The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-16
EDITORS CORRESPONDENTS.
From our regular correspondent
Co. c. AEu..

From our regular correspondent
SAuLr STE. MARIE,
Near Lake Superior, July 2, l645.
We left Mackinaw yesterday, the lst July, about
quarter-past eight, a. mi course for forty miles
TO the "detour" lying through the open and up
per part of Lake Huron, which exposed our little
boat to a very heavy rolling seattle result OF
the previous day or twos severe blow on the lakes
Many Of the passengers, as usual on such occa-
sions became severely sea-sick. AT haifpast IL, p
M, we rounded into ST. Mary's river, where we had
smoother water. 28.
The river at first appeared very wide, with low
and sandy beach on each side, and a fiat swampy
country running back into the interior, As we
progressed, however, the stream grew more narrow,
and again expanded into two smart lakes--the hrst
called Great George, and the latter Little Georges
lake. Leaving these lakes, the river fifteen or TWEEN
ty miles below the Sault again contracted, and turned
about among high hills little distance of, while its
margin was skirted with low, fiat, gravely ground,
covered with white cedar and other rather dwarfed
forest trees. These highlands showed steep hills or
knobs of old red sandstone. '
II was not long after passing the hills, before we
hove in sight of the white and frohy rapids, at the
foot of which stands the small village of the SAUL,
at the principal pier Of which we anded-it being
60 miles from the lake.
houses rooted and weather-boarded with birch bark,
gathered along the river at the foot of the falls, here
and there showing small framed painted houses, one
of which is hotel at present overlooking with peo-
pie bound for the mineral lands of Lake Superior.
The Saut contains besides the houses noticed,
a small United States garrison; the slender wooden
stockade defences of which, with officers quarters,
are almost in state Of dilapidation. There is also
a small missionary station and school-house belong
ing to the Methodists, and U. s. Indian agency.
There is collector of the port on each side Of the
river which is here about mile wide, between us and
Canada. imagine there is very little business to
do by either functionary The American Fur Com
pany have a station at the Saut The Hudson
Bay Company have factory, or station, on the OPP
posite side of the river. paid visit to the latter
yesterday, having a note OF introduction to Mr..
Bleneden, their agent, whom found busy in pack
ing up for voyage up the Canada side of Lake
Superior, He is bound on tour among the posts
towards Hudson's Bay to the north. MIR. b. re-
ceived me very politely. He informed me that he
intended to carry his children with him, whom he
Hudsons Bay, where they would embark on one of
the companys ships for London, and be from thence
conveyed to Edinburgh, to be placed at school. He
told me Sir George Simpson, the governor of the
company, had passed up the lake not long since, ac-
companled by his boats, &c. He bound for
the valley of the Red river of the North, where he
expected TO meet kind of convention of the author
tiles of the company's territories in that quarter
among whom would be the representatives of Sell
kinks colony, the population of which is about
5000. They produce more grain, &c, than they
can find means Of having conveyed to market
hence there is some emigration from their colony to
the valley of the Mississippi, within the States.
Mr., b. states that the Hudson Bay Company en-
poy about seven ships in their trade-two or three
of which, every summer, visit Hudson's Bay;
three double Cape Horn, and ascend the Columbia
river; and one or two others employed at other
points. He states that their charter gives them
pie territorial jurisdiction all the lands, Mines
DC, the high lands TO the north and west of Lake
Superior, but not over the lands Immediately along
the shore. He states that geologist DIR. Logan
is engaged in surveying the country of Upper Cam
ada, and is now employed between Lake Ontario
and Lake Huron, or the inlet of the latter lake.
called Lake Georsina Bay He is expected up this
summer, to examine the northern shore of Lake
SUPERIOR which is supposed to be as rich in copper
ore, at certain points, as the southern shore.
The two fur companies american and Hudson
Bay) are on the best possible understanding; which
has a very favorable influence on the northwestern
tribes of Indians.
In 1880, they mutually agreed to exclude all in
toxicating drinks in their traffic and intercourse
from them. The Indians, in consequence Of this
wise and humane compact, are everywhere, within
their bounds, more ihoffensive and peaceabe. II is
just as safe, if not more so, to travel among Them
| than among the whites They have considerable
number of birch-bark lodges at the SAUL, employ.
ing their time in catching fish the foot of the falls
in their giA-nets. They belong almost exclusively
10 inc SHlppcWa trDe. Inc Sdult IL the greatest
place for catching fish ever saw They can take
| ten times as many white fish, salmon-trout, brook
trout, bass, &c, can be disposed of. The In
dams push their up into the foam Of the falls
cast forward their nets and draw it the current
carries the boat down again. Our staple article of
| food at the Sault is fresh fish.
The falls here, or rapids, have only descent of
| about 10 to 81 feet in mile; while the ground is
very favorable to the construction of shp-canal-
the length Of which need only be mile On the
Canada side, the length Of the rapids is only about
three quarters Of mile long II is very likely, if
our government refuses to construct canal on
side, that the English may, ere long, make one on
their side; which will be only three-quarters of a
mile long.
The fort at this place, in time Of war; should be
erected on considerable hill, about three-quarters
of mile in the Of the Sault Coalpit HILL
which commands fine view of the falls, river, &c.
There are several schooners (say three or FOUR on
Lake Superior, plying between the head the falls
and Lapointe, Copper Harbor &c. They have
been drawn around the falls on rollers. There is
some talk of having steamer carried around by the
same means. A fine new vessel is on the stocks at
the head of the falls, which is about half done. II
| will be launched about the LIST Of August. She is
building by Newbury & Coz to be rugged as fore
| and-aft schooner.
! At the Saut, Catholic station was founded from
one to two centuries ago, being fixed upon as
| missionary station. Next to Quebec and Montreal,
1t is said TO be the Oldest point settled upon by Eu
ropeans in Canada. 1t has always been an import
ant point for the Indian trade. Here goods are car
ried round the falls, and sent up Lake Superior to
be distributed to various Indian tradingposts far in
| the northwestern region of the continent.
The early Catholic Jesuits, or priests, who first ex-
plored the far distant, cold and dreary regions Dor
dering the shores and streams of the upper lakes,
| must have been animated with deal OF perseve-
rance, and influenced by the dictates TO them) of an
allpowerful religion. They at every prominen,
point throughout this vast country erected the cross
among the savage tribes, and impressed their minds
with the solemn and imposing ceremonies of the re-
ligion they professed Their success among tho
savage tribes Of North America has never been sur
passed, if equalled, by modern and perseverng
denominations. They acquired an influence over
the Indians, which nearly century Of British and
American domination has not been sufficient to eff
face. Even at this day, the fail wooden cross seen
standing in the humble grave-yards Of the Indians
sufficiently attests the remaining influence of the
Catholic religion. French and Indian have also