The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-30


Do. Monticello. 9, 500 do
Do Independence. 1000 do
Do. Napoleon ......- 500 do
And three or four small schooners, whose aggregate
capacity is about one thousand barrels.
Every one of these propellers has been drawn
across the Portage at an expense OF from one thou
sand to three thousand dollars each, and re
launched upon the waters of the upper lake And
as long al the present inactivity continue, until
ship canal around the falls of the Ste. Marie ID
provided for this commerce, this must ever be the
case. The country on Lake Superior furnishes no
timber suitable for ship building; and consequently
until something is done to obviate the necessity all
vessels destined to ply on that lake must be thus
transported this narrow strip OF land divid-
ing the chain of lakes.
''But this small fleet. inadequate as at beet It
was, has been greatly diminished during the year
About the end Of July collision took place be-
tween the Monticello and Manhattan, by which
the latter was sunk, and disabled from running
until the first of October. The Independence. dur
ing the whole of the season, was unscaworthy, hay
ing been driven ashore the past winter; that for
some two months the whole carrying trade was
thrown upon vessels whose capacity was only fork
thousand three hundred barrels
"And about the time when the Manhattan re-
sumed her trips the Monticello was wrecked,
proving total loss thus leaving shipping Of but
forty-seven hundred barrels capacity at the bust
est period OF the year when the winter stores cle
varons mines hurried forward. 10 perform a
duty for which twice the tonnage would have been
insufficient. The result of this is, that thousa nds
OF barrels of provisions shipped from below for ports
on Lake Superior, upon which the miners depended
for comfort, and perhaps for subsistence, still
at the Sault, where they must remain, the season
being 30 far advanced, until the opening Of
navigation some months hence permits them 10 be
taken where they should have been delivered
weeks ago. And, in the mean time, the enterprs-
ing who engaged in unfolding TO the
world the mineral wealth of our land must suffer,
and may starrep'
II this be not the pursuit of industry and
commerce under difficulties, we know not
what is.
For this disheartening state Of things there
is but one remedy, and that is the construction
of canal at the Sault Ste. Marie, connecting
in the chain, and Of sufficient capacity TO admit
the passage of the largest vessels engaged in
the trade of tho northern lakes. The length of
it would not be more than mile, and the cost of
the whole work is estimated by competent au-
thorties at less than half million of dollars
Argument is not needed TO prove that such an
expenditure would Immediately produce results
of the highest importance to the locality, and TO
the country generally. 1t would obviate the
necessity Of the present tedious and costly tran
of the products exported and recelv-
ed it would give an impetus to the mining OPP
al.
other way attainable; it would attract agricu-
tural settlers, now deferred by the inability To
with eastern markets and would
add immensely TO the trade of the chipping of
the whole range of lakes. There are indeed
few projected internal Improvements more truly
national in their character than this. The ben
efits accruing from it, SO far from being monop-
olized by Michigan, would be shared by Wis
consin, Ohio, and New York, and indirectly
though not less positively by the Federal
Government We concur with the Detroit
Free Press in the opinion that this work
is as strictly national as the improvement
of the harbor of New York. :" 1t is not
: only demanded at the hands of the Go
{ vernment strictly in aid of commerce, but il
: is equally called for as an economical mea-
= sure, having in view the interest which the
9 United States possess in the mineral lands Of
the Superior country"
We trust that Congress will take up this
matter on its broad merits, and altogether apart
from the sectional considerations which too
often weigh down great public improvements.
The interests Immediately concerned have
right TO look for prompt and decisive action,
and it is to be hoped that they will not be
again exposed to disappointment. The fact
that the Canadian government is alive TO the
advantages that would follow the formation of
a canal on their side of the territory, and that
they have avowed the determination to under
take it at an early period if Congress does
not act in the interim, forms cogent reason
for pressing on the project with the least posi-
BILE delay. During the late session of the Ca
madam. Parliament the subject was mooted twice
by companies of individuals who sought leave
10 prosecute the scheme on their own account;
but in each instance the provincial government
offered their opposition, on the ground that the
work is of national Importance, and should be
carried on for the national benefit. The rail-
road through Canada, connecting the northern
shore of Lake Ontario with the Georgian Bay,
has since been commenced. and, when com
pleted, will afford unanswerable reasons against
further delay
The probability is, therefore, that unless,
during the present session. Congress sustains
the efforts of the Michigan delegation in re-
gard to the canal, the benefits resulting from
it will be appropriated by the Canadian execu
tive, TO the manifest detriment of the northern
and northwestern States.
The Arrest OF Changarnier and Lamoriciere.
The Courier DIES Etats UniS, at New York,
publishes the following particulars Of the arrest
of Generals CHANGARNIER and LAMoRIcIERE,
at Paris on the occasion Of the late arbitrary
movement of the French President:
l.