New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-17
.TypEorEuEyrs ON THE GREAT LAKES.
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE CANAL SYSTEM AT
sAuLr STE MARIE,

rnorosEp CHANGES IN THE CANAL SYSTEM AT
sAULT STE. MARIE
s.,,,o ste Marie. Mich. Aug. 10 (speciaf.-The
..,s ~ steamships ard vessels Of all kinds which are
r.rcd In the freight and passenger traffic on rhe
Isk.s between Buffalo Erie Cleveland and other Vast
o ,,orts and the shipping centres OF the Northwest
nv. anxlously awaiting me coming session of Con-
,,ss IN the hope that large appropriations VIII be
mod, by the Federal Government 10 complete and
,,ohe variouk improvements that greatly desired
,ge most important Improvement which IS now under
rsy is the new ST. Nary's snip Canal at this place
Ebe>, is here already the comparatively new canal
hut Il is not sufficient for the traffic passing up ana
down the lakes This canal originally owned by
the state of Michigan. but has been enlarged and I'M
prxved by the Federal Government
The lock which has been built here is one OF the
snest in the world, and the new one. under
vsay will surpass anything of the sort IN existence
The lock Is 5l5 feet loaS, eighty feet wide and has
a l.ft Of eighteen feet. The structure IS massive
and substantial one built of granite. and has all tho
latest and best machinery for operating the ga'cS
1his will now hold two large lake steamers, ana a
tug or two squeeze up close TO them. with TWO
steamers in the lock IT can be filed inside of fifteen
minutes The waters boil and surge below, as they
10 al the base Of waterfall The canal leading mo
the lock Is about half mile long and has depth OF
over twenty feet. Tho lock. for which an aP
uropr5ation of 81 600 900 is asked, Will be 500 feet
long aud 100 feet wide, with depth suitable Tor inc
deepest lake steamers 1t is to he built along uie
line OF an old wooden lock which has long oeeh
in disuse. The lock now In use cos'
the Government, with all the machinery,
buildings, etc, 81 600 900. On the new one how
ever considerable work has 10 be done In cutting our
rock and damming up the ST. Marys RIVER Every
possible effort will be made by those interested 10 st
the appropriation through Congress. They argue tna'
tho annual increase of business through the lock is
~ &c
In 1887, whom there were stil large number OF
sailing vessels plying between Duluth and Bulslo'
1855 craft of all kinds went through the lock Win
registered tonnage of 4,s97, sos and freight tonnage
NJ b404649 The next year 1903 vessels went
through with a registered tonnage of 513Ooo9 ana
freight tonnage amounting TO 6,4l1.423. TINS Is
gain of s per cent in registered tonnage and i per
cent in freight tonnage The lock kept open 210
days in 1887 in 1888, 212 days. so far this season
the business done has been increase Of over 4Oo
per cent registered tonnage and 81 per cent IN
freight tonnage
The lock is managed by the Government and the
superintendents and employees all wear uniforms
The other aid TO the lake service which IS asked for by
boatrnen is the purchase by the Federal Government
of the Lake Superior Ship Canal This canal connects
Portage Lake with Lake Superior 1t IS only about
ono and half miles long. and not wide enough Tor
two largo pass each other IL IS ID ID"
stat, and needs repairing Immediately A ne ' ff
belongs 10 a private company known as me Iahc
Superior Canal Company. The company mas d n low
made over 800 per cent on the Investment, ana mas
nut an extremely high figure on the properly. Ihnt}-
five miles travelling is saved by the canal, ana on s
account the company rot at all anxious to part Win
H. unless a high figure, nearly every VTSei coM-
ing from Lake Superior has to use H. INC me H e
charged are enormous. For ono of the Lake Su
perior Trsnsit Compsnys boats. with legisleiSd tD
mage Of about coo tons ii costs over $50 20 50 Ous
tLss short canaL5 For passengers taken OUT Ok
Houghton the p0rt below, so cents toll ls charged.
THE s,lctiou in the canal is great that a large
steamer barely moving Though The water VIII nearly
swamp a smaller vessel by drawing the water nom
nder 81 and thus turning II its beam ends II the
government took this canal in hand ana mae te led
uairs necessary the boatmen consider that they wold
lac greatly beneftsd. 4 bill passed through congress
in fss7 making provision for the purchase Oh me ne
canal by the Government. Mr.. Cleveland vetoed II;
thereby losing many votesfaong the entire length OF
Cnaaf IaNRc