The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1876-02-17
REPORT OF THE CANAL COMMITS.
SIONERS.
To the Honorable the Legislature of the

mutual, iagresmen met at Saltwater, Washington
County, Minnesota, on the 10th day of April last.
1t appearing from the letter of w. G. Ward to Hon
VIM McKusck, dated March 18th. 1875, that he,
Ward, refused to act of said Commission, it
resolved, after having designated L. K. STANDARD
as Chairman, and R. R. Davis Secretary of the
Board, that three seperate routes in part should be
examined with view to a careful survey of one
route, to be deemed most practicable for canal con-
meeting the different waters designated in the act.
tlrst.-The route by the way Of the Saint Croix
river from the Dalles, at Tayors Falls, to the mouth
of Namecagon river, thence up the Nsmecagon river
and across the summit, to the waters of White River
stream to be ascertained to be feasible
for water route to the waters of Lake Superior
Second-A second route should be examined by
the way of Saint Croix river TO Upper Saint Croix
lake, thence the summit TO the headwaters of
the Bots Brule river, to Lake Superior
Third.-A third route should be examined by the
way of the Saint Croix river the mouth of Kettle
river, thence up Kettle river TO Moose river, up
Moose river to Moose lake. thence to Hanging Horns
Hand river.
In accordance with such resolution R. R. Davis
one Of the Commissioner with four men, proceeded
to examine tho first of SAID routes as follows: The
Saint Croix river from the Dalles, Tayors Falls
aud reports that from the fot of the falls Taylors
Falls to the head of the rapids called distance
of SIX miles, the water the river falls forty
feet the river having abundant supply of water,
with firm banks and from the foot of Tsylors Falls
to the head OF Saint Croix Falls, canal could be
made the west side of the river, passing through
the town or village Of Taylors Falls distance of
one and one-fourth miles following the course of
spring brook portion of sad distance and for about
80 rods through trap rock. A large dam would be
needed at the head of Saint Croix Falls, and or
two locks at the foot of TaylGrs falls another
DAM with a lock therein, would required at Big Rock
rapids socaled. From the head of The Dobury rap
ids Yellow Pine rapids distance of twelve miles
the river has a width of from $50 200 yards, and
with very little expense could be nayigated with
steam canal vessels. A dam would be necessary,
with lock therein, at Yellow Pine rapids and also a
dam and lock at Baltimore rapids, in order to make
sufficient amount of water in the channel for vessels
of burtcu to the mouth of Snake river, and thence
up TO the foot of Kettle river Rapids series OF
ids in the SAINT CroiX river known sucn rapids.
The last named rapids continuous for distance
of six miles, aud the water in the nver makes de-
scent OF over four feet TO the mile for that distance
and the water in the river is divided into several
channels Ill many places, but principally IN two,
known AS the main and west sloug hs ;snd would re-
Quire at least three dams, with locks, TO make IL
practicable for navigation. The bed of the stream
a solid ledge of trap rock, and fair either
se and from the head OF hettis river rapids 10 the
State Line rapids, a distance IF twenty miles, but
little expense would be needed to make tins stream
navi gable for boats of light draught. dam, with
lock- would afford slack water to the mouth Of Nam
Cagon river. The Namecagon river, IT its mouth
up to Namecason lax 81 distance of ninety miles. by
the stream, has an abundance of water. good banks
and gravel bottom, but strong current and would
qure or ten dams and many locks, to be
made practicable for navigation. NamecagGn lake
has neIIucr shore Of ueariy forty miles, and holds
sufficient quantity of water to keep up supply Of
Is
White rivers
Examinations were made of the country and an
abundance Of water can be had on the summit Oh
this route canal would have 10 be made from
\ imeCagon lake to HemOck lake--a distance OF one
mile-a lake having its outlet into " bite river, n
stream flowing into Lake Sup rior. dam would be
required at foot of II, u.ock lake well several
on the stream between HemlOck lake and its Junction
with White river, "a distance of twelve miles. For
the first fifteen miles of White river, below the
mouth of hemlock creek the current is slack, and
tbs.r, ltSt,T E,..-a L..
of at least ten feet the mile, with rock bot
tom and shores the entire distance FIR m the foot Of
the Twelve-Mle rapids TO the head Of Cogcogin
Souh the river is uavgable for ght-draft vessels.
dam would be needed at tais point to throw the
waters of White river into Cogcogn slough, which is
navigabie for the distance of ten miles to Ashland
Harbor, making the total distance by this
route, from Taylors Falls Lake Superior $50 mile.
Mr. Davis with his patty examined the second route
by the Bots Brule river, from the mouth OF Name
cagon to Coppermine rapids, distance Of twelve
miles, fair Stream, with good banks. Dams
would be required to flow out of the rapids,
and the present st. Croix dam would require to be
raised six feet, to make slack water into upper St.
CroIH lake. An artificial channel would have TO be
made from upper st. CroiX lake A distance Of one
mile to the head waters OF Brule River which has
small volume of water, and it would be necessary TO
bu Id dams and locks and make slack water its en-
tire length Of forty-ive miles by the stream, and
make descent of four hundred feet to the level of
Lake Superior. This stream the lake where il
has straight line of shore for many miles, afording
no natural harbor whatever.
The distance by this water route from Tayors
Falls to Lake Superior, is one hundred and sxtyge
miles.
The third route via st. Croix Kettle river Black
Hoof and Left Hand rivers, examined by L. b.
Stannard aud r. r. Davis and to1r men, commence
lug at the mouth of Kettle river OF the largest
butsrles OF the st. Crox river .nd what is known
the west>slough of Kettle rapids and is, for the
first nine miles, very rapid stream, with good banks
and rock bottom and would require TO be damned
for the distance of nine miles in order
elevation OF fUItV-lVe feet. From the head OF the
rapids, Kettle river. distance OF sixteen
miles, the stream not very rapid, and slack water
could be made by the iuterpOstiOn VI dam with
lock therein, to Pine Island rapids, where another
dam would be needed TO slaCken the water to al of
Kettle river. Here meet with fal of nearly
eigh e"n feet, aud from the head of lower falls,
Called, to the head Of the upper fall, distance by
the river of four and half miles, the river falls
distance OF twenty-five feet. The shores precpi
tou5 ia many pieces, Id the i-ro ck formation
over which The river flows is soft aud has ever ap>
pearance of having under gone great changes in the
stream and banks If this rock should prove be
suitable for dams and locks 1t would afford abundant
material for all work of that kind needed this
point. From the head of upper falls crossing OF
the military road one dam ami lock would be
sary, with good stream to the mouth Of Moose
river; Moose river from it's mouth to Moose lake
would require three dams and locks. The shores
low and dam wouli not slacken the current for
any great distance. FROM Mo Sc Lake to Hanging
Horns lake two dams would be required From
Hanging Horns lake to the crossing OF the l.. S. X.
X OF the Moose Uorn river, two dams, aud from
point twp miles n nth OF railroad crossing a canal
could be made through an open spruce, ramarsck and
alder swamp to Black Hoot river, tributary of Lett
Hand river, howIog INTO Superior bay. TINS cut
wJu have to be six and half miles in length and
but very elevation to overcome, the waters OF
OF Moose Horn aud BLACK Hoof coul be damned
to throw the water over To the Moose Horn. The
Back Hooi river I'll stream supplied by springs
mostly good bottom, grave. Shores but very tortuous;
Abundance of timber for all purposes. The Lett
Hand river Is also very crooked, perpendicular
fails, tut III many places very rapid; the bottom aud
shores OF soft clay aud qucksands, When re Ide
II unavailable for dams walls it Will not retain
Its position. Frequently large iaud>sigdes occur
VIII Gu dam up the of the river aud after break
Ing way leaves large rocks ID trees III The channel
OF the river The lower Nemadj hs' a sufficient
depth of water for snail vessels of ordinary stages,
sui empties into Superior bay, fine, natural mar
Dor.
The distance by this water route from Taylor's
FANS to Superior bay is trifie over two Hundred
miles.
Later in the season, X. R Davis of the
nIsSIoner examiner the Saint Louis rrveF, with ref>
erence t, = canal from Fond du Lac TO the MlssI5~
sippi river. The Saint LouiS river from Fond dl>
To the head of Knife falls distance of twenty
two miles by the river Is lmPractcabie, IN tue opn
ion OF the Commissioners for the purposes II navsa
ton But tde Commissioners are OF tn" opinion thas
a canal might be constructed ftom
point Knife fall the Salut Louis river, to
the head OF the Moose Horn river, tributary of
Kettle river that the saint Louis river might be
used feeder for canal on the third route EXAM
med by the Commission.
The Louis river, FROM Knife fail, up stream Is
about 800 feet width good banks aud rock bottom
IN length, with elevation of elk feet TO the mile
and above the 2st rapids the CioQuet