The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-02-14
LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

The saltwater Gazette tells an amusing story
of a controversy between several citizens over
the location of Lake Champlain, what state 1t
belongs to- and the fact that this is the first year
in IS that Lake Champlain has ever frozen over.
The fact is. there is seldom year that THIS lake
does not freeze Over and within the life time of
the writer and that is not half of 70 years. We
have sailed across the widest open part of
Champan from Plattsburg. N. Y. to Burlng-
ton. VT. on an ice boat, yes. and skated it too;
and there has scarcely been winter in the past
80 years that stages have not run between Patts-
burg and Burlington via Grand Island. or one OF
the Grand Isles. called North Hero, distance
from Plattsburg about II miles. Crossing this
Island Mallet's Bay about ~ miles wide is
crossed when the mainland of Vermont is
reached.
1t is passing strange that so little is known,
apparently. of Lake Champain, so famous i'll
the History of the United States. where one of
the fercest naval battles of the Revolution was
fought or rather. the war of 1872. and whose
waters today cover an English war ship, the
"Saltus'' On the waters of this historic lake,
one of the most beautiful in the world. was
where McDOnOugh. and McComb on water. and
Ethan Allen on land became famous. and
where many a brave English tar sank into
watery grave trying to wreSt the independence
of the United States from our brave fOrefathers.
For a full account of the battle OF Plattsburg
and Cumberland Bay. where the battle was so
valiantly fought. we refer to any authentic
history of the United States.
The claim that Lake Champlan in any sense
belongs to Canada is without foundation. 1t
distinctively belongs to the United States and is
credited to the State of New York. rough des-
criptiOn may be interesting to those who have
never had the pleasure of ride upon its beautl-
full waters or viewed the magnificent and In
spring scenery that never leaves the eye in its
entire navgable length of 125 miles from White
hall to ROuSe's Point. Its source is Lake George
and it is fed by numerous rivers, notably. the
Saranac and AusaDle rivers in New York state
both of which rise in the Adirondack Mountains
The widest part of Lake Champlain is between
| PlattSburgh and st. Adams. about 20 miles,
The Grand Islands-called North and South Hero
have to be crcumnavigated however to reach
ST. Adams. The next is between Port Kent
few miles south of PIattsburgh, and Burlington
about Is mes-here nothing can be seen but
beautiful body of water. unless upon clear day.
when the church spires of the City of Burlington
can be distinctly seen. From these points the
lake narrOwS and after reaching Crown Point
no part of the lake is more than miles wide.
narrowing down. in what is called the marshes.
! before Whitehall is reached, to considerably less
! than mile. The lake again narrOws at ROuSe's
Point. or after Cumberland Head is passed. and
varies from miles to about q of a mile in
width until it emptes into the Sorol river
which is in Canada. and which carries its waters
to the st. Lawrence river. 1t was through this
river that Champlain. a French explorer came,
when he discovered this Lake that bears his
name. and that is about all the claim Canada
can prefer regarding its possession; and the
entrance to that river is we'll protected by fort
built in the lake about half a mile from Rouse s
Point and almost at the mouth of the river.
Until a few years ago the only way to reach
Montreal from New York City. unless you
travelled around through Vermont state. was
by boat from Whitehall to Plattsburgh. distance
100 miles; thence by rail from PlattSburgh to
Montreal. The Delaware & Hudson Canal Co..
have since built a road tunnelling the mountains
for miles. and few boats now ply between those
points One or two pleasure boats do ply be-
tween these points. as tourists enjoy this pleas
ant. safe and healthy trip. person travelling
on Lake Champlain never loses sight of land.
On the west, or New York state side. are the
, noble AdirondackS. densley wooded and beautiful
! at all seasons. lnefe are diSO many very In
teresting points. such 40 Fort TicohderOga.
captured by Ethan Allen and q handful of men.
Allen Using the famous words. Surrender in the
name of Tire great Jehovah and the Continental
Congress- Fort Henry. where are nttated
some of the largest iron mines and blast furffaees
| in the country. Essex the birth place of the
late father to EX-Csov Merriam. Plattsburgh.
where the battle of that name fought in 1912,
and where can be found the tOmbS of many il
| luStriOuS men who herOically laid down life in
defence of the colonies. side by side with those
of many brave soldiers who fought under the
Union Jack; also. one of the largest and most
healthful garrsons in the country. and Bluff
| Point where the Catholic summer school is To-
Gated. On the east side. the green mountains of
! Vermont are ever in view, with their lofty and
perpetually covered snow capped peaks; the
City of Burlington, the metropolis of Vermont.
! st. Adams. Charlotte. and the many handsome
! farms and summer houses that line the shore of
the lake. The Grand Islands, North and
South HerO) contain many large and fertile
farms. NalcOur Island where fifteen years ago
a colony of Free Lovers located This island is
about 6 miles long and i miles at its widest
pont. and very fertile. This band of sO-called
Free Lovers settled there for an entire year. but
| the government forced them to leave. as soon as
| their numbers began to increase. Crab Island
the SportSmanS resort where the fisherman
can throw out his line and confidently expect to
! haul in anything from a perch to a sturgeon
weighing 10ObS. The great AuSabe chaSm is but
| a few miles distant from Bluff Point. and on still
day. the roar OF the waters coming over Bir-
mngham Falls or through the Devils oven can
| he distinctly heard. Altogether. no more beall-
| tful scenery is to he found in this or any other
country than that bordering Lake Champlain.
| 1t has pla 'e in history AS sacred almost as
Valley Forge. and it is surprising that any citi
zen of the United States should have to resort to
| a map to locate Lake Champlain. or ascertain to
what country it belongs. ED.
FAST MAIL SERVICE.