Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-08-23
WINNIPEG AND DULUTH
ANOTHER LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.
Pen Pictures Of Winnepeg, Crookston,
Bemidii, Cass Lake, Duluth.
And the Great Lakes.

There is perhaps no city on the
American continent today which has
received so much attention from pro-
spective settlers and investors in the
northwest as Winnepeg, the capital
of the Province of Manitoba and the
gateway to western Canada. for
through this rapidly developing
metropolis pass daily hundreds of set
tiers from the United States and for
eign countries, seeking a new home
for themselves in the vast expanse of
fertile territory now being opened to
| the homes ecker.
A quarter of century ago Winnepeg
was but small isolated village. with
out railway. Today it is thriving
progressive city of nearly 100. 600 people
the center of several railway systems.
having the largest railway yardage in
the world. A visitor is at once i'm
pressed with its streets and avenues,
many of them $50 feet wide. it's mas
sive modern sky-scrapers. its many
miles of asphalt streets and handsome
residence districts. There seems to
be bank at nearly every other door,
There are twenty large banking in
stitutions with scores of branches, all
in magnificent buildings. and assets
reaching as high as s2S. 000 in
several instances. A bank failure has
been unknown in the history of Win
nepeg. The growth Of the CITY in
all lines is marvellous. large busi-
ness blocks. hotels. and thousands Of
residences being in process of erection
in all parts of the CITY. These i'm
provements in 1904 were valued at
$40. 600. 600 and during the first six
months of 1905 they were &s. 500. 600.
The public buildings. stores and
offices all have an air of solidity
suggestive Of prosperity and business
enterprise. while the fact that Win.
nepeg has made such rapid increase
| in her customs duties. bank clearings
and postal revenue ranks it among the
most progressive aud eventually the
largest city in the Dominion of
Canada.
A night ride brought Us across the
line into the United States at st.
Vincent. where a custom house omcer
examined our baggage, and thence to
Crookston, thriving city Of about
s, 600 people. 1t is prominent railway
town, a division point, has good
buildings. well kept streets and a
general appearance of progressiveness.
The next morning we rode to Be-
midi. where we spent the afternoon
and evening. This is new town
which has had a remarkable growth
and has bright prospects for the
future. It is in the midst of the vast
undeveloped forests of Minnesota and
situated between two beautiful lakes,
which furnish delightful summer re-
sorts. Where nine years ago was
desolated forest is now an enterpris-
ing city. mostly young Americans
who have located here to grow mp
with the country, and are making a
modern city with surprising rapidity.
The population of Bemidji in 1900 was
only 400, and in 1903 was 1857. with
the same remarkable growth since
that time. 1t supports daily paper,
has three immense saw mills, one
employing 400 hands, and several other
industries. The surrounding country
is heavy forest, of pines and hard
good. and the climate is exhilirating.
A 5000 horse water power plant is
being constructed near the city to
transmit electricity to Bemidji for
power and light. The Mississippi river
flows through Lake Bemidji. down
which is foated logs from the forest
to be converted into sawed lumber.
In this beautiful lake we spent about
three hours, catching 10 fine large
perch, and about the same number of
mosquito bites.
That night we rode fifteen miles
east to Cass Lake, another summer
resort town of about 1000 people. 1t
is good town, the lumber industry
predominating. and Cass Lake is one
of the most beautiful in the lake
region. 1t is l4miles long and miles
wide. and has within it a natural
popularity in an island of about l40O
acres within which is lake of 400
acres with fine bass fishing. On Cass
Lake we spent an hour trolling for
pickerel and muscallonge and enjoy
ing the beautiful scenery.
AT noon we started for Duluth run
ming through the dense pine forest
country Of northern Minnesota, a very
interesting sight to the tourist. For
an hour at time we would see no
sign Of the ravages of civilization
upon this vast primeval forest save
An occasional Indian hut or looo;pg