Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-08-02
HAS LARGEST LOCK IN WORLD.
Traffic During 1901 Was g. $4,000 Ne
Tons; That Of Suez Same Period,
21,oOs, 900,
COMPLETED BY MICHIGAN IN 1855
That State Transferred ii to the United
States Government 10 the
Year 1870.

S1ult Ste. Marie, Mich, Aug, THE
sault Ste Marie ship canal, the nftieth
anniversary OF the opening of which
was celebrated today was completed
by the state Of Michigan in 1866 This
ship channel, the connecting link be.
tween Lake Superior and the loWer
lakes, was transferred to the United
states government in 1870, Since the
government took charge OF the water.
way, vast improvements have been un.
dortaken, the canal having been wd-
cued and deepened several times. IL
Is now considered the busiest OF the
worlds artificial water ways. In 1883.
the lock erected By this state, was
destroyed by excavations for the pres
ent Poe lock, which is the largest IN
the world, II Is 500 feet long and 100
feet wide, with water depth " 22
feet on the stills,
Tho Weitzel lock. which was made
necessary by the increased traffic and
Is Sun IN operation, is 5lj feet long,
The traffic by way Of the 500 canal,
both American and Canadian during
1904, was $4,000 900 net tons, 81, 900 900 Of
Wuich were through the American ca
nal The traffic of the Suez canal in
1904 was 600 not tons. This rop-
resented large part Of the commerce
OF Europe, Asia and some Of that be-
tween the United States and Asia
The 500 canal has developed the
vast mineral wealth of the Lake SUI
perior region, and has furnished
cheap and convenient outlet for the
transportation OF grain, -four, and other
| products 10 the east and to Europe.
| 1t has helped 60 build up great indus
! trial Ceuters at Detroit Cleveland and
! Buffalo, has aided In making Pitts
! burg the greatest iron aud steel center
in the world and has contributed mae
terially towards giving the United
! States prmacy IN the production OF
! iron, steel and copper.
Another lock must be built and the
| ship canal above the locks must be
wdened because OF the great develops
ment of the ore and grain traflic OF
the northwest
with the city crowded with thous-
auds OF visitors and with hundreds OF
yards OF bunting flying In the breeze
from all The buildings on both the
American and Canadian sides OF the 81.
Mary's river salute at sunrie from
the government ships IN the harbor
,peued the two days celebration OF the
seuii-ccntennial of the opening Of tho
st. Mary's ship canal which connects
Lake superior with the lower lakes.
More traffic passes through these three
locks than through any similar water
way IN the world In 1904 $4,000 pas
sengels were transported through the
| canal and "A total of 81, $40, 1906 tons Of
| freight with a value of $4,000 900
The traffic of the Suez canal In 1904
/ Vhlu
ed large part OF the commerce of
| Europe Asia and some OF that between
| the United States and Asia.
The semi-ccntenniul celebration and
| the erection later OF monument as a
| permanent memorial was made possible
| by the appropriation OF $4,000 by tho
| United states and $4,000 by the state
| OF Michigan and the contribution Of a
| considerable amount by the vessel In
terests Of the great lakes. The two
days Of the celebration We're declared
| legal holidays on both the American
and Canadian 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 celebra-
! ton
vice President Charles w, Fairs
| banks Gov Fred NJ, Warner OF Michi-
gan and his staff United States Sena-
tor j. g. Burrows of Michigan, Cons
| gresham r. ID. Burton Of Ohio. Hon.
| VIM. Livingstone, president OF the
| Lake Carriers association Charles I.
| Harvey OF Toronto who constructed
| the original locks, and Miss Betty Poe,
| daughter OF Gen. o NJ, Poe, who con-
structed the Poe lock, are among the
| distinguished visitors present al tho
| celebration. Hon Rodolphe LemieuS
| solicitor general OF Canada and par
! IS Of Canadian officials also are present
| ut the celebration.
The first dag was devoted 10 naval
! and military parades, Indian sports and
| exhibitions and a reception by Gov.
| Warner TO the other distinguished
guests followed by a magnificent eX-
hihition of fireworks.
Tomorrow the Commemoration exer-
| cisea will be held and addresses will bs
made boy President Peter White, Of the
semi-centennial celebration committee.
Gov Warner. Vice President Fairbanks
and a number Of the other prominent
guests.
Weather conditions were all that
could be desired Excursions by rail-
roads and steamboats, brought a large
number OF visitors. The Canadian 500
was practically deserted. establish
ments there as well as over here having
| closed Decorations have been a fea-
turc of the celebration on land and
water on the government boats from
! the bow to the mostheads and down "a
! the steren were flags hung In rainbow
| fashion, Crowds gathered along tho
water front 20 witness the naval pa
/ rade and steamers on the river we're
| filed with spectators.
Charles w Fairbanks the chief
speaker at the seml-csntennial eNer-
| cises, who Is the FIRST vice president the
| 500 has had a chance 10 entertain. em-
| barked on the United states steamer
| Tuscarora 0t Q o'clock Before doing
so he received the officers OF the gov
| eminent vessels. As the vice presl-
| dents boat steamed ahead whistles
were blown generally the din contin-
| ung for some minutes, As II subsid-
/ era bands ne the government park play
| cd popular and patriotic airs At the
| same time Gov warner % Michigan
and his stan boarded the United States
| revenue cutter Morgell, the steamer