Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1876-04-29
SATURDAY. APRIL 20. 1876.


There seems to be a studied effort on
the part of some parties to misrepresent
the condition of the channel, in our har-
Dor. This is prompted, doubtless, by
self interest of the parties, and the design
Is to so represent the channel as to pre-
vent the captains of boats. who are unac-
quainted with the channel, from attempt
ing to come into the river. This is some
thing that we think requires looking af
ter, tor it is certainly to the interest of
the village that the condition of our har-
Dor should be represented correctly and
the efforts of those interested i'm prevent
ing other lines of boats stopping here, at
Cheboygan, should be counteracted.
In the present condition of the channel
there is no reason why any boat under
$50 feet in length, on the lake
routes passing our harbor should not
come i'm if they desired. The channel Is
now dredged 40 feet wide, and as to
depth, few days since, when the water
was at an unusually low stage, Mr.. E.
Nelson, and other parties with him. made
careful sounding throughout the full
length Of the channel, and in no place
did they find less depth than thirteen
feet, so that depth of from thirteen to
fourteen feet can be safely calculated up
on at all times, and after entering the
river. Messrs. Macarthur, Smith & Co..
and Humphrey, have had the channel
dredged from the government cut up to
their respective docks, along their entire
frontage, to full thirteen feet and a half
deep, which additional dredging makes
channe, after entering the river. of
233 feet by actual measurement. In addi-
ton to which there is slip dredged i'm
the bank which gives % feet more width
for boat to wind In.
Through the energy and enterprise of
Messrs. Humphrey. the channel is being
marked out distinctly with piles driven
OH the west bank of the channel. These
piles will be driven down eight feet i'm
the ground and be of sufficient length to
allow eight feet to show above the water,
which portion of the piles will be paint
ed a bright red. Boats entering
the harbor by leaving the piles fifty feet
10 the starboard will find no difficulty i'm
getting in. This will obviate any plea of
not knowing the channel as an excuse
for not coming into the river.
This, as far as it goes, is all very well.
but something more in our opinion is re-
CURED. There must be an effort made
10 induce the different lines of boats to
make this point of stopping. 1t will
not DO to rest quietly under the belief
that it is to their interestto come in here,
and that nothing more is needed. This
inactivity and lack of effort in communi-
ties has been the death of many prom
Using locality, and this fact should cause
our citizens to wake up and he alive to
their interests. We think that if the
proper effort Is made that there will be
no difficulty in securing the advantage
of having the different lines of boats
through the straits stop here. There can
be no doubt in the mind of any one in
regard to the great benefits the village
would derive from increased facilities Of
ingress and cgress, and now is the time
10 work TO secure it. A united and well
directed concert Of action on behalf of
our citizens will accomplish it, and per-
haps do more just now than at some flu
ture time.
Let us have a we'll organized effort in
this behalf. 1t may be that it would be
best for the Improvement association to
take the matter i'm hand at their next
meeting, but from whatever source the
action may come. lie: it receive the united
support of the entire community, and all
10, individually or collectively, what they
can to correct the Misrepresentation that
are being male. Cheboygan wants the
boats, and we think il would be to their
interest to come to Cheboygan. Let it be
distinctly understood, that unless they
do come into the river, now that there is
no reason why they should not do so,
that they will not receive the patronage
Of our citizens.