[NORTH TABLET]

BESIDE THESE RAPIDS, JUNE 14, 1671, DAUMONT DE LUSSON, NICOLAS PERROT, LOUIS JOLIET AND FATHERS DABLON, DRUILLETTES, ALLOUEZ AND ANDRE CLAIMED POSSESSION OF ALL THE LANDS FROM THE SEAS OF THE NORTH AND WEST TO THE SOUTH SEA, FOR LOUIS XIV. OF FRANCE. IN 1763, THE LAKE REGION WAS CEDED TO ENGLAND AS A PORTION OF CANADA, AND AT THE CLOSE OF THE REVOLUTION, SAINT MARYS RIVER BECAME PART OF THE NATIONAL BOUNDARIES. IN 1797, THE NORTH WEST FUR COMPANY BUILT A BATEAU CANAL AND LOCK ON THE CANADIAN BANK. IN 1820, LEWIS CASS, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN TERRITORY, HERE ESTABLISHED THE AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE GREAT LAKES TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

THE MONUMENT IN THE QUARRY OF NORCROSS BROTHERS COMPANY, BRANFORD, CONN.

[EAST TABLET]

THE XXXII. CONGRESS HAVING MADE A GRANT OF PUBLIC LANDS TO AID THE CONSTRUCTION OF A SHIP CANAL AROUND SAINT MARYS FALLS, THE STATE OF MICHIGAN CONTRACTED WITH JOSEPH P. FAIRBANKS, JOHN W. BROOKS, ERASTUS CORNING, AUGUST BELMONT, HENRY DWIGHT, JR., AND THOMAS DWYER, PRINCIPALS; AND FRANKLIN MOORE, GEORGE F. PORTER, JOHN OWEN, JAMES F. JOY, AND HENRY P. BALDWIN, SURETIES, TO BUILD A CANAL ACCORDING TO THE PLANS OF CAPT. AUGUSTUS CANFIELD, U. S. A. THE WORK OF CONSTRUCTION WAS ACCOMPLISHED BY CHARLES T. HARVEY, C. E., WHO OVERCAME MANY SERIOUS OBSTACLES INCIDENT TO THE REMOTE SITUATION. THE CANAL, OPENED JUNE 18, 1855, WAS OPERATED BY THE STATE UNTIL JUNE 9, 1881, WHEN IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE UNITED STATES AND MADE FREE TO ALL VESSELS. SUPERINTENDENTS UNDER THE STATE: JOHN BURT, ELISHA CALKINS, SAMUEL P. MEAD, GEORGE W. BROWN, GUY H. CARLETON, FRANK GORTON. JOHN SPALDING.

[WEST TABLET]

IN 1856, CONGRESS FIRST MADE APPROPRIATIONS TO IMPROVE SAINT MARYS RIVER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS, U. S. A. CAPT. JOHN NAVARRE MACOMB AND CAPT. AMIEL WEEKS WHIPPLE HAD CHARGE OF THE WORK UNTIL 1861; AND COL. THOMAS JEFFERSON CRAM, MAJ. WALTER MCFARLANE AND MAJ. ORLANDO METCALFE POE FROM 1866 TO 1873. THE WEITZEL LOCK WAS BUILT BETWEEN 1876 AND 1881 BY MAJ. GODFREY WEITZEL, ASSISTED BY CAPT. ALEXANDER MACKENZIE. MAJ. FRANCIS ULRIC FARQUHAR AND CAPT. DAVID WRIGHT LOCKWOOD WERE IN CHARGE, 1882-3. FROM 1883 TO 1896, THE CANAL WAS ENLARGED AND THE POE LOCK BUILT BY COL. POE, ON THE SITE OF THE STATE LOCKS. FROM 1895 TO 1905 THE OFFICERS IN CHARGE SUCCESSIVELY WERE LIEUT. JAMES BATES CAVANAUGH, COL. GARRETT J. LYDECKER, COL. WILLIAM H. BIXBY, MAJ. WALTER LESLIE FISK, AND COL. CHARLES E. L. B. DAVIS. GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS UNDER THE UNITED STATES; ALFRED NOBLE, EBEN S. WHEELER, JOSEPH RIPLEY. SUPERINTENDENTS: JOHN SPALDING, WILLIAM CHANDLER, MARTIN LYNCH, DONALD

M. MACKENZIE.