The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1918-08-17
HISTORY OF
CANAL GRANT
Mr.. las. E. SHERMAN C0NTRI-
BUTES AN IMPORTANT ARTICLE
FORE-RUKNER OF KEWEENAW
Detailed Account of Steps Taken
To Secure A Waterway Between
Portage Lake and |. Superior

In the fall OF the year 1919 Governor
cass Of MlchiganA projected an expe-
dition for exploring the upper lake
region, and Henry h. schoolcraft the
historian Of Il, writes that on June 25
and 26. 1920 the party passed through
Portage Lake and made the portage
across from Portage lake to Lake Su.
perior He says that at the head of
! Portage lake "A small stream enters
which Is just wide enough to admit OF
a canoe 70 be worked with paddles
very serpentine in its course, over
hung with alders and shrubbery with
fallen trees In the channel, so that
| the ascent is attended with difficulty"
This stream Is ascended miles to
its source in big meadow, during the
latter part of which the canoes are
dragged along through mud and wa
ter which Is only wide enough for that
purpose, and appears to have been
mer days" and adds, Thence to Lake
Superior is a portage of two thousand
yards OF which the first part is very
swamp and the last dry. sandy soil
covered with tall pines"
In 1865 the legislature of Michigan
passed joint resolution approved on
January 21, asking the government of
the United States for grant of land
in aid of the construction OF a ship
canal from Portage Lake TO Lake SUI
perior Reciting that:
Whereas, the dignity and security
of the nation demand that our lakes
on the northern frontier should be put
in condition OF armed defense
And, Whereas, Lake Superior
should in this regard, be placed on an
equal footing with the other lakes, as
its commerce and mineral interests
have become Of equal national import
ance;
And. Whereas. by opening a canal
through the isthmus or neck OF land
known as the Portage which sep
arates the waters OF Portage lake from
Lake Superior. 50 that vessels can at
all times enter Portage Lake. a har-
Dor will thereby be made of Portage
lake Of inestlmable value 10 the gov
ernment Of the United States and
passage OF ships across the base Of
Keweenaw Point Of like Importance
TO commerce and navigation;
And, Whereas, This great work, so
necessary to the government, to trade,
and 10 the prosperity Of the country,
involves an expenditure Of such mag
nitude that unaided individual enter
prise may not be equal to It's accom-
plishment, unless quickened by Just
/ stimulant from national bounty;
BE II Therefore Resolved that our
senators and members of the house OF
representatives in Congress be re-
1
obtain from Congress a grant of land
in such quantities as Congress may
deem best, In aid OF construction of
ship canal from Portage lake to Lake
Superior"
Upon March 3, 1865 was approved
the first OF the acts OF Congress,
granting TO the state of Michigan the
right OF locating and constructing
breakwater and harbor and ship canal
through any public lands at or upon
the neck OF land on Lake Superior
known as the Portage, with the right
10 occupy 1000 feet in width on the
bank OF Lake Superior. 400 feet I'm
width for the canal. that the canal
shall not be less than 100 feet wide
with a depth OF water not less than
13 feet, and granting to the state OF
Michigan In aid OF the project, two
hundred thousand acres OF public
lands TO be selected by an agent OF the
state from any lands In the upper pen
insula subject to private entry and
from alternate and odd-numbered sec
tious Of lands not otherwise appro-
prlated and not previously designated
as mineral lands.
The ganted lands TO be subject TO
disposal hv the state legislature or by
the governor and board Of control II
the legislature should not be in ses-