The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1894-09-05
SAuLT STE MARIE.


Some Points Of Interest About Americas
Great Canal.
As one nears the head Of Lake Huron,
when beyond the passage that leads to
Mackinac, he sees ahead two rows of
stakes, sticking from one to two feet
above the surface of the water, fencing
in laneway about two hundred feet in
width and as crooked as the ways of sin.
Clear water stretches for three or four
miles on either side Of the laneway, dot
ted here and there with yacht or launch
or tug pulling away at an acre or two of
logs; but the large boats must keep with
in the limits marked by the stakes. At
one of the angles is a light house, a
building about Is x "a situated upon the
the point Of a rock, surrounded by bord-
er of about four feet of terra firma.
As yet there has appeared no exit to
the lane-it seems to lead straight to
the foot Of the bluffs beyond-but sud-
den turn to port brings us heading for
the river proper. The river varies from
fifty feet to half-mile in width and
abOunds in crooks and turns. At every
turn are ranges and lights, kept up by
the government to indicate the deep pas
sages and places of turning.
There is nothing picturesque to be seen
from the river: no high peaks or abrupt
bluffs. Often sluggish bayOus extend
for a mile or so back through the low
lands and here and there among them
are half breed indians, gathering the
swaily grass and taking it to the higher
lands to make. Occasionally you pass
the remains Of a saw mill and OccaciOn-
ally dredge, with its lazy clanking and
creaking getting in its time for Uncle
Sam. The boats you meet seem to be but
lazily drifting down. 'Tis only when
you come upon some steamer beached in
the mud with two or three tugs pulling
and churning the water into foam in
their efforts to move her that you realize
that you are in land of energy.
From the light house to the locks is
nearly thirty miles. The soil on the
banks is kind of reddish sand which
seems to begrudge the support necessary
to the life of the scrub pine and birch
that persist in growing there. How the
inhabitants live is problem worthy Of
the attention Of philanthropists. The
seasons are too short to grow much savt
potatoes and turnips and the soil toC
poor for that.
Fifteen years ago this summer the gov
ernment commenced the work Of dredg
ing out and opening new channel ant
in July last it was formally opened fO
the use Of our inland marine. The chan
mel proper is about twelve miles il
length, but being straighter and deepe
eliminates over half of the time. 1t
construction has cost the government
$13,0O00OO and dredges are still at work
To say that the work accomplished b,
this expenditure is out of sight is speak
ing without tinge Of slang. A ridg
Of rock sticking up here and there are al
that is visible Of the work, except wher
the cuts have been made through tn
rock.
The locks, which are the main attraC
tion are situated at the falls Of the 81
Mary's river, where the waters Of LAX
Superior descend twenty feet over a serie
Of rapids to the level Of Lake Huron. TIL
river at this point is about fifteen rods i
width. The raise to the level Of SuperiO
! is made at one lock. The first lock wa
a wooden structure built by the state Q
/ Michigan and had a capacity Of only on
! boat at time and that what would nOv
be termed small one. This lock wa
bought by the United States and the pre-
ent stone lock constructed. 1t is fit
feet deep, fifty wide and four hundre
long. Two boats are locked through at