Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1857-02-18
From the Lansing Republican.
THE UPPER LAKE COUNTR

of Lake Superior, agreeably to appointment
made an address in the hall of the House o
Representatives, on the subject Of the " "pres
ent and future prospects of the commerce o.
Lake Superior
The house was crowded, and among the
audience we noticed the Governor, most Of
the State Cabinet, with probably a majority
of the members of the Legislature. aa
Attorney General Howard called the meet
ing to order, and introduced Mr.. Harvey.
He commenced by promising that it was
not his intention to amuse his audience with
sallies of wit, or to attempta display of ora
tory; being plain business man himself,
his only aim was to present some simple facts
as to the past and present of the commerce
of the Ocean Lake, and then to consider what
that commerce might become.
AS to the Past, he observed that in 1889
the first steamer visited the Saut Ste. Ma
RE, to the great astonishment of the Indians
who lived on the St. Mary's river. That in
1914, Capt. Ward first established a regular
steamboat line from Detroit to the entrance
of Lake Superior, via Mackinaw. That in
1s49, Mr.. S. Mcknight IA member of the
House), did all the transportation of merchan-
disc around the falls of ST. Mary's with
one or two horses, and it was not till 1851,
that the first steamer floated on the waters
of Lake Superior, only six years ago.
After some further "reminiscences showing
at how very recent date business in that quar-
ter had commenced, the speaker proceeded
to the Present.
He referred to the report of the Supern-
tendent of the Saut Canal, to show that in
the season of 1856 just closed, there was
over IL, 900 tons of iron ore shipped through
it to Detroit eastward. An increase of 500
d4 cent over 1855, when only 400 tons
were sent down. That 1O4O tons of bloom
iron were sent, all increase OF 25 R cent;
but that the most remarkable fact was that
l0,452,000 lbs of copper, were sent through
the canal, worth in the raw state-over 50,
$50, O,O0O--an increase of some 81 ~ cent
Mr.. H. remarked that this noticeable increase
did not look like failure of the mining in
terests, although public excitement respect
ING them had subsidized.
The business eastward through the canal
of mineral and fish exported from the lake,
amounted to as estimated by the Superintend-
ent, S2,S75,OO0; while the imports of mer-
chandise and supplies was, in round numbers,
50 100000; making total of $780, 900,
of which he calculated full $5,O00,000 was
the commerce of the Upper Peninsular.-
Remarking that a trade Of this magnitude,
which had sprung up out of nothing within
fifteen years, must in the next fifteen years
increase in almost the same ratio, till the re-
suits would be almost incredible, he hazarded
the conjecture, that within 25 years as many
vessels of all kinds would pass and re-pass in
the St. Mary's river, as now frequent the wa
ters of st. Clair.
Next was given some account of the pro-
bable territory which would be tributary to
the Lake as its channel, which he said was
equal in extent to all the area of the free
States of our Union, excepting California
Then stating that more settlers were moving
into portions of Wisconsin and Minnesota
than in the far greater territory of our own
State, he said the reason was that they were
encouraging settlers by providing improve
ments of roads and railroads, while great SUI
pineness existed in reference to these matters
in the Upper Peninsular, because, it was said
that there were no proper laws. This, he
hoped, would not much longer be a valid ex-
cuse.
The copper and iron resources were then
considered. Short sketches were given OF
the canal building and canal company, of the
Minnesota mine, and others on the Lake.
also in reference to the ancient miners, race
which, he demonstrated, must have left of
their work there some thousand years ago,
and that they were not the present Indian
race. Many interesting facts were given
which for want Of space we must omit, and
among others, the necessity of railroad from
Ontonagon to the copper mines.
The iron mining and manufacturing inter-
est was then introduced. Mr.. Harvey re-
marked that this was by far the greatest in
terest in the State of Michigan. That Penn
sylvania had 63l non mines producing $780,
100000 worth of iron New York 40l mines,
producing about $S,OO0,000 worth; Ohio
229 mines, producing about S6,oooo,ooo
worth; Tennessee 81 mines, producing about
S1,6oo,OO0; while Michigan, which had
better resources than any of those States, had
but establishments in operation, and was
not honored with even place among the
iron producing States. That while the best
ore Of England produced Al 41-100 fP cent,
the best ore Of France 81 S9-l00 u cent,