New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-14
ST, MARYS SNIP CANAL

Correspordtnce Of The Utica Herald
The aIu.iops 10 the St. Mary's Ship Canal which
have from time 10 time appeared IN our newspapers
have led me TO believe that account Of the loca'
ton and importance of this esnsl would not DO unin-
torsstiDg
The waters of Lake Superior find their way into
Lshe Huron through st. Mays River. tbs river is
about sixty. three miles long, az some places spread
ing out into little lakes at others, rushing through
narrow rapids or winding around beautiful isiinds
Its entire length is nsvigable by vessels drawing
eight feet of water up 10 within one mile of Lake So
reior AT this point, navigation is arrested by the
ias-tfe " Sault Of the river.
These falls or rapids best described By saying
that they are omewha: like the rapids Of Niagara
but instead Of rushing into an sbyss, gradually sub
siding into the quiet flow of broad river, 50 that
steamboats, may into the very foo. of the rapids
ard the fra bark of the adventurous and slfGl
half breed dash for up among them Ia pursuit OF the
white fish. These rapids are broken , mo several
different channels, and snoug them are scattered
little islands such as you see at Niagara and like
them bstlipg with ce6ars, in all possible attitudes
At this point, on the American side, is the little
village of the Ssult-an old settlement IN the state OF
Michigan founded by the Jesuits about two centuries
ago. II has evidently seen and felt nothing Of the
great progress which has been building up cities and
States. Here is 10 be seen the nstye owner of the
coil and the hsf-breed, 4 cross Of the French and
Indian blood and here, too, are the shops Of the
full-blooded Yankee, who buys and sells bead and
birch bark work and white fish. Obsthe British side
of the river is the sgency Of the Hudson Bay Com
pany-an old fashioned building, locking as firm and
substantial as the Company itself.
Above these rapids, and where Lake Superior emp
ties Tito the river may be few steamers which
have BE- hauled overland from below.
Hitherto vessels which have come from Bufalo,
Cleveland, Detroit and Chicago, TO the Sault, have
been compelled TO unload there and return while tbs
goods destined for Lake Superior have been drawn
by horse power over a railroad to the upper end OF
the RAPIDS and then loaded on the few vessels which
have been hauled into the lake. Thus the waters OF
al Lab IN 81 49,
chores are loaded with mineral wealth desirable
than the gold of California have been locked up fom
the trade OF New-York, Ohio. Michigan. Illinois and
Wisconsin, by lees than q mile of rapids. To rem
e6y this Conar ess offered 10 the State of Michigan
80 600 acres Of land il che would construct ship
cnal around these rapids; and the State OF Michigan
has contracted TO give these lands free OF tax stion
for FIVE years, TO Erastus Corning Gov. Fairbsnk-,
Of Vermont; John NJ. Forbes, Of Boston; j. W.
Brooks CT Michigan. and others, in consideration
that they build the canal by the 10th of Nay nexs.
This completed, or 80 nearly go that L i not
sniss 10 speak Of il as flushed. The contract time
in which TO do the work wss short that il was sup
posed nposs bic. and many antic pa,ed an spp'ics
non to the Legislature for an extension OF tle-but
'he contractors have already done more than they
contracted TO do, and the opening OF navigation, next
spimg, VIII open seventeen hundred miles OF new
coast 10 our trade.
STATE VIII reap the larges. harvest from the opening
OF this wide mineral world-Michgal or Illinois
Detroit or Chicago-New York OK Ohio-Bafr.lo or
Cleveland Detroit hss apparesuy the advantage,
but chicago infepos to win Il from her il possible.
As citizen Of this State, uust she will not sufsr
this great prize 70 pass from her without struggle
The work is. in every sense, n.tionl one-nStonsl
in its objects, AID in size and style superior 10 say Of
is Kind on this continent.
The locks are supposed 10 be the largest in the
Eorld. You can most readily judge OF their size
v ben tell you that the main building Of the steam
ouon factory in IVES; Utcs could te PLACED in either