The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-08-15
SAULT STE. MARIE CANAL.
What Government Is Doing for It's En-
largement and Improvement.

New York Sun.
During the recent visit of Secretary La
mont to the Northwest he took occasion
to examine the grain-carrying water route
which Uncle Sam has for some years
been constructing, the one result or this IN
spection may be seen In the recommenda-
the &C ntnuation of the work.
The Sault Ste. Marie canal Is at the en-
# LAKE sse ama
there Is drop so great as to create rap
ids in the ST Mary's river which ships can,
not risk shooting Accordingly the csna Jn and
locks around the ST. Mary's rails, which.
admitting vessels at the Lake Superior
end. allows them to drop slowly through
and letting out of the water until the Lake
Huron level is reached, when the lower
gate is opened and they can pass through
again.
the State of Michigan more than twoscore
years ago. Indeed, its first suggestion dates
back more than half a century; put DELAYS
were experienced, and work on IL was not
actually undertaken until 1858, when com
pany was organized, sunder an act or the
Legislature of New York, which. at a cost
as was estimated, carried out the enterprise.
completing 1t in two years, as agreed upon
and opening 1t in 1855.
transporting not only the grains out the
ores of the Northwest became at once OBJ
vyious. and the canal in turn Develops the
enlarged facilities were needed. Congress
had contributed 10000 acres Of land. which
had been used as an element OF value IN
the construction of the. original canal, tne
contractors taking this land In payment for
the construction. However. 1t became evil
dent that, in order to secure a proper
amount from the federal treasury for it's
Improvement 1t would be necessary to
transfer the canal from the ownership OF
Michigan to that OF the United States. This
Meantime mss aGne however. Congress Cor had eleven
years earlier, made an appropriation or
$50 600 for more capacious lock. and this
was completed shortly after the ess tran1 T6s
total amount Of expenditures on the lock and
the improvements Of the canal exceeded
But history repeated itself in this case,
since by the time that lock was completed
1t became obvious that a new and much
was successfully appealed to-. and half a
dozen years ago the huge lock now under
construction was undertaken. II will be
open for use next year Briefly sd stating tim Its
tween gates and 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 100000
bushels of wheat. The stone side walls Of
the lock are LOO feet long in all and forty.
gates, which are five in number, including
both the lock and guard gates for the
upper lower and intermediate locks, Is al
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 IL is
enough to state that the freight carried
In 1894 through this 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 seasons. which was an increase Of
fhnp ana nUo n linz a.
facilities. Thus more freight is carried al
ready there than through the canal OF
SUez.
The government has done other servicee
for the Northwestern grain traffic, includ-
ing the digging of submerged canal in
the shadows below Lake Huron, called the
ridge of rocks across the Detroit river
known as the Limekiln crossing; and doubt
less Ii will find still other work to do