351 



THE SAULT STE. MARIE SHIP CANAL. 



In 1852 Congress passed an act granting to the State of Michigan 

 the right of way, and a donation of public land, for the construction of 

 a ship canal around the Falls of St. Marj, in said State, approved Au- 

 gust 26th, 1852. 



The Legislature of this State, in 1853, accepted, agre^'^d to, and made 

 obligatory upon the State of Michigan, all conditions expressed in said 

 act : and at the same time passed an act to provide for the construction 

 of a ship canal around the Falls of St. Mary. 



This canal has been completed and was accepted by the State Com- 

 missioners in May, 1855. 



The following statistics we copy from the Lake Superior Journal : 



There was to be done, acconling to the contract with the State, 88,- 

 300 yarJs of rock excavation, and 127,300 yards of earth do., (mostly 

 hard pan,) and 14,37S yards of lock masonry; besides whicb, at the 

 request of the State authorities, there have been 12,600 yards of exca- 

 vation, and 1,105 yards of masonry done as "extra," thus materially 

 enlarging the canal from the first plans. Such changes were strictly in 

 accordance with the law in reference to contractinof for the work, as it 

 made provision that the Commissioners might modify or change the 

 manner of building at any time, if they saw that the work could be 

 materially improved thereby. The Legislature being careful that no 

 legal or contract technicalities should prevent the building of a good 

 canal, and the result is, that the most perfect work of its kind in the 

 world is secured for all time. 



In executing the work there has been expended 320,595 days' work, 

 viz: 



Days Labor. 



Excavation and filling 208,276 



Lock masonry, (including quarrying and cutting,) 56,970 



Lock foundations, 10,605 



Piers, 14,006 



Lock gates and timber, (estimated,) 7,7 1 2 



Slope wall, , 6,884 



Miscellaneous work, 1 7,242 



Total, 320,595 



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