The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1859-07-05
The Saut Canal.

The following petition, h-h.erouetE ~-4- 4'-41-
entialy signed by parties resident On Lake Supe-
ror, as well as by others in tlat!trade, IS pressed
upon the attention of the Board Of Control Il
is certainly difficult TO perceive how the relief
asked can be granted. except with the co opera
ton OF contractors. The matter has passed from
the hands Of the Board, and the provision a. to
time, has become part and parcel Of the contract
Whether September 18th was or was not the
best limit for closing the canal, IS not now the
question Still as the repairs were needfal, and
the making Of them required the close of the
work for a considerable time, it IS questionable
whether upon all considerations, the period Sc
lected would not give as little Inconvenience as
any other.
10 the Honorable Noscs Ujspa, John IEhis-
acg, ard Dduid L. Case. State Bo1ri .f cou-
troll for TIE 81. Nlrg's CaHa}.
| GESrLEMEN-Thc undersigned, citizens Of Nj
chiran and residents Of other States, Who are
| largely interested in the Copper and Iron Mines
| OF Lake Superior, and the vessel interest which
is engaged in that traffic would respectfully rep
resent TO your honorable BODY, that there is
! about ten million of cash capital invested in the
various branches of business on Lake Superior:
that the present population of the Upper PENN
! sula OF Michigan, according 10 the Governors
| last message, Is about twenty thousand souls:
| that, as YOUR honorable body is aware, the Ouly
means OF communication with that country Is by
the st. Mary's canal; that almost every article
required for the use OF that people, has 10 bc
transported from the States lying q. the Lower
Lakes that the only time inwhch the supplies
for this immense population can be taken to
them, is during the >N months navigation, from
! Nav lst, 10 the lSt OF Northumberland that the
entire products OF that country which the pre-
| Selt season viii amount 10 about $4,000 tons of
| Iron Dre 5000 tons of Pig Iron, 1000 tons OF
| Copper, t. say nothing about the extensive
White Fish trade which has recently sprung up
has to fiGd its way to market during Lc Sir
months of navigation.
The undersigned having learned officially that
according to the Contract for Repairs OF the
\ It. Nlrys Canal the contractors are directed
and required to draw the water from thc canal
on the 9th of September next, and keep it -
withdrawn until the 1T Of November following;
during which time a certain portion of the r.,
pairs-a portion which the undersigned DO 'iof
consider OF the greatest importance TO the srcI-
rity Of the work, is to he completed.
The undersigned Justly appreciate the delicate
position in which you, gentlemen, are placed.
with the important trust committed to your
hands; but they feel confident that il il is a pos
sille thing, Ia 50 discharge the t-uat Il 10 meet
al of it, requirements, and Mt the same time aid
To the utmost OF YOUR power the great material
interests Of those hardy, cntcrpriSnE men, who
are, Ia certain extent, hazarding their at, in
developing "A hitherto barren wilderness, and
converting il into almost second California, 81
far as mineral products are concerned you wil
Chccriully DO 50.
As the "Guard Lock and the excavations ~
the present CdisSon gate, 80 called, are the oul,
portions OF the work which will interrupt nay
cation, We are Of the opinion that they can, Will
proper appliances, be a. well aud is thorough,
done during the winter and early spring months
as during the time now required 10y the contract
1t i true, the cost of doing the work at IN,
one season of the wear would he greater than at
the other; but as the expense of doing the work
has eventually to be paid by " tax or - toll,
on the products of the country We represent, ",
viii chceriully consent that they shall. If ncccs
sary, be taxed by way OF toll, a sufficient aldi
tioual sum To meet the extra OUTLAY required {,
do the work in the winter months.
! An additional expenditure Of fifteen or twcnt,
thousand dollars is nothing compared with Ia,
great loss that will he sustained by closing TIA,
canal at the time proposed. We know it vii
be said " there l. railroad at 81. Mary owe
which the supplies and minerals can be trans
ported Many "i rs speak from Npcrcncc, Whcl
We say, that, that a. long since as l>5%, Wh"I
the Lake Superior traffic was not onc-qulrtcr q,
large as at prasent, it was found, even then, al
II such was a." fact htH, where would We l.,
now il We were to trust our operations To- sucl
an uncertain source.
The tInth il, gentlemen, i the canal is Close,
a. proposed, it will bca loss of tens of thousand
OF dollars Ia portion of your State. which la
for years past been struggling between lie an,
I death, but which, Just now, is beginning In fee
a. though it could survive all the n,hapS Incl
dent 10 the opening Of new country unless
some untOward event, Ike the one contemplated
should cut short their long cherished hopes.
Your undersigned follow citizens feel ia,
, greater confidence in applying to you, gentle
men, for relief in this case. for the reason tia
Won belong 10 that political organization Of on
country that takes pride in aiding capital anC
labor in their efforts to dcyclope the material in
tcrests OF our common country, rather than ia,
course pursued by your political opponents, who
for the last quarter of "A century, appear 10 have
done all they could do to block the wheels of en-
tcrprSe, and leave the citizen 10 do the best h,
could without any AID or comfort whatever a
their hands.
, We would, therefore, most respectfully asl
that Won will So modify the terms OF the existing
contract for Repairs OF the y. Nary's Canal s-
To allow the navigation To remain Uuintcrruptc,
until the close OF the present season, and Ia,
putting in OF the Guard Lock and the excavation:
at the Gaison Gate to be- done during the comm.
winter months.