Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-10-24

IN and one result OF
this inspection may
be seen in the recommendations which
he will make to congress for the con-
tinuation OF the work.
The Sault Ste. Marie canal is at the
entrance of the highway thus provided.
Between Lake Superior and Lake
Huron there is drop SO great as to
create rapids in the st. Mary's river
which ships cannot risk shooting. Ac-
cordingly the United States has con-
structed ship canal and locks around
the St. Mary's falls, which, admitting
vessels at the Lake Superior end, al
lows them to drop slowly through anc
letting out of the water until the Lake
Huron level is reached, when the lower
gate is opened and they can pass
through again.
This work was originally undertaken
by the state of Michigan more than
two-Score years ago. Indeed its first
suggestion dates back more than half
century; but delays were experienced,
and work on it was not actually under
taken until 1858, when company was
ture of New York, which, at a cost of
about $1,0O0,000, or nearly double as
much as was estimated, carried out the
enterprise, completing it in two years,
as agreed upon, and opening it in 1855.
The enormous value of this waterway
in transporting not only the grains but
the ores of the northwest became at
once obvious, and the canal in turn de-
veloped the industries of the northwest,
SO that soon enlarged facilities were
needed. Congress had contributed $780,
900 acres of land, which had been used
as an element of value in the construc-
tion of the original canal, the contrac-
tors taking this land in payment for
the construction. However, it became
evident that, in order to secure a proper
amount from the federal treasury for
its improvement, it would be necessary
to transfer the canal from the owner
ship of Michigan to that of the United
States. This was accomplished in the
year of 1881. In the meantime, how
ever, congress had, eleven years earlier,
made an appropriation of $4,000 for
more capacious lock, and this was COM
pleted shortly after the transfer just
spoken of, and is now in use. The total
amount of expenditures on the lock and
the improvements of the canal exceed
ed $2,150.O00.
But history repeated itself in this
case. since by the time that lock was
completed it became obvious that new
and much larger one would be neces-
sary. Congress was successfully ap-
pealed to, and half dozen years ago
the huge lock now under construction
was undertaken. 1t will be open for
use next year. Briefly stating it's di-
menslons. it has length of 500 feet be-
tween gates and a width of 100. and will
accommodate vessels drawing twenty
one feet of water. This is sufficient even
for the great whaleback barges and
steel steamers that carry from $4,000 to
100, 900 bushels of wheat. The stone
side walls of the lock are 100 feet long
in all and forty-three feet high. The
work on the big steel gates, which are
five in number, including both the lock
and guard gates for the upper. lower
~and intermediate locks, is already near
ly or quite completed, and SO is the
masonry of the canal. What remains
to be done during the present year and
the greater part of the next is the con-
struction of the approaches and the
cribs.
To show the need of this work it is
enough to state that the freight carried
in 1894 through the canal was much
more than double what was carried six
years previous. Indeed, the enormous
amount of more than 100000 net tons
was carried in that season, which was
an increase of more than one-fifth over
the preceding season; and that was
done with the present facilities. Thus
more freight is carried already there
than through the canal of Suez.
The government has done other ser
vices for the northwestern grain traffic
including the digging OF submerged
canal in the shadows below Lake
Huron. called the st. Clair flats. and The
blasting out of the ridge OF rocks across
the Detroit river, known as the Lime
kiln crossing: and doubtless it Will nn'
still other work to do.
British Art students.
The works of the students in the bfle
al