Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1900-06-28
EDITORIAL EXCURSION
TO LAKE OF THE WOODS AND
RAINY LAKE. -
CONTINUED from last week.

RAINY LAKE. 70.
lContinued from last week.
1t was quite disappointment that
low water prevented us from ascend
ing the river to Fort Frances, where
the sparkling waters of Rainy Lake
pour down u great foaming cascade,
forming by far the greatest water
power in the state. Over a quarter
OF a century ago the Canadian gov
ernment commenced the construction
OF locks at this point, so as to permit
continuous navigation, the lake also
being navigable for large steamers a
considerable distance, but the work
was never finished, until now the
government has decided to carry it
to completion. Our government
should join hands with the Dominion
government in making necessary i'm
provements in these great interna-
tional waters, especially at the Sault
and Manitou rapids, SO that steam
ers, the size Of Keenora, may make
passage OF the entire length OF the
river, in all stages of water.
Leaving Boucherville, our steamer
descended the river some distance un-
til darkness enveloped all, when. it
heaved to at landing and stopped
for the night, allowing US to sleep un-
disturbed by the ships swaying mo-
ton. At daylight the voyage down
stream was resumed, and after q
while we again passed LIE Claire Point
and entered the broad expanse of
water called the Big Traverse. A
brisk wind arose causing the vessel
topltch and roll most beautifully, and
producing, for the benefit Of quite a
few in our party, very unpleasant in
ternal connections. AS the ship went
down everything else came up, said
Bro. Mitchell, OF the Alexandria
Post-News.
We reached Rat Portage al about
2 p. m, and spent the remainder of
the day in looking over the town.
The following day, Thursday, the
editors were the guests OF the good
people of Rat Portage. 1t was q day
ri unalloyed pleasure and enjoyment.
First they gave us delightful cruise
in small steamer among the maze
OF islands in the northern part of the
lake, and while our eyes were being
feasted on the grand and ever chang
ing scenery unfolded with every turn
OF the vessel, our bodies also were en-
joying the delicious luncheon and re-
freshments that had been provided.
''The Lake, too, like garden breathes
With the rich buds that DER it ie,-&
As if a shower of fairy wreaths
Had fall'n upon it from the sky"
At Norman. a little village about
three miles from Rat Portage, hut
really in the same municipality, we
disembark for a few moments to in
spect the big dam of the Winnipeg
river, forming one OF the greatest
water powers on the continent, not
utilized at present for any purpose
whatever, but some day, doubtless,
destined to become a greatindustrial
center. At Keewatin, another town
about three miles further up the bay,
there is a very large -four mill, that
is supplied with wheat from the grain
fields OF Manitoba. In our cruise we
visited thefamous Sultana gold mine,
with it's thirty stamp mill and reduc-
tion works, producing a quarter of a
million dollars in gold annually. TO
steal a gold mine sounds strange,
but that is just what was attempted
with the Sultana. A stranger claim
ing to be a mining engineer one day
got permission to enter the mine and
while there took note of the direction
OF the mineral vein. he then went
and filed a water claim and COM
menced work, hoping to tap the vein
OF the Sultana, but failed to do it,
and after much litigation and an ex-
penditure of$25O, 900 had to give up
the attempt. There are number OF
other mines, even better paying than
the Sultana, in operation in this re-
gion. And the mineral resources
have just begun to be developed.
Here is a vast field for prospecting
and rich finds are frequently discov-
cred. Nature seems to have intend
ed this for a great mining region, as
in making the country the soil evi-
IDENTIFY gave out, permitting the bare
rocks to protrude nearly everywhere.
On the Minnesota side, also, impor-
tant mineral discoveries have been
made, and gold mines are being
worked on Rainy Lake.
Another important industry OF Rat
Portage is numbering. There are sew
eral large saw mills. A gentleman
told us that the Americans are the
ones who have built up Rat Portage,
and in explanation stated that a
large part OF the logs consumed by
the mills have for many years past
been cut on the American side, and
that even this year many million feet
have been thus obtained. How it is
possible for our Canadian cousins to
get hold of the logs from u. s.