Year: 1878

THE DULUTH HARBOR CONVENTION.
Aote Letter. From Hon. ". C.. AIIen-The


Bssns0rck Delegation.


RACINE, Wis, Dec. II, 1878.


Hon. b. Ii. Rice, st. Paul Mimi:


Your very kind Invitation sent me to at
tend the convention to be held in your city
on the 18th inst, was duly received. I have
carefully noted the propositions to be sub
mltted for the consideration of the conven-
ton. Ihe subject matters, as you well
know, are not new to me. Since visited
Duluth, Northern Minnesota and the British
Possessions, 1 have devoted much time to
study up the great valley from the Gulf of
Mexico to the Arctic ocean, lying between
the Aleghanies on the east and the Rocky
mountains on the west. It is in TACT one
conhnuous valley, as the waters of Big
Stone lake and Lake Traverse flow together
IN the flood time; forming continuous wa
ter line by way Of the Missouri and the ia
vored Red River of the North from the
Gulf of Mexico to Hudson bay, though the
waters from the two named lakes flow in op-
poslte directions. The neck of land living
between the two lakes, fguratively speaking,
forms fulcrum over which this great valley
bends to the north and to the south. This
neck OF land does not exceed 1000 feet above
the level OF the sea, and little over 200 feet
above your city. II [ am correctly in
formed, your city and the city of Winnipeg
nave corresponding elevation above the
sea. In my investigation of this great val
ley am disposed to call it one yalley-the
greatest valley on the globe-embracing
every kind OF climate and productions, with
soil nowhere surpassed in fertility, or ez-
ceeds It's healthful climate, pure water mag
n1hcent rivers, rich and inexhaustible min
erals OF every kind known to the use of
man, and tlmbers Of every variety in greater
abundance than elsewhere found now on the
continent of North America east of the
Rocky mountains. Location, the diversity
of soil and climate, the great water commu-
nications, formed by the great rivers of this
valley, with her other inexhaustible natural
resources, waiting for man to apply thera
for his use and comfort, all tend to the ele-
yation OF the noblest race of men the world
has ever produced, and, more than this, will.
IT the natural causes are not subverted, make
the people of this great homogeneous portion
OF our great confederacy, and may be truly
called the spinal column of the nation, from
which the commercial, manufacturing. agri-
cultural, mineral and financial nerves radiate
to every part of the union. [ need not stop
here to enumerate the other great forces or
factors, which will make the people of this
great valley the excelsior portion of our
nation. The educational institutions of this
great valley, SO lately wilderness, the home
of the savage, stands now in the front rank
with kindred institutions OF the older sister
States, If not with the best in the old world.
The religion of its people is the purest, as
we'll as its morals; the laws the most equita-
bic; and the industry of the inhabitants
have no equal. Bold, courageous and en-
terprlsing, ready at all times to grapple with
the most difficult problems for solution, and
ready to undertake the most hazardous en-
terpriZes to develop the great natural wealth
OF this valley, ever manifesting their SINGER
ity IN the almost lavish use of their wealth
for the purpose. Thus far be it said to
their credit, the leaders of the great enter
prises which have been undertaken and
finished have fewer mistakes, if any have
been made, than in any other part of our
country. What has been done now Or owe
more than the representations of the pro-
jectors, however wild she less creduous and
enthusiastic considered the projects at the
time. The great enterprises which have
been projected by the brain of men in this
valley, and carried through to comparative
completion, is not only the wonder but the
admiration of all intelligent people. No
parallel of the kind can be found in olden
or modern times. To know what has been
done IN little over a quarter of century
IN this valley one is only to travel from
the Gulf of Mexico to Lake Winni-
peg, mark the parallel lines of railroads,
whose iron arms reach not only across the
valley, but extend from ocean to ocean, with
parallel lines running mort and south from
point to point, and as 1 write these lines
man can start from the city of New Orleans,
from the Pacific coast, from any city on the
Atlantic, and ride by railroad to the city of
Winnipeg, as easily and comfortably as he
can sit IN his arm chair by his own fire.
side. Verify, when contemplated these
things rise up in wonder and astonishment
before us. Truly there are men whose brains
have been at work and accomplished these
magnificent things, while the mass of people
have lived on unconscious of their growth
or the magnitude or their extent, or stood
by and derided the efforts Of their projectors
as stupendous folies. Still the brave, bold,
calculating hearts of those who have carried
the burden have won the victory, and this
great valley is united north and south, east
and west with an iron net work to last for
ever-the great arteries which form our
commercial relations, not only with ourselves
as a nation, but with all the world, and this
has been all done in a little more than
quarter of century, demonstrating the fact
that, wherever the means of speedy transpor-
tation goes, the people follow on and fill up
the land-turn the wild and uuoccupied
lands into happy and sumptuous homes,
towns and cities arise, together with all the
appointments of a higher civilization, NOR
ais, culture and religion. Who will now
deny that these enterprises are not preachers
of Ri ghtousness-the schoolmasters of the age,
and the active men who pushed them to
completion are not the peoples prophets
Some one has done all this. The mass of
the people, not US. Then who is it that has
wrought out these great things for them.
few, only few, and they may be without
honor in their own country. Man is slow
ty give credit to whom it is due, but


Truth, crushed to earth shall rise again,


The eternal years of God are hers


But error wounded, writhes with pain,


And dies among his worshippers.'


You will understand / take this valley as
whole. have, as I believe, truthfully call
ed it the spinal column of the nation, nor
does this column end where national line
is drawn, but reaches to the North as far as
man can and will live. I have long known
there is no love in trade; interest overlsaps
all nationalities. Men will trade, buy and
sell, where it is found for their interest.
Nature has so situated the great Northwest.
in British America, lying west and north
west of the lake of the woods, that the
natural and feasible outlet of that great and
fertile country is into the States. First to
Minneapolis and st. Paul, then to Mil
warkee and Chicago. The wealth which is