Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-02

dian sides of the ST Marys river, salute
at sunrise from the government ships in
the harbor opened the two days ceiebra-
ton of he semi-centennial of the opening
of the ST. Mary's ship canal, which con-
meets Lake Superior with the lower lakes.
Fifty years ago the first ship canal around
the rapids in the st. Mary's river was COM
pleted and opened, with two locks $50 feet
in length, and a depth of ID feet. Today
the American canal has two locks one 51o
feet long the other 800 feet long and 81
feet deep, while there is also Canadian
lock Goa feet in length More traffic passes
through these three locks than through
and similar waterway in the world. In 1904
5000 passengers were transported through
the canal, and total of 81 ,54t lO6 tons OF
freight with value of s3+O,OO0,00O.
The semi-centennial celebration and the
erection later of a monument as perma-
appropriation of $4,000 by the United
States and $1,000 by the state of Michigan
and the contribution of considerable
amount by the vessel interests OF the great
lakes.
Visitors have been arriving in the city
by the hundreds since Monday. The two
days of the celebration were declared legal
holidays on both the American and cana
dian sides of the river and business has
been suspended wherever possible. Owners
of lake vessels arranged the trips of many
of the largest freighters on the lakes SO
that they would pass through the canal
during the celebration.
Noted Men Present.
Vice President C. w. Fairbanks, Gov.
Fred NJ. Warner Of Michigan and his staff.
United States Senator j. c. Burrows OF
Michigan, Representative T. D. Burton of
Ohio, Mr. William Livingstone, president
of the Lake Carriers Association; Charles
T. Harvey of Toronto who constructed the
original locks, and Miss Betty Poe. daugh-
ter of Gen. o. M. Poe. who constructed the
Poe lock are among the distinguished Wis
itors present at the celebration. Mr.. Ro-
dolphe Lemieux solicitor general of Can
ada, and a party of Canadian officials are
also participating in the celebration.
The first day was devoted to naval and
military parades, an Indian exhibition and
a reception by Gov Warner to the other
distinguished guests, followed by mag
niticent exhibition of fireworks.
Vice President Fairbanks and Gov. War
ner reviewed the naval parade from the
deck of the naval reserve ship Yantic The
military parade was participated in by the
battalion of the list United States Infantry,
stationed a Fort Brady, number of COM
panies of the Michigan national guard and
the battalion of Michigan naval reserves
After the military parade came program
OF Indian sports, songs and dances, In
Guiding foot and canoe races and display
of Indian handlcraft by Danu OF Cnlppe-
was.
Tomorrow the commemoration exercises
will be held, and addresses will be made
by President Peter White of the semi-cen-
tennial celebration committee; Gov. War
ner Vice President Fairbanks and num-
Der of the other prominent guests.
Street and Naval Parades.
Weather conditions were all that could be
desired. The first appearance OF the sun
gave promise OF fine day for the street
and the naval parades. Late trains last
night and today continued to bring hum
dreds of visitors, excursions were run by the
railroads and many came from Minnesota,
Michigan and Wisconsin. and steamboats,
brought large number from the lake ports
Buffalo, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and
other cities, Canadians from nearby towns
in the Dominion were well represented.
The Canadian 500 was practically desert
ed, establishments there as well as over
here having closed at noon.
Decorations have been a feature of the
celebration and today through the main
streets and on the government canal build
ings were the national colors found In fes-
toons while myriad of incandescent lights
were strung about the thoroughfares for
the Illumination at night. All the vessels
In the harbor were likewise decorated on
| the government boats from the bow to the
mastheads and down to the stern were flags
hung In rainbow fashion Crowds gathered
! N wa front tn pVffueSS tho n ava