No. 216.] 635 



extended to the neighborhood of Ontonagon river, and the PorCU* 

 pine mountains. Though the Kewanaw mines are undeniably richj 

 the latter will challenge comparison. 



Owing to the Presidential veto of the mineral land permits, and 

 of the failure of the mineral land bill last summer in Congress, it is 

 well known that the value of lake Superior copper stocks went down 

 in the estimation of the public, many supposing the whole matter 

 one of the humbugs of the day, withdrew their confidence there- 

 from, but the recent action of Congress, in providing for the sale of 

 the mineral lands to occupants, has restored that confidence in the 

 minds ol all who are informed on the subject, and measures are now 

 being taken to increase the mining force largely beyond any former 

 year. 



The government of the United States, acting as the sole owner of 

 some twenty or thirty millions of acres, bordering on lake Superior, 

 in justice to the people, as well as to its own pecuniary interest^ 

 ought immediately to make liberal appropriations of land, to con- 

 struct a canal at Saut Ste. Marie, and to make a road from Copper 

 Harbor to Green Bay, and another road the whole length of the Pe*- 

 ninsula, connecting Saut Ste. Marie and Machinaw, with the head 

 of the lake and the Mississippi. 



Surely no individual of common sagacity, owning that property. 

 Would hesitate a moment in the appropriation. 



The reflecting people of this region being aware that no commu* 

 nity ever did, could or would enact and administer laws to the satis- 

 faction of another people, and being also aware that this Peninsula 

 is but about one half as large as the lower, in the affairs of govern* 

 ment, is destined ever to be in a hopeless minority, with a radical 

 difference in pursuits, productions, and interests, as well as a com- 

 plete separation of territory, v,'i]l soon wake up to the importance of 

 early measures for the erection of the State of Ontonagon. 



As it is admitted that all legitimate government is instituted for 

 the people, it is presumed that no reasonable objection will be found 

 or urged against this measure. 



General Tallmadge. Before the adjournment of the club, I desire 

 to bear my testimony to the intelligent and able character of the re- 

 port of the Hon. Nathan Burchard, which has been read to-day. I 

 feel a particular anxiety that this occasion should not pass without 

 some effort to second, to sustain the high and noble ground which 



