The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1857-05-19
lake Erie and Michigan ship Canal.

Lake Erie and Michigan ship Canal.
We find the following able article, concern
ing this important lGoject, in the Buffalo
Commercial advertiser of Saturday. We
commend il to the careful perusal OF all who
arc in any way interested in the commerce
of the lakes.
This great enterprise has not yet received
fiom our citizens the amount of attention it
deseaves. If the act which has passed the
Legislature of this State, granting a perpet-
ual charlcs to n company for constructing this
Canal, shall lead TO the early completion of
the work, the bcnerits it would confer on the
commerce of the lakes are incalculable This
commerce already immense, will become, ms
the resources of tho West are developed, al
most boundcss. When vessels, freighted
with the wealth which floats on these inland
seas, can pursus direct courscbetween their
principal ports, as they will when this mag
nifcent project is consuruated, the saving on
cach wears navigation will be immense
The whole length Of the Detroit River, of
the St. Clair lake, flats and river and Of
Lake Huron-making n long voyage to the
north-and the whole length of Lake Michl
gan-m.,king n long vovage, 10 the south
| will be saved IN distance; whlle cohsiuefa-
ble catcnsion of the season Of navigation, 10y
the difference in latitude between the S,iaits
! Of Mackinas and the Southern end of Lake
Michigan. and the consequent avoidance OF
the ice and severe storms Of the northern por-
ton of the lakes, will cnablo vessels TO In
crease still more the number Of their trips.
As there can We no doubt Of the adran.
tare whicl would flow from the realization
Of this project, this part Of the subject re-
onircs no argument. Considered ms qucs-
ton of engineering, there is as little doubt
of its practicticability. The country through
which the Canal would pass is the greater
+, part of the distance, low, level prairie,
with soil admitting of easy excavation
From examinations which have been made,
it Is supposed That no rock or hard pan VIII
. be encountered, and that much of the work
. is capable of being performed with exeavat-
c ING or dredging machines.
II is proposed to make the Canal IL feet
deep and 100 feet in width. The level OF
Lake Michigan being 81 feet ] inches above
that of Lake Erie, two lifting locks OF II
y feet each will be required. The remaining
IA feet of the difference Of level will I've re
n. ouirel for draught. The canal will com
ct mcncc near Toledo or Monroe and terminate
y near the head Of Lake Michigan. The onl
Interruptions to the gcnomlly level characte
- Of the route, in the whole distance Of O.
miles. are occasional hills or knobs for fey
p miles at q point about so miles West of Tc
lcdo.
nss Orc arc practically acquainted with th
NAVIGATION of the lakes, and who takes live
ly interest in this project, furnishes US wit
r. such estimates rs he had been able to obtal'
al 1,f lp
lis which an average sized vessel would save
OF one season by adopting the shortened ront
We shall make free use of the figures he Ii
y: furnished us, adopting not only his reasonIn
u but in many places his language. HIS eS
:. mates have been made with view to pr
sent as favorable view as possible Of the
be. be, vantagcs of the project, and will peria
FIX. need TO be takeu with some allowance.
n;. I'VE correspondent estimates the cost Of exca,
med tion at l5 cents yard, and computes tn
H'' Mt this rate the earth work will cost frc
$50, 900 to S65 900 per mile. Two lih-loc
o. Of stone masonry will cost about $1,000
each; four guard locks $4,000 each;
swing bridges 81, 500 each; four culverts
Il. other masonry 100000; piers, docks,
mo- basins will cost sl50,o0o at each end;
% TUG boats at $4,000 each, waste wires
ITO : to improvements for water powers Slo0,Ooo
new Our correspondent sums up these items
Ac. follows:
Iich r...v.,,or and smh.pkment. 5000
n, or Two locks, 100000 each, 1ys 1ys
swing cridges, ioe
Owed Culverts and mason work, ~,
erior Docks piers, hasins, &c, ~,
a5 q-boats, 5000 each, ~,
We. Waste wires and IMPROVEMENTS for water power lo
,.,a oo,,rnen, of canal s1I,45,
This estimate leaves out the cost OF
saro, ssn. right of way which he thinks will be 81
compared with the magnitude OF the w
.tihc It the In estimating the gain which will resul
% be vessel owners by the use of this Canal
correspondent takes, for the basis OF his
eIved. culations, a vessel Of 500 tone, suppose
St'De doSe be the average capacity of vessels enga
IPTop- in tho upper lake trade. vessel OF
W. size will, by the presen, route, mako on
DY. average six trips per season Of seven MOI
~, This, all shippers will admit, is libcr"
- innate. BY the proposed route, the
,reda, yessel will make from two 10 two and
Eli: ELL trims for each month; but to bc safe, ca
yoe sx,een trips for the season, and we nrr'
'p9. the following result: