New-York tribune., 1905-07-30
OUTRIVALS NEW-Y0RK.
More Ships Pass st. MWys Canal
than Enter This Port.

Tho eft,eth anniversary Of the opening OF the
ST. Mary's Canal between Lakes Superior aho
Huron. is TO be celebrated at Sault ste MARIE
Mich on wednesday and Thursday of this week.
The United States government has contributed
$4,000; Michigan $4,000, and the owners OF iake
steamships the remainder Of the amount neces-
sary for the celebration. II is proposed TO have
water and land sports of various kinds and fire.
works on Wednesday. and on Thursday addresses
by the representatives o: the United States. the
Dominion OF Canada and the State governments
The celebration Will end with reception by Gov
ernor Warner Of Michigan A permanent memorial
is TO be erected at Saut Ste. Marie.
Few Eastern people realize the volume OF COM
,,,erce which move unon the Great Lakes and
passes through the canal around the falls In the
81 Mary's River. the stream which connects
Lake Superior with Lake Huron Last year l6l2O
vessels passed through the locks, greater
number than enter the pert Of New-York In the
course Of a year. These vessels had on board
si5s6Ioe tons Of freight. valued at S34o.0OoOOO,
an amount which is equivalent 10 all the tonnage
recorded at the New-York Custom House as en-
terang and clearing this port last year. As many
as ninety-nine vessels with 2S7S9s tons of freight
have passed through the canal in day. This
tonnage Is almost equal that Of the entire feet
Of battleships IN the United States Navy, and yet
the commerce Of the canal is that OF Lake superior
alone Its amount IS due TO the large quantities
Of iron and copper and grain carried from the
ports on the western end OF the lake. The pas
senger steamers bore $4,000 persons through the
canal. This is almost a quarter OF the NUMBER
Of persons carried across the Atlantic Ocean to
and from New-York in the cabins OF the great
transatlantic liners.
The early Indians had legend regarding the
origin OF ST. Mary's Falls. Father Anouez a
French Jesuit missionary, who established missions
along the shores OF the Great Lakes in the seven
teenth century, related that the Indians believed
Lake Superior a pond made by the beavers
and that its dam double. The first of these
was at a place called by the French the Sault.
The second Eve leagues below. In ascending
the river, the red said. the god Michabous-
the Great Hare-first found the second dam This
he broke down completely For this reason there
IS neither waterfall whirlpool in those rapids.
Coming 10 the first dam, and being in great haste.
he only walked il and tread II down. This
accounts for the great falls and whirlpools TO be
found there.
try there desire get boats around the
falls. The British Fur Trading Company the
first 10 build waterway around the rapids. 1t
small canal for batteaus. One Of the locks
is still preserved a relic the grounds Of the
Lake Superior Company. the Canadian side of
the river. Il much resembles toy beside the great
locks which have been constructed for steamships
within the last fifty years.
American occupation OF Sault Ste. Marie virtually
began in 1890. when General Lewis Cass Territorial
Governor OF Michigan and Indian agent, landed at
the foot OF the rapids with a small force of ex-
plorers and boatmen. commissioned by the United
ststes government 10 make treaties with the Ind
ians. By display Of personal bravery and firm
ness, he replaced the British flag with the Stars
and Stripes. secured by treaty site for fort and
obtained the cesson of the Indian lands now coy
cred by Sault Ste. Marie. At the beginning Of the
year 1870 the shipping Lake Superior consisted
OF only two vessels-the American Fur Company's
brig John Jacob Astor and a schooner built by the
Ohio Fishing and Mining Company OF Cleveland
which had been brought around the rapids The
mineral deposits Of the Upper Peninsula were prac-
flcay Valueless for lack Of suitable canal around
the falls.
Nichigan's first Governor. Stevens T Mason Was
an ardent champion of such a canal and the legis-
la1ure placed the project among those to be pro
Rldeo Tor from the proceeds of the 100000 loan
Plans were prepared. money was appropriated n
begin the work, and in 1899 the contractors an
peared on the scene. but were stopped by the ree,
lars from Fort Brady for alleged trespass After
many futile attempts TO obtain grants from Con-
gress. In 1852 the general government gave N,chi-
gan 10000 acres Of land in constructing the
canal. corporation organized under a NeU-yorly
@ Ier began work on June 1883 and in twenty
W. W. 50Alhs g5o constructed canal with two locks
sdeh %" feet IN length. 100 in width and "a feat
~ :. oept, ana which were the largest in the world
az a cost or S,sS, ,oG 46. The engineer and sunerir
tendent who overcame the multifarioIs and Ter
IleAhg olIhculues incident 10 building so great a
@oTK hundreds Of miles beyond the confines Of
civilization was Charles T Harvey the chief ~ VI
snal OF the semi-centennial celebration MAJ
ne 81: Mary's Canal remained under State CON
to ohtli lee1, when 1t was transferred 10 the fed
sIaI authorities, and in September OF that wear a
eecoHo Jock, known as the WcitZel Lock and cor
suucteo by the United States al a cost op e. o. s6 01
W. opened rms lock is 5l5 feet long 50 feet vnc
ano las IS feet depth over the m7fre ali >, e
original plans prepared by General OTIara ~
roe ana the work was executed under the Jirec
ton of Alfred Noble The original ioc ,H IiIec
istence until 1886 when Tho @ .och was IN eA-
construction OF the Poe lock- 500 feet long ana inl