Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-08-14

sured Tor one quarter OF million
dollars is seen to advantage. The
st. Clair flats, with their picturesque
club houses; The Somervilie semi
nary, now "The Someryille Hotel
and the Oaklands are passed in quick
succession and Sarnia is reached in
time for tea.
No traveller can fail 10 contrast
the beautiful prospect on the Ameri-
can shore of the St. Clair TO the un-
inviting aspect of the Canadian
border. Why is it At 10 o'clock
we transfer our anatomy and grip to
the steamer Omitted Empire" retire
for the night and at o'clock next
morning, Wednesday, July 2ond,
our boat whistle calls for Goderich.
Here our passenger list was increased
to over 100, 20 horses, 700 bbls., of
salt and large quantity of general
merchandise added to our cargo and
we steam out for Kincardine. Fur
thcr additions to our cargo here set
ties our ship one foot deeper in the
water. She is headed for the St.
Marie river and the log thrown out.
In tvo hours we have lost sight of
land. supper over we take a turn
round ;he cab ins and decks TO "size
up" our fellow yoyagers. Many of
the passengers, like myself, are on
their way to visit friends, some are
combining business with pleasure, a
few are commercial travellers, two
families are headed for Montana and
few families from Ontario are on
their way TO Manitoba and the
Canadian territori to carve out new
homes.
Thursday morning. July 23rd, We
are among the beautiful Mackinaw
Islands. The river is reached two
hours later. Near Sugar Island we
pass the wreck of the "Pontiac" run
down amidships some weeks ago by
the G. A. R.steam ship" "Athabasaca." :"
Sault st. Marie village is reached by
noon. Here again all is hustle and
activity on the American side. On
the Canadian side evidences of a
want Of progression are quite appar-
ent. At this point branch of the
c. p. II. crosses the Rapids to con-
meet with tie Duluth route.
The bridge is massive iron one
resting on eleven piers of solid mas
onry. The Rapids are overcome by
canal and locks on the American
side. 1t is open to Canadian vessels
free as / understand it as an Offset
to our free use Of the Weland can
al. 4 canal is now being eXca
vated on the Canada side, the cost is
estimated at S5,O00,O00. Whitetish
Point, where we enter the main
water of Lake Superior, is reached
at tea time. Our vessel is headed
for Thunder Bay. The wheel is
lashed and the land gradually fades
| from our view.
Friday morning, July oath, We
are nearing the mainland. Silver
Islet, once a ilourishiDg village, now
a desolate rock, we pass to the left
Millions of dollars have been spent
on this rock to get at the rich silvel
deposits. The ''lead" was lost, th,
works abandoned, the mines arefull o.
water and now only the breaking o
the waves disturbs its solitude. To
the right is Isle Royal about 4C
miles long, part of the state o
Michigan. Near this Island th'
Algoma a G. L. II. iron steamship
was wrecked FIVE years ago and abou
forty lives lost. Ii is said LAX
Superior never gives up its dead
Although only about one-half mil,
from land not one body lost by tn,
wreck of the Algoma was ever re
covered. At dinner time we steam
into Fort William, for $50 years
trading post of the Iudson's Bay
company. Here G. p. Il. trai'
takes us on 430 miles through ,
wilderness of rocks and scrub bush
to- Winnepeg, bustling city of 80
600 inhabitants and the principa
distributing point for the province
A ride of $50 miles over the prairies