The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1922-01-07

On November 20, l90o, the steamer
Mataafa was wrecked at the Duluth
entry. The people of today regard the
storm which caused the destruction OF
the vessel and the tragic fate of so
many of her crew as having marked
the eliminating fury of Lake Superior.
The sad occurrence is not referred %
here with any intention Of withdraw
ing, even for moment, the deepening
veil with which the kindly years over
lay the cruel realities of the event, but
merely to use it as the starting point,
as it actually was, Of one OF those
plundering enterprises which spring
from the sordid element in human ma
ture, and which has had its counter
part in hundred cities. ...."....
The canal piers had been completed
but recently by the federal govern
ment and the, people of Duluth were
surprised and disappointed to learn
that so much difficulty attended the
approach in time of storm. Many plans
to obviate the difficulty were suggested
and public sentiment seemed to crys-
talize in favor for breakwater to be
built at some distance from the en-
trance, which would furnish a large
harbor of refuge outside the natural
harbor. Meetings were held, a power
full lot Of talking was done, a delega-
ton was sent to interview the officials
of the War Department at Wash
ington, and the net result was an in
timation from the United States Bureau
of Engineering that, when the demands
upon the department would allow and
the necessary funds were available, the
government would, give attention to
this feature of the ports requirements.
It is understood that government op-
erations at the Duluth harbor have
been carried on since that time con-
sistently with the idea of building a
breakwater from the shore line some
where in the vicinity of Fifteenth
Avenue East and extending a suitable
distance into the lake, in direction
nearly parallel with Minnesota Point.
| Another development of some inn
portance followed as result Of the
storm. Many Of the small dwellings
along the shore between the Duluth &
Iron Range Railroad tracks and the
canal had been badly damaged and
their sea walls of various kinds, built
for protection against the northeasters,
had in many cases been washed away.
Failing to secure any assistance from
the city, the owners Of these places
waited upon the resident U. 8. Engi-
neer and this official, having full
knowledge Of what his petitioners had
to contend against, gave them sympa-
/ thetie hearing. He advised them that
/ If they could contrive any way to do
it, he would permit them to fill in the
water to a distance Of three hundred
feet from the street Line which, in
places, conceded nearly with the edge
| of the water. This would place fairly
| safe distance between their homes. and
their enemy, the water. Eager to get
all the advantage possible form this
spread information in regard to the new
privilege, the men began at once to
and convenient dumping ground avail.
able along this water front, giving OF
their o-.n time and labor in seeing that
the material placed there was properly
distributed and offering occasional
little brides in cash and cigars to en-
tice teamsters their way. Within a
year an appreeiable area Of new ground
intervened between the houses and the
water. At the end Of the second year,
the expanse of growing land was no
ticeable from the upper streets OF the
city and became the subject OF frequent
comment. Many covetous eyes were
turned towards this reclaimed land
which the humble shore jewellers by
their initiative and perseverance had
brought into existance.. ... :
Here was now sketched the outlines
of a situation in which the most or
binary mind could not fail to see great
possibilities. Study the picture mo-
ment: A breakwater to be built by
the federal government, which would
greatly extend the shipping area of the
port and enhance very materially the
value of property contiguous to the
secondary harbor; and well under way
on the shore of. this outer harbor, the
reclamation of aslarge area of Level
ground available for any of the pur'
poses to which water front property
usually is assigned. In the minds of
some men quickly was formed the de.
termination, eresSed partly by the ne.
cessities and perseverance of few
Door and harassed ecitizens and partly
by the united effort of the people in
trying to advances their community in
r terests. n
It would be tedious to. follow the
movement of this plot from the time
the method of procedure was deter.
mined upon to the day of the first
overt act. The daily papers were fully
primed and kept up their propaganda
/ in favor of park along that part OF
the shore against which designs were
laid. However, up to the time thai
!. commission government was adopted II
Duluth the raiders do not seem to have
been able to pass the barriers. The new
system had been in effect but a few
months, however, when the city govern
ment was captured and the consplra
tors were represented at the council
board. :.
! In publishing the next installment Of
this narrative, the head sawyer will en-
counter the most unpleasant duty which
has come his way in a newspaper ex
( perience Of 80 years. I It will involv'
the names of well known men who hav'
reached, or passed, the meridian o.
life, and who prize, as men prize NJ
other thing, the possession Of q good
name. More than two years ago, tn,
Rip-saw sounded clear note of warn