The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-11-26
A GREAT EVENT FOR LAKE SUPERIOR.
OPENING OF THE POR7AGE LAKE AND
LAKE SUPERIOR SHIP CANAL.
Wednesday. Nov. Is, 1870, a Memorable
Day in the History Of Houghton County
and the Whole Upper Peninsula
From the Houghton Mining Gazette of Nov. 16.

1t is with feelings of profound pleasure that
nOunce the public the fact that the waters of Lake
Superior and Portage Lake were brought together
yesterday "Wednesday morning at fifteen minutes
past eleven O'clock by means of the opening OF the
Portage Lake and Lake Superior ship canal.
In company with a gOody number of the leading
citizens of Hancock and Houghton embarked on
board of the tug Mentor, Wednesday morning, and
after of forty minutes, we found ourSelf at
that particular spot, and witness of scene, the
ship canal which is destined to be long remembered
by all who fortunate as to be present. Here
found powerful steam dredges facing each
other distant but STEP one in the water OF superior
'h.S '' o'i'ef A,' 'ne ~~~tSr o. h"st"ts", 1 @ nv N
large and enthusiastic concOurse OF people, ana az
each shovel made its way into the thln part-
ton that separated the two bodies OF water the ex-
citemeut became intense, and shouts rent the air
Finally when it became question OF mere snoVetuii
of earth as to which dredge should have the honor OF
first clearing the barrier, the removal OF which, Wouu
he the neoinpino Of epoch in our history, and
that of the commerce of the country suspense was at
its highest point and not till the water OF Lake Supe-
rior rushed past the bank on which we stood, and
mingled with that of Portage Lake, did we find that
relief which experiences at seeing the complete
achievement of great and important event."
The canal will be ready for the passage
of the largest lake steamers on the opening
of navigation in the spring. Its compile
ton is of the greatest Importance to the
whole Lake Superior region.
Keweenaw Point, through which the
canal is cut, lies about half way between
here and the foot of the lake, and is a long
promontory extending perhaps third OF
the way across the lake, causing vessels to
make long detour to pass around it. Ii
they coast along the shore, it lengthens the
nd hn
northern point of the promontory, storms
and adverse winds are apt to be encoun-
tered 1t is considered the most danger
Gus and difficult point of navigation on the
lake. Across the base of this promontory
lies bayou called Portage Lake, extend
ing from Keweenaw Bay, on the east side
of the promontory, nearly across to the
lake on the west side To complete the
navigation only required the cutting of a
canal two or three miles long through a
sand ridge, and that has now been done, as
shown by the above The work has been
an expensive one, but its value to navl lga-
ton far exceeds the cost. The new route
will shorten the nav CATION of the lake from
here to the Sault, more than 100 miles, re-
duce insurance and the rish of shipwreck,
and avoid the long, dangerous detour
around the northern point of the promon-
tory.
Some idea of the Importance Of this
great work may be formed, when 1T is un-
derstood that this ship canal Is To receive
almost the entire commerce OF Lake Supe-
rior, which has already acquired large pro-
portions by reason OF the completion OF
one railroad to the head of the lake, and
will acquire immensely greater proportions
on the completion OF the Northern Pacific
aud other railroads connecting Lake oupe
rior at this point, with the rich country
beyond here.