Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1881-09-10
NEW CANAL LOCK.

Opening of the New Sock of the 81.
Mary's FalI's Ship Canal-HistOry of
the canal and Of Early Lake Traffic
Dimensions OF the LOck--Interest-
ing Figures Of Lake Freights.
From Detroit Post and Tribune.
Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock it is
reported the steamer City Of Cleveland,
Capt. Albert Stewart, passed through the
new lock of the st. Mary's Falls ship
canal. 1t will not be out Of place in this
connection to give short history of the
canal from its commencement and also
a few words about the navigation Of
Lake Superior before the canal was con-
structed.
On the 10Th day of June, 1856, the
steamer Illinois, Captain John Wilson,
passed through the ST. Mary's Falls canal,
west bound, and on the same day the
steamer Baltimore, Captain John Reed,
passed through, bound eastward. These
steamers were the first to use canal
through which the commerce of the
upper lakes has since passed, and which
this commerce has at last OutgrOwn.
Before this canal was built several small
vessels were hauled overland and launch
ed into Lake Superior, and several had
company had the schOOners William
Bruister and John Jacob AstOr built and
launched into Lake Superior and the
Hudson Bay company had built the
schooner Whitefsh. These vessels were
employed in the fur and fish trade pre-
viOus to 1913.
During the seasons Of 1913 and 1874
the copper excitement was started and
the schOOners Swallow, Uncle Tom,
Algonquin and Chippewa were hauled
over the portage to engage in the copper
carrying trade. In 1916 the propeller
independence of Chicago, Capt. A. j.
Averill. who is now a Chicago real estate
agent. was hauled over in the same way.
In 1916 the steamer Julia Palmer, for
merly full-rigged ship in the Buffalo
and Chicago trade, was taken across and
added to the Lake Superior fleet. In
1916 the late Oliver Newberry of Detroit
built the schooner Napoleon at the Sault.
Her frames were prepared below the
Sault and set up on Lake Superior. In
1850 S. 81 A. Turner Of Cleveland hauled
over the propeller Manhattan, which
was commanded by Capt. John Caldwell.
The schooner Furtrader was taken over
the portage in 1915, and in the spring of
1851 the late Sheldon Mcknight of De-
trOit hauled over the propeller Monticello,
which was commanded by Capt. John
Wilson. In 1851 the first collision Oc-
Cured on Lake Superior. The prOpellers
Manhattan and Monticello cOllided on
Waiskar bay, resulting i'm the sinking of
the Manhattan. During the same season
the Monticello struck snag in coming
out of OntOnagOn. and was beached to
save the lives of the passengers and
crew. AS there were no wrecking ap-
planes on the lake at that time she
went to pieces and was total loss. Dur
ing the winter of 1872 Sheldon Nc
Knight had the steamer Baltimore haul
ed over to take the place of the Month
cello. The Baltimore was also COM
manded by Capt. John Wilson. In 1862
the late Capt. Eber b. Ward hauled over
the steamer Sam Ward, Capt. EsterbrOOk,
and during that season large sum of
money was cleared by the venture. Dur
ing the winter of 1923 w. Knight haul
ed over the propeller Peninsular, Capt
Reid, and Capt. John G. Parker and Jas
Birtenshaw, then of OntOnagOn, now of
Detroit, hauled over the schooner Geo. W
Ford. The Manhattan was raised and
once more put in commission the same
season she was sunk. These vessels con-
Stltuted the Lake Superior fleet before
the construction of the Saint Mary's
Falls canal.
In the year 1916 Sheldon Mcknight
and l.. w. Tinker of Detroit established a
forwarding house at the Sault, the means
of transportation up to that time across
the portage having been one grey horse
and cart. In 1913 ]. T. Whiting, now
general agent Of the Lake Superior tran
sit company at Detroit, was placed in
charge of the establishment at the Sault
and the means of transportation in
creased to four two-hOrse wagons and a
force of about 10 men. In 1850 the Chip
pewa portage company was established
and tramway built which greatly
Facilitated thu fran ehi nmanf of mar.