The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1855-06-05
From the Detroit ID ,m. & Inquirer, May oath
OPENING OF THE ST. MARY's CANAL.

On Saturday afternoon at o'clock, th
magnificent steamer Illinois, which forms th
connection in Meningitis Lake Superior Lin,
between Detroit and Saut Ste. Marie, left he
dock, having on board His Excellency Kins
ley s. Bingham Governor Of Michigan. Hor
John Mckinney Secretary of State, Hon. ia
cob M. Howard, Attorney General, Hon. Sey
mour b. Treadwell, Commissioner of the Stat
Land Office, and Hon. Whitney Jones, Aud
tor General. The following Commissioners
of the Canal were also present, viz: Hon. Hen
ry Ledyard, Hon. Alfred Williams, and Hon
Chauncey Joslin.
The Detroit Tribune was represented by 10
soph Warren, Esq, the Detroit Free Press b.
Hon. David Stuart and the Democrat q. In
quirer, by Rufus Hosmer.
| There were also in attendance number o
gentlemen from the City. among whom wer
Hon. u. Chandler DIR. A. Brush, DIR. j. l.
Whiting, Col. Sheldon Mcknight, James #
Joy, Esq, and Lieut.. Reynolds, U. S. A.
| The day was fine, though cool, and az th,
noble Illinois swept up the River, and acros
Lake st. Clair, the company were collected
forward, admring the prospect, and comment
ing upon the objects of interest, indicating en-
terprse and progress Among these, were the
trains arriving and departing on the Mich
Central Railroad, the Great Western Railway
and the Detroit and Milwaukee Railroad al
of which had moving trains in sight or in hear
ing, as the Illinois moved up the River: ado
10 these, the steamers. propellers and sail yes
sells, countless in numbers, in the various trades
of Lakes Superior, Michigan. Erie, Huron and
Ontario and the Rivers Detroit and st. Clair
and tho whole presented a grand panorama
crowded with noble, striking subjects, all
speaking of growth and industry, stamping
with reality, the prophetic vision of Berkeley
Westward the course of Empire takes its way
The fur first Acts already past,
The fifth shall close the Drama, and the day
Times nob!est offering, and hi' last"
Thirty years ago, who would have been be-
leved, had he toretold all this, or had dared
even 10 predict that the telegraph wiros, the
lines of which were visible from tho decks OF
the steamer, leading off to Montreal and Que
bee, to New York, Boston, Baltimore, Savan-
nah Mobile, Charleston. Washington, st.
Louis and Now Orleans, would have an exis-
tenco, save in the wild Imagination Of the the.
orst:
AS the shades of the closing day began TO
fall, we approached the Village Of Newport,
having been detained by being compelled to
feel our way across the st. Clair flats, blessin
The memory of Franklin Pierce; of the great
slave policy OF the Union, and of Congression-
al liboraliiy to those suffering streams, the
Cape Fear and Savannah. Newport is tho
point at which the Wards large steamers
were built, and where are now in progress, tho
E. X. Collins, which is already launched, which
is to take the engine of the Collins, burned
last autumn nehr Maiden, and u beautiful
steamer. on the stocks, and partly planked, to
bo called tho Richings, in honor of tho sweet
actress of that name. The latter belonged TO
10 m of
beautiful and thriving points, St. Clair and
Newport, was lost to us in the darkness, and
also tho noble entrance from tho River st.
Clair, into Lake Huron, whore tho white build
ng-, contrasting with the dark line of tho
works, dimly marking tho position of Fort
Gratiot, situated at the very head of quick wa
tor, on the Rapids of the st. Clair.
Saginaw Bay, that bugbear of Upper Lake
navigation, was calm as q summer morning"
and sent not a single lurch to the staunoh sides
of the steamer, and the succeeding day were
passed in quiet and comfort.
Mackinaw. old Mackinaw, replete with his
torical associations of deep interest, running
back to the timo of tho Pontiac wars, and
downward to its capture in 1914, was reached
ul half-past o'clock, and three hours were
given, for an exciting ramble to Old Fort
Holmes, where tho gallant Major of that namo
fell, OF the commencement of tho war of 1912,
to the present Fort and Military Station, to
the Arch-Rock, and other places of interest,
which were perfectly examined, under the
light of tho young moon.
Soon after IL O'clock, the bell of the Illinois
called " all aboard" and we we wero off for
tho Saut, which we reached after quick and
quiet run, at o'clock ON tho following morn
ing, having been retarded by tho difficult navi
CATION of the st. Mary,s River, and Lake
George. the appropriation for the improve
ment of which, slumbers in the brooches pock-
el of one Franklin Pierce.
AS the Illinois cast her lines, there were to
be observed upon the dock, Witnessing our ar
rival, Hon. Erastus Corning, of Albany. j. w.
Brooks, Esq, Hon. Shubael Conont, Mr.. Nc
Alpine, Deputy State Engineer, of Now York,
Mr. Seymour, Mr.. Burt, State Superintendent
of tho Works, Charles T.. Harvey, Esq, and
other prominent citizens.
As the Governor and suite landed, Fort Bra
dy, under command of Col. Frank Clark, sent
forth salute of fifteen guns, according to the
standing regulation of the service, upon the
visits of the Executive heads Of State Govern
ment. The Governor attended by the heads
of Department, the Attorney General, and tho
Canal Commissioners, ut once left the boat,
and proceeded to make inspection and exami-
assisted by the Superintendent, and the other
gentlemen above named, who have had charge
of the execution of the work.
A Satisfactory examination was given TO the
locks, banks, floors, foundation, piers and gates
of the Canal, in dry state, but universal re-
gret was felt and expressed both by those hav-
ing the interest of the stockholders in charge,
as we'll as the State authorities, that owing TO
the presence Of frost, yet remaining in the walls
of the Canal, especially where the work had
been done after winter had SGT in il was Deem
cd unsafe to admit the water In order to
prove the stability and character Of the execu-
ton of the contract, beyond the shadow of
doubt it had been confidently expected that
tho Illinois would have been locked through,
with all on board, and would have been tho
first steamer which had ever reached Lake
Superior from tho Lower Lakes, by water
communication; but that triumph of enterprise
was denied TO all, as the Stockholders, by Mr..
Brooks, Mr.. Joy. Col. Glenn, Mr.. Corning,
Mr.. Seymour, Mr.. McAlpine, aud Mr.. Marcy
and the State by its Superintendent, all united
in the opinion, that such measure would be
entirely unsafe, until the fros, should be fully
out OF tho banks.
CONDITION OF THE CANAL.