LAKE SUPERIOR COUNTRY page-9

This singular lake, narrow, deep, winding, and branching, occupied troughs cut through the solid rooky range, perhaps, by glaciers, thus opening to the mines, as effectually as an artificial channel could, on a grand scale, a waterway of incalculable advantage. But the outlet to this lake was Portage river, a small, crooked stream, five miles long. This, in its natural state,, barred the entrance of large craft to the lake. In 1859, the mining companies, aided by Shelden and Douglass, organized the Portage River Improvement Company, raised the necessary funds, and proceeded to widen and deepen the river by dredging, building a breakwater at the mouth of the dredged channel, where it entered Lake Superior. The work was done by contract; W. “W. Williams, of New York, was the contractor, and John H. Forster the engineer. In June, 1860, the work was so far advanced that the engineer was enabled to pilot a small propeller from Detroit, named, I think, “Detroit,” up to the wharves of Houghton and Hancock. Great was the rejoicing of the inhabitants; fierce and loud the shrieking of stamp mills whistles, as the boat hove in sight. It was a gala day at Portage; a new era was inaugurated. Mr. S. L. Smith, now of Lansing, made the speech of welcome. Previous to this all steamers from, the lower lakes came to anchor in the roadstead off the mouth of Portage river. Freight was discharged into scows, which were towed into the river and up to the mines by small tugs. During the season of storms, several days were sometimes required to dis charge a steamer, for, if a storm arose, the steamer was obliged to cut and run for L’Anse for shelter, returning after the storm had subsided. The cost, delay, and damage occasioned by this transfer was enormous and became intolerable to business men.

Tagged as: Lake Superior, New York