Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1842-05-28
CoMNERCE OF TnE LAKES

or THE LAKES.
The grea, lakes on our north AMI north western
frontier constitute one Uf The most remarkable naiurl
characteristics of tho north American coniinent-
They are spread forth in the bosom Of mighty forests
upon n sca'e Of grandeur quite in keeping with the
bold features which nature has stamped upon this
western world in tho siupendous outlines ofIts noun
Inins, the size and volume Of its rivers. tho internin-
able expaWe OF pmirie,,is sublime scenery of woods
and caiGr,cis. The extent Of some Of these lakes
woHld, IN the old world .enlitle them 10 the uppcllntion
of seas. Lake Srporror spreads over a su taco three
hundred and sixty miles la length and one hundred
and fifty ia breath. Lake Huron is two hundred
and furiy miles long ami two hundred and twenty
broad. Lakes Michigan Erie and Ontario. though OF
smaller size. are vast sheets of water, and all well
adapted for purposes OF navigaIinn.
We find in Hunts Merchants Magazine for the
present month. n brief account Of these lakes and uf
the lrade carried on upon them. Prior 10 the year
1872 the whole Commerce west Of Detroit WINS c,,n-
hned almost exclusively 10 carrying mp provisions e.
gpojs TOR the Indinn trade. anl bringing bark in re-
mrn the fnns and other articles collected by that tude
tr an eastern market. and the f~reighIing up Of pr
visions and supplies for the troops at the different gar.
risons established along the upper lakes.
In 1876 the wa,eIs of luke Michigan wero first
ploughed by steam "A boat having that yenr gone nn
an excursion with a party of pleasure TO Green Bay
These pleasure trips We're occasionally repeated un,
al lol2,when the necessities of the government re-
curing the transportation oi troops nni supplies fr
the Black Hawk war, several steamboats, were char
tered for that purpose. anil made their frst appear
ance IN the har or Ut Chicagp-then an open road
stead
In 1899 the increase of business TO Chicago and
ports westof Detroit. had become ~ gront that u re-.
guinr line of eight steamboats, was formed to run iron
Bnittlo to Chicago, mixing a trip IN every sixteen
days. The number Of boats ia this line was incrcas
ell IN I5lO-ihcir aggregate earnings amounted Il
I S1tZ.IDI hI TNNn fifrls nl thfz - al-s V.l -
dFed thousand dollars, may he considered as the re-
suit Of business west Of Detruit.
The nhmber Of siiivessels Owned on lake Fri,
and the upper lakes il estimated al 25O-varying il
size fuin 80 10 $50 tons burden. A Considerable
portion Of the Irade of these lakes goes through tn,
Welland canIl into Canada, 50 that an accurate esti
mate o! The while amount cannot now be convon-
'ehiiy made. The tolls received on that canal In 1911
amounted 10 about ninety thousand dollars.
There is n great quantity of good harbors un lake
hlchlsnn; and tho attention OF congress has beer
frequently called 10 this subject. Some ton or II
large vessels were lost ON that lake last year for wanI
OF shelter The steamboat trade is carried nn along
the western shore ufIhe lake because there nre no
Snie harburs on the other side. MaIwaukie, Ririne
Southport and Chicago are The principal places Of bu.
sincss.
The future increase of trade on this Lake and the
contiguous voters, j. not a mluer OF runjccturr-bur
ii certainly. Fun The data already furnished. pn,
missing ns they are. no estimate that could nDg be
made, would be likely To come up To the reality
which twenty years heucc will p eseSi. The vas,
regions bOriering on Ih1so waiers.and communica.
iInl there with by the rivers from the interior. nre
Of the richest ieruliiy-and their proluctiycncss
must become immrnse. Then there arc lakes Uur.
on and Superior To he reached. which are now nj.
most untouched. The countries bordering upon Of.
iqer OF these, would make q kingdom n Euro,e-
Bah Amer.