Year: 1871

UREs FOR ITS PROTECTION.
adjournment passed an act for the protec-
ton of the Harbor of Superior, basing its
action upon the following memorial from
citizens of Superior:


To the Honorable tie Legislature of the State of His-


cousin:


Your memoriasts, residents of Superior, would
respectfully represent that the entry of the Bay of
Superior at the mouth of St Louis River, is the nat
ural channel of communication between Lake Superior
and the said Bay:


That said Bay is an immense natural harbor, having


frontage of many miles in each of the States of Wis
consin and Minnesota, and is amply available for the
of Superior, and of Duluth in the State Of
Minnesota


That the United States Government Works in
progress for the improvement of said entry can be
completed according to official estimates for the sum
of about Sl4 900 of which SS5 900 has been appro
priated and will be expended the present season.


That the most important element in the plan of said
government works, is the combined and undminished
flow of the St Louis and Nemadji rivers through said
entry whereby the formation OF bar shoal outside
will be prevented, and hence is the danger of opening
any other channel between said bay, through Mime
Point whereby as to a outlet the current
of the St Louis would be diverted as to impair and
sad RsF and render nuaor the


That it is the opinion of the United States Govern
ment Engineers, after careful examination of the
subject that the construction of canal through said
Point would be likely by means of the diversion of
the St Louis river, destroy seriously impair the
natural entry being improved aforesaid at the
mouth of that river and that said opinion has been
embodied in an elaborate official report the War
Department.


Your memoralists would further represent that the
city of Duluth under the sanction of the State of Mime
sofa, is now engaged in constructing through said
Minnesota Point near its base, canal dyke, 800
feet in width and IA feet in Depth which, in the belief
of your memoriasts when, fullg opened will result in
the diversion of the current of the St Louis river
through said canal, and the consequent filling up of
the present channel by deposits of sediment in the bed
of the stream and the permanent settlement of accre


ons at its mouth, washed up from the lake. all to the
manifest and rreparable injury of the harbor of Supe
ror ard of the city OF Superior, situated thereon.


That the diversion of said river through such arti-
fetal channel would in effect conine the outlet of said
exclusively within the territory and jurisdic
ton of Minnesota, and would therefore be an infrac


ton of the sovereign rights of the State of Wisconsin


That the construction of said canal the part of
Duluth is by means owing to the necessities of the
case, but to its unwngneSs to share with Wisconsin
the advantages of natural harbor unsurpassed for its
capabty of safe and easy access, its facility of i'm
provcment and the perfect protection which it affords
to shipping


That it is the conviction of your memorialists that
the danger result from the completion of the pro-
posed through Mime Point can be averted on
y by the prompt interpostion of tie State of Wscon
sin in that behalf


That this unjustfable and injurious work with
difficulty, if at all be arrested by the exertions of in
dviduals for the reasons, amcng others that
fully to contest it is beyond the pecunary means of
citizens single handed, and the issue bel rather of
public than of private nature, requires matter of
policy less perhaps than of necessity that the
State of Wisconsin come in party in order to
fair and full determination of all the questions
/ involved.


Your memoriasts further represent that in the
foregoing they substantially express the opinions and
views prevailing with the people of their section of the
State, and with all impartial and intelligent obser
of the situation.


memorabilia the Legislature of this State TO adopt
such shall seem most fitting and expedi-
ent to be taken in the premises.


a bill was subsequently introduced by
Mr.. Vaughn, of Bayfield,, which has be-
come law. We copy the following from it:
/ Section l. The Governor is hereby authorized and
directed TO inquire into and ascertain whether the
completion of the canal being ted through
Minnesota Point will such diversion of the
of the St Louis river will seriously iniure the
harbor of Superior CITY, the thereto from
the lake And if, in his opinion, the completion of
said canal will such diversion and such injury to
the said harbor the entrance thereto, be is direct
ed to all necessary and proper means TO prevent
the completion of said work. And for that purpose
(
counsel assist him in the prosecution of the
may him proper and for the best interests OF
the State.


The second section appropriates suffi-
cient sum to defray the expenses contem-
plated in the preceding section, not exceed
ins five thousand dollars, to be drawn on a
certificate of the Governor and Attorney
General as to the correctness of the account
i We call careful attention to the forego
ing statement OF the case of Superior Har
Dor, and the legislation on the subject
Questions of unusual interest, legal and
scientific will be developed in the course o.