New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-07-02

Lake superior-fts outiet-keewen roint
.,d Rsx--eenery- -aut-ship Canal
Ub.tructed BY 4. =. Troops- Navigation Nc'
Editonsl Correspondence.
LAKE sUPEuoA June 10. ls47.
.Ooee more upon the waters and this time
on the great Fl ther Of Lakes, the largest oooy
of fresh water on our globe, wherein have often
wished yet hardly hoped 70 be We Left the os"'
10 the Propeller Independence at II A Nj yes'er-
CAV; the steamboat Julia Palmer followed al
p. NJ the dsy being fair and fine With gentle
breeze from the Z. s. Z. fsvoring as Above the
SAINT we do not directly enter the Lake proper for
several miles, bot the strait or outlet gradually
irreguiarly widsns from mile 70 twenty and then
thirty. un,il at length Whitehsh Point is passed,
and looking w eastward the deep, blue water looms
shoreiess before and each side. And now we
are indeed on Lake Superior, Grand Island and
Pictured Rocks a hundred miles distant in the
sooth west Point Keewensw and Mantou Island
directly before US in the West; beyond them the
famed Mineral Region or both shores Of the Lake,
though a smaller field u Copper aud a wonderful
wealth Of lron have been discovered on the mis-
named Dead River not more than 90 OF 90 miles
south-wesr Of the Saul, and still hanover devel-
opnent on Silver Creek, south Of Huron Bay, a few
miles eastward Of Keewenaw. FL Dorado major,
however stretches south and west OF Keewenaw
Poiot and Bay
Our fortsne thus far on this Lake is nearly re
peron Of that we experienced on Huron. OurEsst
wind blew Us up a rsinstorm wherewith Night
closed H. and when Morning broke not only were
we envelopedin fog bat the tickle wind bad changed
and now blew from the w est, directly in our teeth.
Though not very violent it was sore cross to oor
craft, depending in good degree on her sails be
side beginning To rock her unplesssntly for ibal-
anced snd.lubbers Bot as II ireshened II dlspeeo
the fog. showing our position. and we ran down
into KeeweDaw Bay. wore and stood for the pas
sage between the Point and MsDitou Island but
10 our grief the wind and waves were by tins time
IA p Nj 30 boisterous that our Captsndecided that
% brave them outside would be useless folly, 80
ne ran back behind the Point and anchored. The
Julia Palmer now sfew miles behind us, attempted
10 bold on her way to Copper Harbor. only l2 miles
distant, bN after looking through the Strait took
the sobersecond thought. came round and dropped
anchor a cables length from us Thus we both lie,
nOP M the wind blowing fresh and the sky partly
clouded. though the rain has ceased and the Lake
rolling smartly even here, under the shelter Of
wooded promontory TO windwsrd not bali mile
distant lsupPose we are settled here for the night
at all events.
This Point is in lat 47s 80 North. very nearly,
and is covered mainly with growth OF low ever
gresns-stunted Cedars sppa 'tly. boatlosd
Of the passengers have been ashore and gathered
from the beach a peck so of pebbles including
some rather pretty Agates, Comedians, &c. kee-
wenaw Bay stretches some 30 TO so miles south OF
us on its west coast cluster OF log cabins are
visible being those. believe of the Clinton Mining
Company almost IL not quite the first settlement
on our shore west Of the Saul a distance by land
Of over 200 miles Across the Bay, 40 miles 8. 5.
w. OF u.s. the uncomfortable Heron Mountains
were visible while day lasted Copper Harbor,
invisible of course) ia some miles w s W. Of us
in a direct line, though Is by water We hope to
see 1t early TO morrow, wind and weather permit
ting.
One Of the most noticeable features OF this
Western world from the Mohawk TO the Missis
siopi is the absence scarcity OF Mountains Even
hills Of considerable elevation are rarely seen from
Cleveland TO the Saul la the rocky region OF the
st. Msry's and the north end of Lake Huron, with
their thousands Of islands often rising sheer out OF
navigable water. the general uniformity OF eleva'
tion seems unnatural Yet from the Saul de Ste. !
Marie as from the brink Of Niagars, no consider
able eminence 10 visible. The magnificent basin
OF the Great Catarsc4, and the wild, gloomy chasm
through which the river for seven miles below.
redeem the spectacle from nsipidity bat not wholly
from incongruty. To be in perfect keeping, the
eternal SHOWS Of the Alps or Andes should tower in
the distance and the roar Of the mighty torrent
should be tfally echoed by the crash of falling gla
ciers. But at the Saul every element Of sublimty
IL wanting. Neither the Lake above nor that be-
low is visible no Mountains are seen chasm,
no cascade even; the Lake above has narrowed
hey ond the reach of vision, To Strait the Strait
becomes River, labout half as large as the Mia
CARA and the River. suddenly becoming rapid
goes brawhug. chatting and iretting over a bed OF
loose, round, desultory rocks for aspace of three
quarters OF mile. falling twensy feet in all
without dignity or beauty into an Insignificant bs
sin below, thence running rapidly in blind, mar.
row tortuous rocky channel for some miles though
It's bed is usually widened by shadows to half a
mile OF more. The island scenery below is mag.
nihcent but the Saul itself never be an object
OF pervsd!ns interest or admiration.
The ease wherewith Ship Canal may be con
structed around the Fall cannot well be conceived
by those who have not examined the ground. In
the frat place milrace was dug through il many
years since by the U. s troops stationed here, in
order to turn grist mill now no more Not par.
tiole Of mock excavation required to bring the
water in full current across the American side by
course shorter than that OF the River and Lieut.
Wilkins. who now commands the few U. s troops
here. informed me that Ship Canal on the British
side may be even shorter a narrow bay puts up
on that side for some distance from the foot Of the
Fall The want of this Csnsl which has hitherto
practically shuttle Superior region against emgrs-
ton and settlement, now greatly embarrssses the
development Of the Mineral wealth of this region.
nearly doubles the cost Of transportation while 1t
greatly delays and renders irregular all travel and
commune alton. 1t must and will be constructed
ere long unless the Federal Government persists
in the insane policy Of which the Harbor vetoes
form a single feature Several years since, the
State of Michigan authorized aud commenced this