Year: 1873

,.
west than these, and exposed to the bleak
winds of winter at &C degrees below zero,
lands with no timber and little water, are
advertised, sold and settled; much more
will the sheltered forest lands on the Saint
Croix grant be found in demand. Even at
the present time, the hardy and thrifty
Norwegians are settling up Burnett County
Immediately south of Douglas), and some
thirty American families are expected from
the East this season, to occupy farms IN til e
southern portion of Ashland County. At
the first promise frailway building through
this fine grant, the stream of immigration
that has so long passed by, and through
Wisconsin to find homes farther west, would
at once be attracted to the new home OF ag-
riculture, manufactures aud commerce III
Northern Wisconsin. In considering the
absolute present value of the St. Croix grant
rated bv Hon. II. L. Palmer, (he chair
men Of the assembly's select committee on
the Milwaukee and St. Paul X. K. bIll) at
from SIX TO TEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, and





It's enormous prospective value, we can on
" say with Mr. Palmer in his passing no.
tice of the absurd idea that the Mil N st.
p. Co. would not use the grant, "It would
be doing great violence to all our past
experience of men and corporations, to sup
pose them capable of refusing 50 muniti-
cent present, more especially when, as IN
this case, it is directly tributary to their
system of roads, and would enhance the
value of the lines already built


4. It is the last time the grant aci0 be
ayailaJ1o for railacay purposes. The grant
simply erists, as mortgaged property belongs
to the original owner, till the mortgage is
foreclosed, with this difference however, in
the case of the grant, that the foreclosure
will never take place at the hands Of our
generous Government, if it is put to use
acitHoaH delay. The great argument for the
resumption Of the technical rights of the
Federal government over the lands COM
prising this grant, has been that it was held
for speculating purposes Nothing but ac-
tual railway work on the line of the grant
can save it from the force of this argument
before Congress. Once taken back by the
United States, 1t will never again be avail
able for any railway building, and roads
seeking northwest Wisconsin, must supply
its place with five or ten millions, from their
+ 4
are as well known to the astute and far see
ing Alexander Mitchell, 5. S. Merrill, and
other parties connected with the VI. & St.
p. r. r. Company, as to any other men in
the whole country. Ifthey ever expect to
find it to their interest to secure the best
connections with the whole railway system
of the Northwest at the least practical ex-
pense, it is plain enough that they will
build their own lines on this grant at a very
early day. If other arrangements would
secure them eight or ten millions in place
of this grant, and five or six millions more
with which to finally, build into northern
Wisconsin, (as they must do, and will do,
sooner or later, or become mere tributary
of more enterprising roads, then it might
be possible that they would allow this grant
t. be forfeited But what other corpora
ton can pay them fifteen millions to neg
lect it? Aad who imagines that this wide
awake and powerful corporation will will
lingIy take a secondary place in the North
west?


5. There lCiU be no better time than noac,
to secure a lasting tootho1d at TIE CONNER
ciaz Key Of the Northwest. The St. Croix
grant extends to every important site at the
head Of the great Lake chain. Especially
at the immediate head of Lake Superior,
it will command an unrivalled position for
the great and rapidly coming commerce of
the future. All the world comedies that a
large and fourishing commercial city is
certain to grow up at the head of Lake Su-
perior And all the world, too, agrees that
in natural advantages for such seat of
commerce, the young city of Superior IS
unexcelled. 1t is a matter OF fact that the
Northern Pacific railway is ready ecen nor,
to put this site on an ''equal footing" with
any other actual, or possible, port at the
head of the Lake, and every indication
points unerringIy to the fact, that the open
ing Of the Continental and International
trade of that route and branches, in three
short years from date, will make the City
of Superior an important railway and com
mercial terminus. The utilizing of the St
Croix grant now, will give the Milwaukee