The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-08-08
"UP THE LAKES"

|
aehs of Ye Voyagers-Sand Beeeh-Hs
BreakWater and Safe Harbor-M MackinGc-
Its White Vailed Fort and Fine Hotels
Extremes Meet ''-Palisades Built by "Lo'
-"The 500 Its Migratory Boom and
Paueless Streets-A Paradise for the Dis
eipEes of IsaR Walton-The Canuek US. the
Yankee Fisherman--Ths Key to the Fisher
les Imbroglio-A Casus Bell.
EDITOR PRESS: have always desired to
go up the lakes, but have never been SO sit
uated as to crafty that desire until this summer.
Now writing from the $780," I can think of
many things of general interest to your readers.
and there is more difficulty in knowing what not
to write than in finding things to write.
| Leaving Cleveland by steamer, we-a part of
nv family and myself-proceeded to Detroit,
and thence through the St. CLAIR lake and river.
A storm met at Port Huron at the foot Of
| Lake Huron, and from three o'clock p. m unit
| eleven the night, we had desperately
rough time of it. OF the $50 or more passen-
gers on board should say two-thirds of them
were sea-sick, and many of them severely sick.
The boat put in at Sand Beech, the only safe
harbor on the American side of the lake. Our
little party with my others. left the boat;pre
fering to remain over two days to riding on
rough all the next day. Very few of your
readers have probably ever heard of Sand Beech,
and the place would never have been known if
the government had not expended two million
dollars in providing safe harbor there. AT
his Doinf there is a natural haV formed by tyN
projecting points. and the work of the govern
ment has been TO fence in this bay by throwing
around it breakwater with two openings into
| the sea, guarded upon either side by lighthouses
| was told that there had been as high as I58
vessels finding refuge here during single storm.
Before this harbor was made vessels going up or
coming down the lake, and meeting a storm
would have to put about and seek safety at Port
Huron or at some harbor near the head of the
lake. Often a sailing vessel would have to make
several attempts before reaching the river below
OF the safety of the narrow at the Straights
} If some of the able editors of the country, who
are wont to speak of the River and IIarbor ap-
propriations gigantic steals. etc had been
on boat that hight. they would have felt de-
voutfully thankful that part of the stealing was
squandered on Lake Huron.
After two days rest at very good hotel, we
> had a delightful ride and arrived at Mackinaw
Island (havng left Sand Beech at noon the day
prevous) at a. m. Itwould occupy too much
of your space to describe this beautiful island
!, rising up out of the sea with almost perpendic.
e ular bluffs from 200 to 900 feet in height Along
q the south shore there is beech sufficiently wide
to make two streets, the one nearest the shore
following the trend of the island in somewhat O
J a semicircle, and being devoted to hotels ane
g small stores. BY the kindness of Mr.. E. R
g Wait, who loaned me small but very perfec
n telescope. before leaving Ravenna. we were en-
q abled to make out the island with its whit
l. walled fort, immense hotels one of which cal
k accommodate 1000 guests, and some of the beau
a tiful cottages peeping out from the thick growt
- of hemlocks and spruce which covers the sum
nit of the island, while we were still many mile
Q at sea 1t is said that extremes will meet, an
the saying is we'll illustrated on this island. TIL
10 largest hotel upon the island is said to have
as $500, 600 while Immediately below this grea
a structure with its halls, rooms, balconies an
10 corridors lighted by electricity stand the bar
-
:. tiful cottages costing many thousands of dollar
are separated from the hut of the half-breed b
, an old palisade made many years ago when II
!" dian tribes fortified their homes against roamin
:, bands of hostiles. These palisades are made
ID driving into the ground split pieces of timbe
1 with sharpened points, All about the island ii
h rambler finds these ancient marks of Indian wa
fare. The air at Macknac is the only thing th
is free and it is the only thing that pure, ,alwa,
" excepting fish and water. Fish is on the men
" three times day and always ordered for thel
eO is much difference between the white fish heI
" and the white fish we get at home there
he between the oysters get in Ohio and the oy
g ters on the Atlantic coast. Only those who hav
r been there can understand this comparison
IN After few days spent at the Island my trave
); ing companions started for home in the compan
of OF friends who were visiting there, while ii
- writer set his face still to the north seeking ii
cool and health giving air of Lake Superior.
After most delightful ride of ten hour
:" through the islands of the upper part of LAX
al Huron and up the St. Marys river, bordere
by mountainous hills in the distance we con
" within sight of the church spires of the city
:, Sault ST. Marie, as it is commonly calle
q, The 500. Here is the large ship canal bu
by our government, through which pass all Il
boats, large and small. which go to or con
- from Lake Superior. Sometimes as high as
large vessels pass through the lock in a sing
ef day. This lock is operated upon the very san
y, principle of the old canal locks that used to
al found along the canal between Ravenna a
its Akron. Instead of a lock 80 feet or SO lol
is, this one is $50 feet long and made of solid N
ID sonry. Instead of being operated by additio
hi. weight upon the extreme end of the up
ra stringer of the lock with the "heave oh /"
mans muscle. the gates here are opened :
!, closed by steam engine. The long process
of immense transports, schooners and passen
steamers passing through the canal and lock
imposing sight while Immediately beyo
rush the waters of the ST. Mary's river over
rapids The increasing business on lake Sup
40 ior demands additional facilities for passing
us rapids which are at the very head of the ri,
II and our own government has commenced wild
So ing the old canal, which once did good serv
OOl but is now abandoned. This canal is to be mi
: o 100 feet wide, with a still larger lock- Cam
EN- has appropriated SIo.oooooo or 81 ,ooo 90,
the year for ten years, and already the work
making Canadian Canal has commenced
m the Canadian side.
bss Saut ST Marie or =" 500 City as it is call
~, is said 10 have 10000 inhabitants. | sho
guess that 6 900 is a fair estimate. Probably
census is taken when there are 2, 900 or m
summer visitors. The city has electric liz
A'i and electric street cars. | should Judge fr
,ea' the appearance of the signs that P. H. Best
lex F. Miller, of Milwaukee, do the largest busin
Wn Next in order come the hotels and boardi
eial houses. and then follows the ordinary line
me stores. The town has no pavements and
,ral deep sand mud, if there has been rain, ma
af street crossing anything but pleasure. I
lt,s place has had boom within the past tn
as years but building is at standstill.
go the bottom is out There is no large farm
Ia1,fp tI,,,