THE SAINT MARY'S FALLS SHIP CANAL.

THIS Canal, which connects the navigation of Lake Superior with the Lower Lakes, is a little more than one mile in length, and cost about one million dollars.

It was built in the years 1853, '54, '55 by the Saint Mary's Falls Ship Canal Company, under a contract with commissioners appointed by the authorities of the State of Michigan to secure the building of the canal.

A grant of 750,000 acres of the public land had previously been made by Congress to the State of Michigan to aid in the construction of this important work.

This grant of 750,000 acres was given to the parties contracting for the building of the canal, provided the work should be completed within two years from the date of the contract.

The work was commenced in the spring of 1853, and completed within the time specified in the contract (two years !).

This result was accomplished under many disadvantages, during a very sickly season, and when great difficulty was experienced in obtaining laborers; but the unremitting vigor of those who had the charge of the work secured its completion in the most substantial, permanent, and acceptable manner.

During a great portion of the time there were from 1,200 to 1,600 men employed upon the work, exclusive of the force at the different quarries where the stone was cut and prepared for the locks, besides a large force employed in necessary agencies, getting timber, etc.

The stones for the locks were cut at Anderden, Canada (near Malden), and at Marblehead, near Sandusky, in Ohio. These were sent in vessels to the work, some twenty-five different sailing vessels being employed in this business.

On the completion of the canal in June, 1855, the Governor of the State, the State officers, and the Canal Commissioners proceeded to Saut Ste Marie for the purpose of inspecting the work. It was accepted, and thereupon, in accordance with the terms of the contract, the State authorities released to the Canal

Company and issued patents for the 750,000 acres of land. This was all the remuneration the company received for the work.

The lands were selected during the building of the canal by agents appointed by the Governor of Michigan.

Of the 750,000 acres, 39,000 acres were selected in the iron region of Lake Superior, 147,000 acres in the copper region, and the balance, 564,000 acres, in the Lower Peninsula.

The following figures will give some idea of the magnitude of this work:

Width at top 115 feet-at water-line 100 feet-at bottom 64 feet.

The depth of the canal is 12 feet.

A slope wall on the sides of the canal is 4,000 feet in length. There are two locks, each 350 feet in length.

Width of locks 70 feet at top-611 feet at bottom.

The walls are 25 feet high-10 feet thick at bottom.

Lift of upper lock 8 feet-lower do., 10 feet; total lockage 18 feet.

Lower wharf 180 feet long, 20 feet wide.

Upper wharf 830 feet long, from 16 to 30 feet wide. There are three pairs of folding gates, each 40 feet wide. Upper gate 17 feet high-lower gate 24 feet 6 inches high. There are also upper and lower caisson gates, used for shutting off the water from the canal.

The amount of lumber, timber, and iron used in the building of the piers and gates is enormous.

There were 103, 437 lbs of wrought iron used in the gates, and 38,000 lbs cast iron.

About 8,000 feet of oak timber, etc.

The tolls on the canal are collected by the State-are merely nominal-and only intended to defray the necessary expenses of repairs.

THE UPPER LAKE COUNTRY.

WE copy the following extract from an address published in the Lansing (Mich.) Republican, as containing interesting information regarding the Commerce of the Upper Lakes :

C. T. Harvey, Esq., of Lake Superior, agreeably to appointment, made an address in the Hall of the House of Representatives on the subject of the "present state and future prospects of the Commerce of Lake Superior."

"As to the past, he observed that in 1839 the first steamer visited the Saut Ste Marie, to the great astonishment of the Indians who lived on St. Mary's River. That in 1844 Capt. Ward first established a regular steamboat line from Detroit to the entrance of Lake Superior via Mackinac. That in 1849 Mr. S. McKnight (a member of the house) did all the transportation of merchandise around the Falls of St. Mary's with one or two horses, and it was not till 1851 that the first steamer floated on the waters of Lake Superior only six years ago.

"After some further reminiscences showing at how very recent a date business in that quarter had commenced, the speaker proceeded to the present.

"He referred to the report of the Superintendent of the Saut Canal, to show that in the season of 1856 just closed there was over 11,000 tons of iron ore shipped through it to Detroit and eastward. An increase of 800 per cent. over 1855, when only 1,400 tons were sent down. That 1,040 tons of bloom iron were sent, an increase of 25 per cent.; but the most remarkable fact was that ten millions four hundred and fifty-two thousand pounds of copper were sent through the canal in the raw state -over two and a quarter millions of dollars-an increase of some 67 per cent. Mr. H. remarked that this noticeable increase did not look like a failure of the mining interests, although public excitement respecting them had subsided.

"The business eastward through the canal of mineral and fish exported from the lake, amounted to, as estimated by the Superintendent, $2,875,000; while the imports of merchandise and supplies were, in round numbers, $2,500,000; making a total of $5,375,000, of which he calculated full $5,000,000 was commerce of the Upper Peninsula. Remarking that a trade of this magnitude, which had sprung up out of nothing within fifteen years, must in the next fifteen years increase in almost the same ratio, till the results would be almost incredible, he hazarded the conjecture, that within 25 years as many vessels of all kinds would pass and re-pass in the St. Mary's River, as now frequent the waters of the St. Clair."

TRIP FROM COLLINGWOOD TO MACKINAC, GREEN BAY, CHICAGO, ETC.

THIS excursion is an interesting one for the pleasure traveler, as well as the man of business. The steamer on leaving Collingwood runs direct for Cabot's Head, 80 miles, skirting the main shore of Canada to Cape Hurd, about 20 miles farther, passing the Bear's Rump, Flower Pot, Echo and Cove islands.

YEO ISLAND and FITZ WILLIAM ISLAND (a large island) are seen on the north; several smaller islands are also passed, when the broad waters of Lake Huron are entered, the steamers usually running direct for Mackinac.

The GREAT MANITOULIN may be seen in the distance, toward the north, in pleasant weather, and the OUTER DUCK and GREAT DUCK islands are passed about 80 miles westward of Cape Hurd.

The steamer then pursues a westerly course toward Mackinac, about 100 miles farther, sighting Presque Isle on the main Michigan shore, and passing Bois Blanc and Round islands. The Straits of Mackinac are now entered, being here about twenty miles across, but soon diminishes in width; opposite old Fort Mackinac it is four or five miles in width.

The STRAITS OF MACKINAC, with the approaches thereto from Lakes Huron and Michigan, will always command attention from the passing traveler. Through this channel will pass, for ages to come, a great current of commerce, and its shores will be enlivened with civilized life, where at present the Indian now lingers, but, alas! is fast fading away.

It is proposed to construct a railroad running from Detroit or Saginaw to Old Fort Mackinac, which, when completed, will tend to open the whole northern portion of this part of the State of Michigan, one of the most favorably situated States of

the whole Union; having two peninsulas, rich in soil and mineral productions, and from which are now exported immense quantities of lumber, copper, and iron ore.

In this great commercial route Lake Huron is traversed for about 180 miles, often affording the traveler a taste of sea-sickness and its consequent evils. Yet there often are times when Lake Huron is hardly ruffled, and the timid passenger enjoys the voyage with as much zest as the more experienced mariner.

MACKINAC, the gem of the Upper Lake islands, may vie with any other locality for the salubrity of its climate, for its picturesque beauties, and for its vicinity to fine fishing-grounds. Here the invalid, the seeker of pleasure, as well as the sportsman and angler, can find enjoyment to their heart's content during warm weather. For further description see page 110.

On leaving Mackinac for Green Bay the steamer generally runs a west course for the mouth of the bay, passing several islands in Lake Michigan before entering the waters of Green Bay, about 150 miles distant.

SUMMER ISLAND lies on the north side and ROCK ISLAND lies on the south side of the entrance to Green Bay, forming a charming view from the deck of the steamer.

POTAWATOMEE ISLAND, CHAMBERS' ISLAND, and other small islands, are next passed on the upward trip toward the head of the bay.

GREEN BAY, about 100 miles long and from 20 to 30 miles wide, is a splendid sheet of water, destined no doubt to be enlivened with commerce and pleasure excursions. Here are to be seen a number of picturesque islands and headlands. Several important streams enter into Green Bay, the largest of which is Neenah or Fox River, at its head, and is the outlet of Winnebago Lake. Menomonee River forms the boundary between the States of Wisconsin and Michigan, and empties into the bay opposite Green Island.

The town of GREEN BAY, the capital of Brown Co., Wis., is finely situated near the mouth of Fox or Neenah River, at its entrance into Green Bay, where is a good and secure harbor.