The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-08

THE FAMOUS LOCKS ARE NOT THE
ONLY INTERESTING FEATURES
FOUND THERE
QUAINT OLD sAULT STE. MARIE
oldest Town in Michigan, and a
Desirable Spot to Spend
VacatiOn-PIenty of Nat
uraI Beauty.
Special Correspondence of the Globe.

Special Correspondence of the Globe.
SAULT STE. MARIE Mich, June %
wonder if the readers of the G
realize how near they are to the beauti-
fuI woods and waters of Northern Michi-
gan It's only a nights ride. Your cor
respondent leaving st. Paul on the 500
Line at 7;2O in the evening, arrived at
Sault Ste. Marie the following morning
about 1890. Although it was one of the
hottest nights of the season, and we
hardly dared hope for a comfortable
nights rest, the car was so well ventil-
ated, cool and free from dust that we
all awakened in the morning refreshed
and ready for a days sightseeing. Even
the seven-weeks-old baby, who was taxi
ing his first outing, laughed and cooed in
the arms of strangers while It's mother
was taking her breakfast in the dining
car.
At first sight the city is disappointing,
as the station is old and dilapidated, but
in few months they will have a new
depot nearer the locks, which are about
mile distant.
Sault Ste Marie is a thriving, bustling
little city, really the Oldest in Michigan,
the Jesuit fathers having established a
church was built and the first permanent
settlement made on the soil of Michigan.
From little Indian village it has grown
to a city Of 10000 people. Sault Ste Marie
really means st. Mary's Falls, and was
so named by Father Marquette. 1t is
also called The 500" (for shorD,
and sometimes the Lock City This is an
ideal city for a summer outing, it Is so
clean, restful quiet and health-giVing
that the long suffering victims of hay
feyAr and kindred troubles are glad to
find immediate relief, and enjoy the de-
lightful breeze from the surrounding wa
ters and woods.
The government park surrounding the
banks of the locks Is the prettiest spot
in the city and is a happy blending of
natures beauty with mans inventive
- genius These locks are the largest In
the world, and through them passes one
sixth of the commerce of the United
States. There is a fascination in watch
ing the endless panorama Of floating
palaces ana freight carriers passing up
and down.
USE OF THE GATES.
The gates are worked by hydraulic
power and the locks are free to all boats,
no toll being required Maj. Sears, gov
eminent inspector from Washington is
now here making his tour of inspection.
There are two locks ON the American
side and one on the Canadian, and always
during the busy season there are lines
of vessels, each awaiting its turn to pass
the locks
The level of Lake Huron Is % feet below
Lake Superior; 10 feet of this fall occurs
at the SauH in the half mile stretch of
rapids. The engineering problem which
IS now accomplished was to receive a
snip on the lower level atthe- foot Of the
falls, and lift it 10 feet to the level Of
The river above the falls
When vessel is to be taken up, the
upper gates being closed, the lock is
emptied until the water in it is on a
Level with the water in the canal outside
where the vessel is waiting. Then the
lower gates are opened, the vessel enters,
and the gates are closed behind The
water is let in from above through the
culVepts and lifts the ship with 1t to the
level Of the water in.the canal above the
upper gates, which then are opened and
the vessel glides out into the canal
Bound in the other direction, the YES
sci enters the lock at the high level, the
gates are closed behind her. the water
sinks to the level of the canal below,
the gates open and she passes out
For hours one can watch with increas-
ing interest GSese vessels in endless pro-
cessioR passing through They are al
most all American and Canadian craft.
occasionally a foreign one. A Norwe-
glan vessel went through last week
There are large -whalebacks and small
lumber boats, immense tourist steam
boats and small pleasure boats. We
watched the grand and stately North
West pass and could look in the faces
Of her guests and almost shake hands
with them.
FISH HATCHERY.
Above the locks. on the river bank, is
the state fish hatchery, handsome speci-
mems of trout are seen in the ponds, and
the process of Matching whiteflsh may
be inspected.
The Sault has always been famous for
fits whitetish. and in the rapids oppo-
site, the Chippewa Indians may be seen
netting the fish. They spend their lives
on the water and are very skillful in the
management of their boats Shooting the
rapids with these boatnen is quite the
thing for tourist to do, and while quite
thrilling is not dangerous, as no acct
dent has ever occurred. John Boucha,
although he is very old, and does not
speak English very plainly yet, will ac-
company any party if requested to do so.
He has several stalwart sons, who will
act as guides, and who tell interesting
stories Of earlier times. They spoke
with regret of the old fishing days, told
of the huge catches of whitefish that
were brought in, how they lived and
thrived on potatoes and fish and rarely
There are two large hotels here, the
Iroquois ard Park, these are just across
the street from the park and locks, and
from the balconies of these hotels you
may watch the cool, white foanaing rap
Ids There are numberless smaller hotels
and one family hotel or first-class board
ing house. 1.-The Midway" kept by Mrs.
Foard. This is a favorite stopping place.
CHANCE FOR SHOPPING.
The visitor at the Sault need never
ind dull moment. There are interest
Ing stores to visit, with all kinds of In
dian bead and basket work; there are
daily river or lake excursions that may
be easily taken from this point, and a
ferry runs to the Canadian Sault on the
opposite side of the river, where there
Is an interesting town not quite as large
as It's American rival, but which boasts
Of the largest pulp factory and paper
mill in the world. The spruce trees for
miles around are cut down to feed this
Immense plant. Then there are walks and
drives to be taken back in the country
and in the beautiful residence district.
Chandler Heights which overlooks the
city, and commands a fine view Of st.
Marys river. I have said nothing about
the fishing, but the most wonderful
stories are told of large catches of brook
trout and bass. One finds 1t hard to leave
this picturesque old town. "A. ". W.