The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-05

was mere village IL is an important link In the rail-
road and canal connexion between New York and other
great cities Of the East aud West and between the Ohio
river aud the lakes Besides, il has fine productive
back country There several large iron and other
manufactures The city extensive the
wide aud at right angles and nearly all the
houses except in the closest business streets the
wharves surrounded by fine gardens and Strawberries
Trains of enter and leave the city every hour
two during the day The people mostly of the New
England stock and have, with their industry thrift,
and many other excellent qualities, carried with them
the sms and theories OF Yankee land, i was greatly
amused, visiting celebrated water-cure establish
men in the vicinity to the performances and unre-
strained conduct of the strong minded and scky
there The gymnastical contortons and gyrations
of these people, and the mixture OF men and women old
young characteristic of the Fouerte aud Pha
antec folies of the age and Of Cleveland OF the
hot beds Of the isrns of the day.
1t was beautiful starlight night when the 'North
Star started from Cleveland to Lake Superior Lake
Erie was smooth and placid There scarcely wind
enough to be called flight breeze" except that which
the made in passing through the water at the
rate of sixteen eighteen miles an hour The air was
soft and bamy sat deck part of the night listening
to the musical ripple of the water the vessel cut
through it, watching the dark outline of the islands
passed. and seeing star after another set as the
panorama of The heavens moved path, till
regretted had to lose the remaining hours of night in
sleep We passed the spot where Perry fought the
famous naval battle OF Lake Erie before retired.
We arrived at Detroit early in the morning, and laid
several hours to take in freight and fuel and to give
troit has fine position river strait, nearly
mile wide, which is part OF the chain OF connexion
between the upper lakes and Lake Erie and consequent
ly commands extensive trade 1t is handsome place,
and has the appearance of steady and substantial
growth than most western cities Ii has rapidly increased
in population. In 1880 the census gave population of
81 S9I in 1856, 4S 900 and to-day there is probably
go 900 The city rises up gently from the shore of the
river and presents imposing view approaching it,
Several of the churches fine structures with lofty
spires and good deal of architectural beauty. Many
OF the residences of the wealthy inhabitants and there
IL great deal of wealth in Detroit, little palaces
and conspicuousy among them may mention the new
house OF Senator Chandler Near the residence Of Mr.
Chandler and surrounded by other superb dwellings,
stands in strange contrast the humble eookng old wood
framed cottage residence of the veteran statesman, Gen
Cass The rich and successful rival of Secretary OF
State to delight in placing himself in situations of
juxaposition to the who was long supreme in
Michigan We visited the cemetery of Detroit, mile
out of the ctya charming spot indeed In it Is
the tomb of the Cass family and here to be the rest
ing place of the old champion of democracy. Detroit
has several extensive iron and copper smelling establish
ments and manufactures. On return landed
about hundred tons of copper at the smelling works,
three miles below the city There hundreds of tons
lying the wharf in immense solid masses of two to
five six tons weight. Most OF these masses pure
copper Jagged and of irregular shape taken out of
the vein. In there is mixture of rich oxid Of
copper mixed with pieces OF spar quartz. Taking
these together them the average yield, when
smeltcd would be about rs to 80 per cent of copper
full of such rich mineral.
OF the voyage from Detroit to Lake Huron it is
cessay for to give description This route has been
so frequently travelled and written about that moth
ing that add would be likely to interest the reader
We found ourselves on Lake Huron when the was
rising The sky clear, and long before the orb of
day pierced the horizon all the east robcd with nts
of rose saffron, and gold Minute by minute watched
the varying coors and increasing brightness the
rora TILL when the sky touched the smooth water of the
Lake. the pathway of the was illuminated and its
upper rim began to emerge. Slowly it rose-rst like
the moon then half orbed and brighter, until ii
stood full above the earth and bright that could
gaze upon no longer Never did see beautiful
sunrise.
The ship canal of St. Mary Falls which connects the
navigation of Lake Superior with the lower lakes is
mile in length through which the largest steamboats,
pass. IL is hundred feet in width at the water line,
and twelve feet deep; it has two locks each three hun
dred and fifty feet in length and there is eighteen feet
lockage. The amount of lumber timber, and iron used
in building the piers and gates is There
over hundred thousand pounds of wrought iron and
thirty eight thousand pounds of cast iron used in the
gates The canal commenced in the spring of 1853
and finished according to contract, within two years.
This really great work cost million dollars. Congress
literally made grant Of seven hundred and fifty thou
sand of land for its construction The tolls the
canal merely nominal and collected by the State
of Michigan for the purpose only of paying for repairs
TO show how important an improvement has been madc
to the commerce of the lakes refer to report of the
superintendent of the Saut canal which shows that in
1885, the year after the canal completed there passed
through from Lake Superior il 900 tons of iron
increase of 800 per cent the year before; ,040
tons of bloom ronan increase of 25 per cent 49,
900 pounds Of copperan increase of 81 per cent The
value Of merchandise carried up two millions and
half of dollars Tho increase since 1856 has been very
great
Leaving the Saut canal we steamed along Tequamenon
bay twenty five miles, and till turned White Fish
point about forty miles, when reached the wide
tiers OF Lake Superior. We had from day to day gradu
ally experienced change in the atmosphere and
Lake Superior overcoats necessary,
and a fire made in the cabin. What change in
the heat and dust of the cities East and South to the
cold bracng air of this region The temperature of the
water of the lake varies very little the year round is
always cold, and Ice is unnecessary luxury The
ter is pleasant drink This interior of the Amei
continent is 420 miles long, lG0 miles wide and is
900 feet above the Lowell of the Its northern lat
tude great expanse and elevation gives always in the
months a cool, pure, delicious atmosphere. We
had several nvads board the North Star, and there
Others debtated by hot weather and other
The effect upon these almost magical {; the pallid
cheek began to acquire ruddy tnge, the lost appe
tte recovered and exubeance of spirits took the
and pleasure northern lakes instead of resortng
to fashionable watering places
Between White Fish Point and Grand island on the
south shore of the lake, series of bald sand hills
''sind-dunes of singular appearance. Some of them
are eight hundred thousand feet in height perfectly
naked, without tree blade Of grass, and stand in
strange contrast to the dense forest around them.
Captain Sweet, who commanded the s'North Star, 2
kind enough to go out of his way 10 afford an
opportunity of seeing the Pictured Rocks and selected
this purpose the best time of the tlaybout an hour