The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-01
Typographical Survey OF the Lakes.
IErOm the Detroit Free Press Nav o.

The labors Of the corps Of United States Topo-
graphical Engineers, detailed for the duty of sur
veying tie northwestern lakes, has already COM
menced FOR the season, Captain Scammon having
left some days since on the Northerner for st.
Mary's river, for the purpose of making minute
examination of the intricate passages Of Lake
George hitherto no slight obstruction to navigators
to the Sant and with strong expectations of being
able to define new channel on the west side Of the
lake, both wider and deeper than the one at pre-.
sent used. He will also, before returning to the
regular field work of the season, stake out the new
channel through the Neebish Rapids. Captain s.
has the following entlemen:-Messrs. Herding,
Muller, Williams and Penny, as principal assistants
in the party under his command, who will be en-
gagged for some months In the survey OF the st.
Marys river, below and above the Saul falls.
Lieut.. Reynolds leaves to-day on the steamer
Michigan, with his corps, consisting of Messrs.
Lamson, Henry and Gilman, for the scene of their
operations, at the foot of Lake Michigan, and in
GLIDING also the Beaver Islands and adjacent shores,
Immediately in the track of the immense carrying
trade to Chicago and other Lake Michigan ports;
and Captain Macomb in command Of the corps,
will Immediately resume his labors in the field,
general superintendent of the survey, aided by
Lieut. Rose and assistants, on board the iron survey
ing steamer.
The importance Of these surveys is, we trust be-
coming more fully appreciated, as their beneficial
results are yearly made more apparent in the
| been done under the direction of Capt. Macomb
who also charges himself with the general tYangu
!ation, the marking and surveying distant shoals
beyond the reach of small boats, the general OF
deep water soundihgs, and the astronomical deter.
minatiOn OF positions.
The work already completed consists of the en-
tire survey of Lake Erie, with Detroit river-of
bay-the delta Of St. Clair river---the Straits of
Mackinac, from ten miles east of Che Detour pas
sage to the most eastern Of the Beaver Island group
in Lake Michigan, covering an area CT some three
thousand square milcs-Lake George, and the Nee
bish Rapids in the river st. Mary There have also
been published general chart OF Lake Erie, one Of
st. Clair river, Of Green Bay, of the west end Of
Lake Erie, together with harbor sheet Of the Bass
Island group, exhibiting infinitely the harbcrs of re-
fuge and the holding grounds in the vicinity.
Charts of the Necbish Rapids, River st. Mary and
the head of Green Bay and entrance to Fox river,
and Of the Straits of Mackinac, are now in rapid
progress ard will be ready for publication "a the
close of the season.
Last years operations on these straits brought to
light several dangerous shoals not heretofore known,
which were marked by temporary stakings, to warn
the navigator in advance of the publication of the
chart. Good harbors are also found on both the
north and south sides of the straits and on the north
of Bots Blanc Island, as well as good holding grounds
on the east and west ends Of the straits, hitherto
known. A fine channel, three or four miles in width
and from five to fourteen fathorns deep, il now
shown on the south side of Bots B4anc which this
season may he very generally adopted; and another,
half . mile wide, with depth of three fathoms, on
the sonth side OF Wangoshnce light, hitherto
intricate and dangerous locality. new channel
through the Neebish Rapids, also on the west side
of the river has been discovered far superior to the
ono atprcsent used ON the east side which must
materially improve navigation in that quarter
An idea OF the extreme care and accuracy with
which all these surveys are made, can be gathered
from the fact that in the Macknac Straits alone,
over one hundred and thirty thousand soundings
have been made and recorded, most of which have
been plated, and, win be recorded on the chart
which is now in progress OF preparation. The
deepest sounding over obtained by Capt. Macomb,
WIS, we learn, at point fifteen miles south ~
Dotour light house, near the mouth OF the St. Mary,
where he found depth Of Az feet.
In view of the already immense and rapidly
increasing commerce OF orr lakes, it, il to be re
GREETED that larger yearly appropriation il not
made to enable the department in charge, By
employing q greatly augmented force, to hurry
forward their work TO more rapid c,mpleti u.
For the survey Of the Athntic aud Gulf coast,
the approprat IONS haze been for years from twelve
to twenty tmcs as large as those made for the 5rco
wascrs Of the Northwest, and tho force employs,
fio IN 10th navy and army has also been proportion.
ably nrper-the mers pay alone Of these latter en-
pioyes being more than three Zines the apoImt
eysrexpend ID in any year on the lakes (; AID yet
tic commerce OF orr lakes is s!lOwn TO be actually
greater than the entire casting trade OF tie cyun-
try. The vast interests involved in this matter
however ere already daily engTossing more of the
hUhlic attention, and win soon we doubt not induce
the authorization and support CT system a sur.
veys, Of more extended Character, end more in ac
cordancs with The necessities OF tia vast territory
bounded by Qua great inland seas.