Library те 625 52 M62 сор. 2 Linotyped by Record Printing Company Half-tones by Matthews & Northrup, the James Bayne Company, the Marine Review and Peninsular Engraving Company Photographs by the Detroit Publishing Company and Lord & Rhoades Printing and Binding by Pohl Printing Company Preface Y virtue of the joint action of the Congress of the United States and of the Legislature of the State of Michigan, provision was made for the celebration of the semi-centennial of the opening of the Saint Marys Falls Canal. This action was taken at the instance of Hon. Peter White, of Marquette, and Charles T. Harvey, C. E. of Ottawa, Canada, who presented first at Washington and later at Lansing, the importance and desirability of such a celebration. Neither legislative body was quick to seize the opportunity, and it was only after patient work, carried on during several years, that appropriations of $10,000 by the United States and of $15,000 by the State of Michigan were secured. The first of these appropriations was contained in the Deficiency Appropriation Act, approved March 3, 1905. The legislation by the State of Michigan took the following form: Joint Resolution Relative to the semi-centennial celebration of the completion of the Lake Superior Ship Canal, including the participation of the United States government in the same, and other purposes connected therewith and making an appropriation therefor. Whereas, in the month of July, nineteen hundred five, will occur the completion of half a century of service of the ship canal around the Falls of the St. Marys River at the outlet of Lake Superior, in the State of Michigan; and Whereas, during that period it has developed the greatest concentration of marine tonnage in the world and has been of inestimable advantage to the nation, especially in enabling the iron and steel industries of the states bordering on the Great Lakes to attain the front rank, which the same now occupy, also affording the most ample and economical outlet for the vast grain fields products of the trans-Mississippi regions; and Whereas, it was for two-thirds of those years under the control and management of the State of Michigan as a trust for the national benefit, the administration of which reflected great honor upon the officials of this state who wisely performed the duties therewith devolved upon them, until the United States assumed its control, in A. D. eighteen hundred eighty-one, and has greatly enlarged the same on a scale commensurate with the requirements of the vast national traffic passing through it; and Whereas, Congress has, by an act approved March third, nineteen hundred five, appropriated ten thousand dollars for the purpose of assisting in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the inauguration of the canal, occurring the present year; Resolved, That the State of Michigan will most cordially co-operate with the United States in rendering such celebration a notable event in the history of the Great Lake region. First. By the erection, near the canal, of a monolith column of most durable stone, on the four sides of which to be inserted four or more memorial bronze tablets; one for names of United States officials prominently connected with the inception and improvement of the canal; one for the names of State of Michigan officials in similar capacities; one for the names of the original constructors; and one for the names of those prominently connected with the celebration proceedings, including the Semi-Centennial Association as promoters of the same. Second. By the publication of an artistic statistical memorial volume, furnishing views of the canal at different stages of development, condensed statistics of the first fifty years of traffic, with illustrated biographical sketches of the persons whose names appear upon the before mentioned memorial tablet. Third. By such arrangements as shall be deemed appropriate for the reception of the President of the United States and other invited national, state, or other officials, also of members of Congress and of this Legislature and of other states, when attending the dedication of the memorial monument; at such date and with such ceremonies and adjuncts as the Commission hereinafter authorized shall determine and announce. Resolved, That the management of said celebration proceedings shall be vested in a Commission, to be known as The Lake Superior Canal Semi-Centennial Celebration Commission of Nineteen Hundred Five, and to consist of three persons to be appointed by the Governor, who shall serve without salaried compensation, but be reimbursed for actual incidental expenses while promoting or conducting the same; a majority to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and with power to appoint a marshal, and such other assistants as may be found advisable ; also Resolved, That the Governor be, and is hereby authorized and requested to invite the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota to join in the aforesaid celebration and in any courtesies to be extended to members of Congress or other invited guests in connection therewith; also Resolved, That the sum of fifteen thousand dollars be and the same is hereby appropriated out of any money in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to defray such expenses as shall be necessarily incurred in carrying into effect the provisions of this joint resolution, such expenses to be certified by said Commission to the Board of State Auditors and allowed by them. The sums so allowed shall be paid from the State Treasury on the warrant of the Auditor General, and charged to the appropriation account of said Commission: Provided, That in no event shall the State of Michigan be held responsible or be made liable for any sum in excess of the amount appropriated by this joint resolution : Provided further, That the Auditor General shall incorporate in the state tax for the year nineteen hundred five, the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, which, when collected, shall be credited to the general fund to reimburse the same for the money hereby appropriated. This joint resolution is ordered to take immediate effect. The Governor appointed the following Commission: Peter White, of Marquette, Horace M. Oren, of Sault Ste. Marie, and Charles Moore, of Detroit. The Commission organized by electing Mr. White, president and Mr. Moore, secretary and treasurer. The Commission appointed Charles T. Harvey, chief marshal, and arranged a celebration covering August 2 and 3, 1905. The burden of the local arrangements devolved largely upon Mr. Oren, who was ably assisted by local committees. The weather was perfect and the schedule was carried out without mishap or variation. The attendance was limited only by the number of people that could be cared for. Besides the Vice-President of the United States, the Governor of Michigan, and representatives of the Dominion of Canada, there was a large representation of members of Congress and other United States officials, members of the State Legislature, vessel owners, yachtsmen and residents of Sault Ste. Marie in early days. The vessel parade, the procession and the fire-works on the first day were successful in the highest degree, and the addresses on the second day were appropriate to the international character of the event. The presence of vessels of the United States Navy, of the Engineer Corps, the Revenue Cutter, and the Light House services, and of the Michigan Naval Reserves, and the co-operation of the battalion of the First United States Infantry from Fort Brady, and of the second and third battalions, Third Regiment, Michigan National Guard, added largely to the success of the celebration. A band of Indians under the charge of Mr. L. O. Armstrong set up their wigwams on the old site of Fort Brady, and by their very presence as well as by their songs and dances recalled the early days of Sault Ste. Marie. The Dominion of Canada graciously and efficiently co-operated in the preparations, and participated in the exercises. The addresses of the Canadian speakers adverted to the days of both French and English dominion, and the fire-works and electric displays on the Canadian side of the river were surpassingly fine. This volume contains a report of the celebration, a history of the canal carefully prepared by Hon. John H. Goff, formerly of Sault Ste. Marie, and now a member of the Detroit Bar, together with papers on the commerce of the Great Lakes in 1905, written by Mr. Ralph D. Williams, editor of the Marine Review of Cleveland, and other documents of historical value. For many of the illustrations, the Commission is indebted to the courtesy of Mr. John A. Penton, owner of the Marine Review and the Iron Trade Review. The permanent memorial provided for in the resolution of the Michigan Legislature is a monument of red granite taken from quarries at Branford, Connecticut, owned by the Norcross Brothers, of Worcester, Massachusetts, the contractors. The shaft, 44 feet in height, and 4 feet, 4 inches in diameter at the base, stands on a base of two steps, 2 feet, 3 inches in height. The contract price of the monument in place was $19,000. The monument was designed by Mr. Charles Follin McKim, of the firm of McKim, Mead & White, architects, New York City. Both in form and in material, the monument follows the most enduring of Egyptian obelisks; and this particular design was chosen because it was deemed best suited to commemorate works of engineering. The monument will bear the following inscriptions: |