Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1912 — “SOO” CANAL BUSY [ARTICLE]

“SOO” CANAL BUSY

15,368 Vessels Passed Through Channel in 1911. Handling of Large Number of Craft Accomplished Without a Blockade, Bays Commandant—Three Times Suez Record. Washington.—During the navigation season of 1911 vessel* to the number of 15,368 passed through the St Marys river channel, which connects Lake Superior and Lake Huron, according to Lieut. Philip H. Scott commanding the revenue cutter Mackinac, in charge of the patrol of St. Mary’s river. In his report to Commissioner Chamberlain of the bureau of navigation, department of commerce and labor. This is a larger transit of large steamers than on any other water of the United States and more than three times 4,533, which is the number of passages through the Suez canal in 1910. The daily average number of vessels recorded at Lookout Station No. 8, which is located just below Sault Ste. Marie, at the entrance to Hay Lake channel, was 72, or at the rate of one boat every 20 minutes. The week ended August 5 showed the greatest daily average for any week during the year, namely 86 vessels, and the greatest number recorded in any one day was 105, on AfigHst 24-~~ The passage of this large number of craft Was accomplished without any congestion approaching a blockade, and while there were a number of minor accidents, only one was due to violation of the navigation laws. The channels were open at all times, and no obstructions to navigation occurred other than due to fogs. St. Marys river markb the boundary

line between the United States and Canada at the northern extremity of Michigan. It divides at Sault Ste. Marie falls, and two canals make navigation possible at this point—one on the American side, equipped with two masonry locks, and the other on the Canadian side, with one masonry lock. The Hay lake route, being a comparatively straight cut, dan be navigated with reasonable safety at night, and it is well defined by many lights and buoys In charge of the bureau of lighthouses. Both the Hay lake and Lake George routes are open to either American or Canadian ships, free of toil. This channel forms the natural outlet for the vessels carrying manufacturing, mining and agricultural products from the shore cities on Lake Superior, especially Detroit and Duluth, and while freight steamers comprise the largest number of ships plying these waters, passenger steamers also form a considerable part of the heavy traffic. Lieut. William J. Wheelerr U. S. E. C. 8., will succeed Lieutenant Scott next season.