Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-27


pleasing beauty, the whole area laby
rinth of curious little glens and valleys.
1t was with regret We were obliged to
leave the island Sunday night.
The excursion boat left Mackinac
about . a. m. Monday headed for the
$500" 96 miles north. Detour Pass, at
the clear cut mouth of St. Mary's river,
was reached at $50 Il. m. and the entire
party awakened for daylight ride up
this scenic and beautiful stream. Tie
little numbering town Of DetOur was
first sighted and our attention was
directed to a place where some time
before stood a large saw mill. The
entire plant and machinery was stolen
one night, crew Of three hundred
men tearing the same down, when it
was loaded into a steam barge and by
morning transported over into Canada.
The ride up this island-studded river,
with Canada on the right bank, the
United States on the left, was full of
interest Thirty-six large water crafts
of all kinds were met and passed, and
the scenery was all that could be
claimed for it. A little steam launch,
which seemed to act as guide for the
larger vessels at one turn of the river,
gave us our first glimpse of an unfurled
British flag; it had an English jack
hoisted at its bowsprit cap. The chan
nels of st. Mary's river are very narrow,
and numerous large dredging boats are
kept constantly at work widening the
same. Half way to the $500" big
steel freighter was passed called the
"Maruba" and we noticed with pleasure
flag proudly floating at its head bear
ing in bold outline the names of the
next heads of our nation, mckinley
and Hobart" Later at the $500" at
Cheboygan, Mich, from mill tops in
different cities visited, and from other
industrial centers did we note the
banner of mckinley and Hobart dis
tinctly floating to the breeze. But not
once, land we watched carefully for
sign of Democracy s Gods on the entire
round of 750 miles Of water did we find
similar outspoken allegiance for the
nominees of any other party. This
fact may not be significant, but we deem
it worthy of mention anyway.
The ride up river was so far the
prettiest part of the boat trip and Sault
Ste Marie was reached just before
dinner. Steamer Eugene C'' was then
locked through the famous 500 Canal on
the American side which has the largest
Lock in the world, and those of a me-
ChanicaI turn of mind were given a
chance to investigate the completed
est engineering feats in the history Of
the country. Work on this lock was
commenced i'll 1887 and it was officially
opened Aug. 3rd, 1896. 1t is 800 feet IN
length between the gates, 1,1O0 feet
over all, 43 feet high, 100 feet wide
and will accommodate boats drawing
twenty-one feet of water.
A short cruise in upper st. Mary,
afOuQu the 10U61ndllOIldl DTluS6 Ol tn6
Canadian Pacific R'y, which cost up
wards of one and Il quarter million
dollars, stop into Canada, a lock down
through the canal on the Canadian side,
which is 40 feet narrower than the one
on the American side, took but an
hours time.
We were taken through the MAN.
moth mill of the Sault Ste. Marie Pulp
& Paper Co., Canadian firm in which,
however, much American capital is
invested. This is claimed to be the
largest pulp mill III the world. 1t has
% Mills grinders, 10 wet machines,
capacity 100 ton per day. The firm has
already started a second plant Of the
same size and will soon erect a proper
tionately large paper mill. They find
sales for their pulp in Wisconsin, Ohio
and England. Crossing back to the
American "Sault' the party was met by
committee of prominent citizens
and given a carriage drive to Fort
Brady and about the city.
Continued next week.