Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1846-08-05
A Letter from a friend.
AURORA, July 81, 1916,

Al
AURORA, July 81, le46.
GENTs:--I have just looked through the
1st No. of the "Lake Superior News, and
Miners Journal" published at Copper Har-
Dor, Michigan, and edited by E. D. Burr.
| must confess that the review Of this
neat little messenger from that remote and
exciting region has given me peculiar pleas
ure. No corner has escaped my attention.
1t is true it contains no marriage list, or
chic jacet;" and records no ''awful murd-
ers." But it gets along bravely with the
article of ''large fire and confagration;"
without coming to this country, or away
from the shores Of Lake Superior for it.
There are, "Original Poetry" in "Musings
by the Lake Shore" "Two months in the
Copper Region" by Chas. Whittlesey, the
editorial bow with much other editorial.
"Old relics in the mineral Region" which
contains an interesting account of the COM
mencement made by British Mining
Company in that region before the Amer
ican Revolution, and of the digging up re-
Gently the foundations of its house, and
blacksmith shop near by when the "Eldred
Copper rock, now in Washington, was
found, of which mention is made in the
journals of that company by alexander
Henry in It'll,
"Acts of the Legislature of Michigan Or
ganizing counties and regulating mining
companies" "Mining shares at Auction"
in which the system is condemned" "Cel-
ebration of the 4th at Eagle Harbor" which
fourishes as many "sumptuous" fixins as
any other celebration at any other Harbor.
Then there are "Brockway House" "Porter
Island House" eagle Harbor House"
evan Anden House" "Algomah House"
all at the Sault and above promising things,
some of them, which l know they could not
fulfill a year ago. "Notice Of a meeting Of
the qualified Electors Of Haughton Co. to
meet al Brockway's to nominate County
officers" The Julia Palmer Steamer
afoat above the portage and to make two
pleasure excursions around the Lake. The
Independence, propeller, to make another.
'List of arrivals" "List of letters remain
ing in the Post office at Fort Wilkins July
l, le46," &c. &c. &c.-the whole proving
that Lake Superior was not made for moth
ing-but for the same purpose that other
Lakes were made for--that she is friendly
to white men, and to white women-to com.
merce and the arts,-cities civilization, and
Religion.
But here is one other heading | must moi
omit--SSMining companies of Lake Superi.
or" which gives the names of nearly 90
associations of individuals formed for min
ing purpose in that region. What Lake,
or Ocean can beat that? The number Of
shares in the whole is about 100000. The
amount of each share in the different com.
panies is not stated. These companies are
all now fully represented, and actively en-.
gagged, either prospecting, or digging in
that region.
This is not oil, but the greater part oi
the contents Of this first impression from
the shores Of a great Lake hitherto Of lit.
tie use on our Maps. When it is said the
Yankee is now there, with all his peculiar
propensities, and powers, awakened and OK.
cited to an uncommon degree,you may give
wings to your imagination. You will
scarcely keep up with him. The imagina.
ry is at once real.
A few years ago young man raised in
this neighborhood, with some others, pro,
jected the enterprise Of taking q vessel owe,
land from below the falls on the st. Mary
into Lake Superior. 1t was thought by
his friends to be visionary undertaking
and so the papers in Cleveland regarded il
at the time. But last season or schoon.
ers followed over in his footsteps with one
large propeller. And this spring some Of
the Carriers up there, have just ssbacked''
over the steamer Julia Palmer. Young
Converse, when he was planning, and per.
picking himself with his small schooner, q
few years since did not dream Of this.
What he was at then,was visionary enough
for that time. Itseems now that he might
have dreamed still greater things, and ye
not been dreaming
But enough-I cannot convey to you III,
impressions the perusal of this sheet hal
given me. 1t has come to me so suddenly
from such quarter, with 50 much respect
ability, and such a sea-board pretension
almost half expect TO soc it disappear, ant