The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1882-06-17
LAKE SUPERIOR.

The statistics Of measurement Of this great
lake are as follows: greatest length, 80
miles /; greatest breadth 100 miles mean
depth $40 feet; elevation 627 feet area in
square miles 1000.
The physical features Of the basin Of the
great lakes and the St. Lawrence river, and
the influence it must exert on future moral
developments, are without parallel and his.
toricul precedent. 1t IS an American trea.
sare-its value to be estimated less by
what it has already accomplished than by
what it must achieve in its progress. The
western extreme Of the basin of the ST
Lawrence has receivee a larger share than
any other portion Of our country Of the
valuable addition to our national riches
arising from the industry, intelligence and
wealth Of the hundreds Of thousands who
lave recently landed on our shores. 1t is
impossible to estimate the enormous and
continuous accumulation Of wealth having
its basis on the ample resources and natur
al riches OF this great western region over
which the star of American Empire seems
now to rest.
The completion Of the ship canaIaround
the Falls OF st. Mary. has opened to the
lower lakes a navigation Of fully thousand
miles. Our shipping now has a continuous
sweep over waters which drain more than
/ one hundred thousand square mile Of re
/ gi0n Astounding in mineral and agricultural
wealth, which NAV be waterbome neari,
/ hals way across the continent. Its fsherie.
are eZhaustless. Nature has developed its
mineral treasures upon a scale as grand as
/ It's waters. Its copper mines are the mos
+ extensive and productive in the world. Th,
4 whole southern shore abounds IN copper il
vast veins of almost virgin metal, the ex
/ tent Of which is uncxplored and incaIcuL
+ able. Its iron mines, near the shore of Oh,
/ lake, surpass those Of Sweden or Russia il
+ extent and In the excellence of their ma
teriUl. 1t is predicted by acute metallur
+ gists, that It's silver mines, though as We
undeveopcd, viii one day vie with those o
Mexico. The tributary rivers of this lax,
/ are numerous, and bringing down a vol
anne OF water afford super-abundant water
power for manufactures the most eXtensiv,
in the world. between two Of which, the
+ St. Louis and Nemadii--lies Superior, ant
both of these streams dow through the vas
pine regions and yearly empty their trca
! sure into Superior bav. right At our YER
door The St. Louis also furnishes a vas
! water power, one almost unsurpassed o.
T this continent. 4 company has Just beer
organized, with capital of 81 100000 t
improve this water power, and work on'th
same Is now progressing rs fast as mel
can push Il. Under this head of "Lak
/ Superior we may quote from an official re
port made some years ago by Hon. c. I
Jackson, MD, at one time United State
Geologist and Chemist. and later Mass
achusetts State Assayer:
Lake Superior is the largest sheet 2
fresh water ON the face Of the globe, and
4 is the most remarkable of the American
lakes. not only from lis magnitude, but ais
from the picturesque scenery Of It's borders
and IN the interest and value attaching L
lis geolgjcal features. rs mining region
+ tits one of the most important In thi
country. and Is rich in VEINS Of metallic cor
ner and silver. IS well as IN the ores c
those metals. vt the present moment
may be regarded as the most valuable mir
ing district In North America. with the eS
cepjion only Of the gold deposites of Cal
fornia.
None of the American lakes can con
pare with Lake Superior in healthfulness'c
climate during the summer months, an
there is no place so well calculated 20 re
store the health Of an invalid who has su.
iered from the depressing miasmas Of til
ieyer-breeding soil of the Southwestern
States
Tits known that Lake Superior neve
~ !. -a middle. nor anywhere excer
a#ar shores n which the ice yer