The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-10-25


be seen in the recommendation which
he VIII make to congress for the con-
tinuatlon OF the work.
The Sault Ste. Marie canal ia at the
entrance Of the highway thus provided.
Between Lake Superior and Lake
Huron there is drop 80 great as to
create rapids In the st. Mary's river
which ships cannot risk shooting. Ac.
cordlngly the United States has con-
structed a ship canal and locks around
the 81. Mary's falls. which. admitting
vessels at the Lake Superior end. al
lows them TO drop slowly through ana
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-scoro years ago. Indeed, It's FIRST
suggestion dates back more than half
n century; but delays were experienced,
and work on II was not actually under
taken until 1853, when company was
organized under an act OF the lcgisla-
turo OF New York. which. at cost OF
about $1,000. 600. or nearly double as
much as was estimated. carried out the
enterprise. completing II In two years,
ns agreed upon. and opening Il 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-
volopcd the Industries OF the northwest,
so that soon enlarged facilities were
needed. Congress had contributed 150,-
600 acres OF land, which had been used
as an element OF value In the construc-
tlon OF the original canal. the contrac-
tors taking this land in payment for
the construction. However. II became
evident that. In order TO secure proper
amount from the federal treasury for
its Improvement. II 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 a
more oapaclouB lock. and this was com
pleted shortly after the transfer Just
spoken OF. and Is now In use. Tho total
amount OF expenditures on the lock and
the Improvements OF the canal exceed
ed S2lb0000.
But history repeated Itself in this
case. since by the time that lock was
completed II became obvious that nov
and much larger one would be neccs
Hary. Congress was successfully ap
poalod to. and half a dozen years ngJ
the huge lock now under construction
was undertaken. II will be open fol
use next year. Briefly stating It's d.
menMons. It has a length Of 500 feet be
tween gates and a width OF 100 and vii
accommodate vessels drawing twenty
one feet OF water This Is sufficient eyel
for the great whalebaok bargea ant
steel steamers that carry from 10000 4
100000 bushels OF wheat The ston
side walls OF the lock are 100 feet lonl
I'm all and forty-thrcc feet high. Tn
work on the big steel gates. which ar
1--WE In number. including both the loci
and guard gates for the upper. lowe
and intermediate locks. ia already near
iy or quite completed. and so Ii III
masonry OF the canal. What remain
to be done during the present year an
the greater part OF the next is the con
structlon OF the approaches and tn
cribs.
To show the need OF this work II I
enough to state that the freight carrie
In 1894 through the canal was niue
more than double what was carried ri
years previous. Indeed, the enormou
amount OF more than 100000 net ton
was carried IN that season. which wa
an Increase OF more than one-nflh owe
the preceding season; and that wa
done with the present facilities. Thu
more freight Is carried already Their
than through the canal Of sue2.
The government has done other SCI
Vices Tor the northwestern grain traiil
including the digging OF a submerge
canal In the shadows below Lal;
Huron. called the ST. Clair fats. and IN
blasting out OF the ridge OF rocks acros
the Detroit river known as the Lime
kiln crossing; and doubtless II Will hn
attn other work TO do.