The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-09-17
Correspondence ofthe Courier and Enquirer]
CorpER HARBoR, Lake Superior,
Augilst 81 1Hls

CorPER HARBoR, Lake Superior
August %, l8aa
The mail facilities here are such, tina, we get
sight Of the eastern papers about once in twelve
days. From the Washington papers we learn that
somewhat envenomed correspondence is there BE-
ing carried on in relation TO the condition and man.
agement OF the mineral agency here, and that COM
mission Is on its way here, instructed TO nyesigas
the statements and charges made. In the mean
time, us my engagements are such that may not
meet the commissioners, l take this method Of CIV
ing to the public my testimony in relation both oih.
condition and management Of tn agcncy.
The agency building is on RI [ers island, which
includes only few acres Of rdyk, with only soil |
enough to sustain stunied growAh of shrubs, in,.
spersed with a few trees Of dwarfsh dimeniom |
There is not on the island rod of ground capaA .
of being cultivated. The agency-house (which
also boarding house) is OF logs, tweniy.one "
sixteen feet, divided on the ground.foor into hm |
aportments---the largest being the Kitchen reception
and eating room; ore of the two others being kS |
room for the family that keeps the house, and d, |
other being the bedroom and office of the agent
The second is half-story divided into two spat |
ments--,he main one constituting the lodgihgpOa |
Of the boardcrs; but, with single exception, viii |
out beds, all others having the floor and blanket
It they happen to possess one; the other room De
office Of the surveyor, where maps are made an .
uSpcCteu ny tnOSt WHO WISH 10 make l0CallOns wv
where also, the clerks delineatc the selections made
and keep the registry Of the same. This room i |
sixteen by eight feet, with one window, the rod |
being without ceiling Of any kind, about nine I'd
high at the ridge, and at the caves coming SNn
about three feet of the floor There is no Other |
building on the island, except small cabin in vhla
provisions are kept
In this agency-house have frequently seen more |
than twenty boarlers; while, at the same time iher
were twice as many occupying tents in its yicnIy
and all for days crowding and examining the dm |
of the agent and the surveyor to degree to masf
impossible for either TO do any other business hn
to give brief answers 10 the muliitudes Of quena
that were submitted to them. That the busnfs
first progressed slowly, and, to some degree, oar
sedly, is not surprising; the only wonder being na
under the circumstances, anything could have gen
intelllgibly and correctly done. Nowiths'apsH
these difficulties, by patient perseverance, and
lndustriously working at all hours, every applsn
has had his business attended to, and declaa
gwen IN his case--perhaps, in some cases, adVslS
ly to his wishes, but in every case as far as ns
heard, decision has been had.
came here with impressions unfavorabe ".
agent. watched his course attentivey, and soyI II
from others the material, il any such existed ~
strengthening those impressions; but neither ron
them, nor from any source whatsoever have puu4
anything impugning in the least his imIarian'y, y
honesty, or his capacity. My opportunities y"
been good. | have been six weeks in this rtgsal
doing much business with the officer, and mngni II
freely with every grade ofapplicans. have DO1s
some dissatisfied, but not one who made sp'0.
charge, either of incompetency or nalfeasano' "
the part OF the government agent.
These declarations must not be considered anonl
nous; the signature under which write MOs.
at Washington, and inquiry Of the editors o. y.
National lnlellfgencer will put those VINO ues,.
IN possession Of my name, and will convince VIZ i'.
that they come neither from personal trend "
agent, nor political adherent Of this admlnslIau'
or OF the ---- from whom he received hST
pontment.
The same want Of judgment that is exhloi'ea
selecting this barren rock for the agency-hoas
apparent in the choice of the site for Fort Wnt
That post is ON the main land, directly opposie
tcr's island Il is upon Keweena point, ~
Twelve miles from its extensive projection nv M
lake, and about fifty from the commencement
peninsula of which it is the terminus Inns Psss
sula, at the fort is about six miles wide, ana "a
hrst western development, as it projects i,oI
main land forming the southern coast Of INC
may be thirty miles in width. Its line OF beaihs
about twenty-five degrees from due east anu M
course, projecting into the lake that muen nOi'
east Its entire formation appears to be OF rv.a
conglomerate and amygdaloid and compostuP II
ing the only rocks that constitute the nrs' W.
miles Of its eastern terminus; while beyond, wy
sandstone, of various depth and quantity, ou
ually increasing as you progress west yel 'm a,ou,
This peninsula, considered as whole, u , III
famous uplift of great irregularity of surface,
sentng but few points capable Of cultivation, M
the locality of the fort, and for several miles Oh
side Of il, little else than series OF rocky AZ,
and intervening swamps The result ls n' hen
post 10 without gardens, whereof TO mani :, M
and also without pasturage or meadow laho, "a nus
that can be converted to that use. IL mas, an' ND
for long period of time have, no roads y ;rdcsl
troops can be moved into the interior-FwhlG,n, Nv
is some hundred miles from il; and The ony ;1dos
which they can be moved at all, is by being snn ~
in the small crall Of the lake. Supplies az 'ns u,s
there are none, and never will be any; all nIs nal
come either through the SAUL, or eVenIu''