The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-03-17
LOCKS
Are Now Operated At Night
By New System

Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. 14-As the
connecting link between Lake Super
ior and the four other Great lakes, the
st. Mary's river has what are regard
ed as, after those in the Panama can
al, the largest locks in the world, two
of them in operation third to be COM
cess of construction. Vessels now can
proceed up and down the river in the
night as well as in the day time. Thus
another feature is added to the many
things that attract the sightseef to-
this little city which traces its history
back more than 200 years to the days
when Claude D'Ablon and James Mar
quette, the French explorers, landed at
the foot of the rapids that have given
the place its name.
When the Frenchmen landed here in
the spring of 1858 they established
permanent mission among the Chippe-
wa Indians which in time became
known as trading post for the North
western Fur Company. In 1922 Ft.
Brady was established on the banks of
the river at the foot of the rapids and
for many years it stood guard over the
little village In 1893 the fort was re-
moved to a location, on the hill over
looking the city, and it commands a
broad view of the surrounding coun-
try, including the river, the canal and
the locks, and in the distance the
Canadian shores, with a range of
mountains in the background. In 1911
the federal building was completed at
a cost of $149, 9,768.47, occupying a
square in the "Old FIT. Brady" grounds.
The ST. Mary rapids are three fourths
of mile long and half mile wide
Marie takes its name from the rapids.
The French call a cascade leap or
sault, and in conformity with com
mon usage added the name of patron
saint to the term, calling it "Sault
de Ste. Marie" or leap of st. Mary, to
designate it from other leaps or saults.
The first canal was completed in
| 1855 by the state of Michigan and was
about a mile long. 1t had two locks,
$50 feet long, 70 feet wide, 11R feet
| deep over the mitre stills, and cost
$1,000,000. The Weitzel lock was COM
pleted in 1881. 1t is 515 feet long, 80
| feet wide, II feet deep over the mitre
| sills and cost $1,000,000. The Poe lock,
| which is. the old state lock enlarged
and deepened, was completed in 1896
and cost $3,000,000 1t is 500 feet long,
| 100 feet wide and % feet deep over
the mitre stills. The size of the third
and fouth locks will be the same, 1850
feet long, 80 feet wide, 24lh, feet deep
over the mitre sills.
These locks will have separate
canal and the total cost will be So
| 100000. Aside from the locks the
United States government has spent
millions of dollars in improving har-
bors and deepening and widening the
channel in the st. Mary's river in the
vicinity of the sault SO that vessels
can proceed up and down the river
in the night as well as in the day.
The registered tonnage passing
through the locks in 1913 is given as
32,062,6t9.
Harvesting the rapids has been talk.
ed of for many years and in 1902 the
Michigan Lake Superior Power Com
pany canal was completed at a cost OF
over $5,000,000. 1t is nearly two miles
long, 800 feet wide and runs through
the central part of the city. The pow.
er house is a large stone structure and
has capacity of 45,00G,000 horsepow,
er, only part of which is utilized
| The Union Carbide Company plant
employs 1000 men. 1t is operated by
water power, utilizing 1900 horse
power, and it is said soon will be in a
position to use $4,000 horsepower. The
Northwestern Leather Company EN-
ploys 800 men. Other industries are
the 500 wooden mill, machine shops
saw mills and planning mills.
The Sault is the terminal and dis
tibuting point for two lines OF railroad
which connect with the Canadian Pa
cic railroad, which crosses on the in
ternational suspension bridge that
spans the rapids.
The Sault with its beautiful seen
cry, delightful climate and great locks