Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1885-11-19
Important to Michigan.

In the forthcoming report OF the chief OF
engineers of the war department clause OF
great interest and Importance TO the nayiga-
lion interests of Michigan will be inserted.
This Is the recommendation that the govern
ment purchase the Portage Lake and Lake
Superior ship canal and make IL a free water
Way. The history OF this clause and the details
cf the steps taken for Its purchase by the gov
crnment are interesting and valuable.
During both sessions of the forty-cighth
congress, and even before that time, the ma
toUal legislature has been pettioned by the
commercial bodies and navigation interests OF
several states to purchase this important
water way.
The Portage lake canals are almost in a d.
rect line between White Fish point In the east
and Duluth In the west. The passage way
across the base OF kccwenaw point vii shorten
the route through the lake about l25 miles,
and at the same time avoid the hazardous pas
sage around the peninsula, which has been
called the ''Cape Horn of the great lakes.
Acting upon the advice and request OF the
citizens of the upper peninsula and vessel men
generally Senator Conger introduced REF O.
luton in the United States senate on the 22d
OF April, 1854, AS preliminary step In the
matter.
This resolution was referred by the sc; rotary
of war to Col. 0. NJ Poe, corps of engineers.
He made an investigation and his report was
sent TO the senate by the secretary Of war In
December last.
LUIS Win OlucI pdpcIs III TIC
case, was referred to the senate committee on
commerce, OF which Senator Conger Is men,
Der.
The constituents Of several members of the
committee are as greatly In favor of the plan
as are the people OF Michigan, and a clause
for the purchase would undoubtedly have been
put in the river and harbor bill of last session
II the house had passed one. But the regular
river and harbor bill failed last year.
The attention of the war department being
recently called TO the matter by Senator Con-
ger, at the instance OF Michigan vessel men,
the chief Of engineers has embodied IN his an.
nual report a recommendation for the pur-
chase, according 10 the terms contained In the
report of Col. Poe, and congress will undoubt-
edly act in the matter this session.
During both sessions of the last congress
the house committee on public lands con
Quoted long and bitter investigation on the
subject of forfeiting the titles Of lands granted
TO aid In the construction of the Portage lake
canal. The fight was made by A.P. Swineford
of Marquette, backed by the Ontonagon d
Brule river railroad company. The outcome
of the investigation was a majority report
recommending that the attorney general be
instructed to bring suit to set aside the titles.
This report has OF course nothing TO do with
the present plan TO purchase the canal, as the
government is only asked to pay $3.50, 900,
which Col. Poe says is mt least one-tenth less
than the amount Of money actually spent, and
the government Is to have title clear of all
membranes. The company that constructed
the canal will be the defendant in any suit
brought to show clear title TO the land
grants.