Weekly national intelligencer., 1847-09-18
THE PICTURED RoCKs.-CoPPER MINES IN
CANADA.
CORRESPONDENTS OF rnK crscrssArr GAZETTE.

MAcKISAw, AUGUST 80, ls47.
MEssRs. EDIToRs We have progressed thus far on the
geological survey of the upper peninsula of Michigan and
although the discoveries within the design and instructions of
the Government to be kept sealed until they are reported
the proper authorities yet incidental curioses may
doubtedy be made known therefore enclose to YOU two
brief articles
Tar PIcrUREn RocKs.-I had passed and repassed the
Grand Portal of the pictured rocks three different tines
and had made sketch of it, but had never
ascertaned the extent of it's interest In passing lately
all the circumstances being favorable determined to
the with boat and though was only about
to ls feet high still the feeling approached was
that must take down TO be able pass under the
of the arch but drawing the seemed TO shrink
and the arch upward until our sail shook under
vault 100 feet high So much is the eye deceived by
general proporionae grandeur Entering we found ample
room for a ship of with sails all standing TO conceal
herself, round and out without impedment AL
though the water deep for threcourhs of the way yet
the far end Of the there first pile of huge fallen
blocks sandstone and beyond these sand beach SO
feet WIDE Excited by work magnificent, determined
make my observatory until had ascertained the form
and dimensions accurately expedition would permit For
this purpose and TO enjoy the romantic luxury resolved
spending night where need not call upon the mountains
to hide As there was spice Of danger in spending
night in this palace of the winds and waves landed the
party encamp the sands the Dorc Rock and
then transported and led in the with my nephew and
sruments the voyagers returning with the boat the
camPment. Here we securely imprisoned than
to climb hanging rocks 200 feet high swim half mile
Of the lake, with water cold to sten eighth
of that distance, and provisions, few sticks Of wood,
which we brought in the boat and bucket of bean SOUP
But gave ourselves anxiety for had too much work
to perform Immediately measured base line for r-
anguaton 500 feet long, all within the Of the great arch
At this part of the pictured rocks there table of sandstone
about 200 feet hgh presenting to the lake perpendicular
wall of waving and angular outline for mills. AT the
grand portal the rock uts into short peninsula by
curves which come up like the curves from the aoudes in
each side Of the neck at the end is abruptly tuncaed
II the head had been cut off, Into this uncate end enters
the grand portal arch about 20 feet hgh and penetrating
about 800 feet terminates in two smaller arches Near the
far end cross arch, opening each side of r neck ira
verses the main Thus the ground plan like that of
ancient cathedrals, in the portal However, the
head of the is double We ventured gve to
the various apartments t the grand dome oenng in the
grand portal I'd and 3d. the first and domores
4h the left wing of the 5h, the right wing Of the
9th, the vesty with columns groined ache and Go
thic windows communicating with the right wing 7h, the
Egyptian labyrinth consisting of cyndc AMI groned gae
es, supported by peculiar columns, having distant esem
blance to the Egyptian communicating bob with the right
wing and with the grand DOME The form of the columns
is that of two elongated bells with the small ends joined
to form the middle of the shaft or detail The figure, is
panded at the top like inverted bell rapidly
descends and by gradual becomes nearly cyndrc
for some distance, and again contracts gradual
till comes almost to point where it mests the figure
reversed This form is essentially beautiful, being solid
generated by rotation of Hogarh gmod line of grace. To
explain the mode Of its formation would lead to too long
discussion.
Our active and ocsome waded
the water and, without perceivng him. had entered the
labyrinth To SURPRISE he thrust his head out of hole in
the wall OF the grand dome and uttered nideous grow His
companions instantly took up the drama Of the beast in his
den, and hurled voey of stones him. Darling back Le
gae presented his head at another opnng and deed his
pursuers with still ercer snarl instantly there followed
other voey, another evasion, and another peal OF laughter
echoed back from the dome. abored hard until dark, and
then discovered danger in making my place Of
nff
shell Of stone oosened by the last winters ros and ready
at all points fall with crushing force Going back the
furhes recess of the doImtory arch knocked off all the
loose stones propped up cot piles Of rocks and
posed self TO seep unmindu laid down. that the
canopy OF my bed of solid two hundred feet thick
with forest OF FIR trees top the ornamental fringe
About midnight arose, lighted a CANDLE built fire. and
walked forward with lantern to the furhest block Of
Here gazed at the great staghted window presented by
the portal arch and stood the polar Just wnkedo
the verge OF the opening making the angular altitude equal
to the latitude OF the place Again laid down in the dotm
tory and listened to the dirge-ke music of the RIPPLE as
kissed the rocky fragments and danced into the abyrnhs In
such situations there is often mirage Of sound wonderful
that OF sight the dscods be absorbed and the
harmonious notes echoed and everbeated with more en-
chanting spells than belong the Eolan commingled with
the dge one imagnes limitations Of cascades hail. ran and
storms This the pianissimo the fo-tissimo would he
witnessed when the northern storm should drive the thunder
OF the great lake directly into the grand portal Suppose this
to have happened while was a enant-twas really what
desired An avalanche of rock sufficient have crushed
city had fallen just outside Of the left arch and laid rudey
piled to the height OF fifty feet Thither would have re-
treated to witness the boodess battle of the elements
long has been waged between and rocks in which
the rocks have far been obliged yield Morning came
and with the dawn myself and nephew work
trianguatlng The party shore, having to
them uxurlaed until rather late in the forenoon when the
merry boat came round the point. Still had done
Finally having completed the survey and obtained geological
specimens OF great interest," joined ourselves the world
again. shall calculate my observations make drawings Of
ground Plan and elevations and include them in my report to
Dr. Jackson, and through him to the Government that
they are found worthy Of it. they may be published need
visit from the Cincnnaans during the hot months With
in hall mile Is boat harbo fine camping ground and
still another half ame along the land beach the Chappero rock
and sui nearer cascade Beyond this again is cascade
eapng from the top of the pictured rocks clear the lake.
and blowing blast of wind in all directions from where
strikes the water sufficient TO prope sal-boat The grand
portal less extensive than the mammoth cave being
traction Of II, but il has several comyensang beauties
has light and fine breeze, and is the time COOL
You arrive at all OF its beauties without fatigue and eny
through It's three open arches the extraordinary land
capcs Through the grand portal you only the shoess
lake through the western opening Of the arch limited
but magnificent view Of the lake and the pictured over
hanging s dark blue waters whose surface when calm
those rocks reflected into symmetrical counterpart Of the
original Through the eastern wing also the lake and
the pictured rocks dying away in well marked perspective as
one point sinks behind the other the distance Of niles
In the OF this perspective is the cascade Chapel
river the Chapel rock and the cascade Of the winds This
arch is five hundred feet long, and straight that light