
!, Only Survivor Of Conference.
nThere were nine in that party,
l said Mr.. Russell, !" and probably an
the only one Of them now alive.
t Governor Washburn explained tina
he had written his message to the Wis
consin legislature on the facts set fort
by the Superior delegation: Ther
are two sides to the case, however,
he continued, "and if 1 had know
!, earlier what I know now, my messag
4 would have taken an entirely differ
emit form. Duluth has certain impol
d tant rights, and they should be pro
:. tected.O The Duluth improvement
i we're under the direction Of Genera
Humphrey, chief Of army engineers, b
:. explained. and the cutting of the Dr
: luth channel, in the opinion Of the GOV
{. eminent experts, would not interfer
Il with the harbor at Superior, but nigh
: actually benefit it.
After good deal Of discussion,