Year: 1874

with the Northern Pacific Railroad at the
head of Lake Superior; and, following the
example of Minnesota, as those roads were
before the Wisconsin Legislature, we propos-
ed to impose upon them an irrevocable ter
minus upon Wisconsin soil, and a connection
plane south of the St. Louis river, instead of
tamely submitting to have Superior made
second 0neota to Duluth, or a flag station on
the line of Wisconsin roads running into Du.
iuth, and infict upon these Wisconsin roads
the necessity of running mp into the Duluth
pocket, and pay tribute to two crossings of
the st. Louis river, ene-fourth increase of
distance, double the gradient, tea times the
curvature, and one Of the most ill-advised
pieces of railroad in the United States.


1t was of little moment to us whether Con-
gress would repeal the Act or no: we wanted
no more outide meddiing, and asked this
simply as protest against future intevfer-
ence. Aud it was done with the express un-
ders.anding that any further action was to
await the arrival of the delegation from Su-
perior. Only one of that committee made
any objection to its passage; and stated that
he had been requested to object, but did not
urge any objections after it was explained.


In the meantime a letter was received by
the Member from this district imploring him
to kill the memorial in the House. When
spoken 10 about it, my reply was, | cared but
little about the matter; those here from Su-
perior think the bridge act should go with the
rest of the compromise, and that | did not
believe there were dozen persons in Supe-
rior who did not wish to see the whole mat,
ter wiped out, and that those who were OBJ
jecting to this protest by the Legislature
against Congressional Interference, were sim
ply afraid their individual property would be
affected thereby.


Believing I was, with the whole of the Su-
perior delegation at Madison, working for
the best interest of the whole County and
State, and that the time had come when by
determined united effort we had every pros
pect of success; that the moneyed power that
had heretofore ove1powered Superior was
tied up in the Courts of Bankruptcy, aid that
our neighbor over the Bay was following hard
in his wake; is it any wonder that no thought
was given to any individuals corner lots, or
that for one moment any one in Superior
would wish to hold on to the worst feature of
the Washburn compromise.


And to those who think the recent action
in regard to the compromise viii bring down
upon Superior the enmity of the Northern
Pacific Railroad Compary, can answer
that road stands ready to give up the large
amount invested in order to get rid of the
Duluth elephant; and that at the very time
of the compromise and ever since, have dep
recated the necessity that inflicted upon
them that bridge 10 avoid the dyke and canal
suit; and that they are to-day thankful for
the relief we are willing TO accord them.


The whole question is capable Of but one
solution shall we retain and build that
bridge and thereby adopt the Duluth system
of railroads, or shall we repudate the bridge
and build railroad system of our own that
will build up Superior. Let US get our own
system first, connecting our Wisconsin roads
with the North Pacific on the natural divide
between the St Louis and Nemadji rivers,
and then Duluth can have all the bridges she
wants, provided she don't ask us to build
them for her


Nor do believe to-day, with right un-
derstanding of the matter, one dozen men III
this town would sign the remonstrance | am
informed has been so largely signed and sent
to Madison And in conclusion lei me say,
do value the good opinion OF all fair mind
ed men, and would not willingly forfeit it; /;
and hope that I may never be brought to
such a strait as TO be Influenced, in carry
ing out any object, to use the misstatements
by which l am informed signatures were OBJ
tanned 10 that remOnstranee.


RICHARD RELF.