Duluth, a prosperous city and the chief port of entry of Minnesota, and capital of St Louis county, is picturesque situated at the west end of Lake Superior, 156 miles NNE. of St Paul, and is the terminus of a number of important railways. It has one of the finest harbours in the United States, protected by a natural breakwater known
Copyright 1889 in U.S.
by J. B. Lippincott
Company. as Minnesota Point, which is 7 miles long and about 750 feet broad. It has more than 100 miles of dock line, and, by slight improvement, deep-water navigation will soon be extended to the falls of the St Louis River, 15 miles from the lake. The United States government has expended liberal sums of money in the improvement of the harbour, by dredging and the construction of piers. The ship-canal (depth about 23 feet) through Minnesota Point forms the chief entrance way between Lake Superior and the harbour. Some 30,000,000 bushels of wheat are annually handled here; over 2000 vessels annually enter its harbour, bringing coal, and taking away iron ore and flour. Duluth contains a custom-house, United States land office, a good system of public schools, large steam sawmills, a steam-forge, flouring-mill, stock-yards, and a slaughtering and cold storage establishment. Advantageously situated at the head of navigation of the great chain of lakes, and with immense deposits of iron, granite, and freestone in the immediate vicinity, the town has rapidly increased in population and in wealth. Pop. (1880) 3483; (1890) 33,115.