No. 15.-DISTRICT OF MICHILIMACKINAC. Port of entry, Mackinaw; latitude 45° 51′, longitude 84° 35′; population in 1850, 3,598. This, which is the most northerly of the lake districts, as well as the most extensive of them all, embraces that portion of the American coast on the western shore of Lake Michigan, from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 43° 41′ north latitude, 88° 01' west longitude, northward, including Manitowoc, Two Rivers, Green Bay, Lake Winnebago, with all its ports, in Wisconsin-embraces Little Bay Noquet, Big Bay Noquet; the Fox, Manitou, and Beaver islands; the coast on the straits of Mackinaw; the St. Mary's river to the Sault; thence west along the south shore of Lake Superior to Montreal river-all in the State of Michigan-and continues thence along the Wisconsin shore to the western extremity of the lake at Fond du Lac; whence it proceeds northeasterly along the shore of the Minnesota Territory to Port Charlotte, on the dividing line between the United States and the British possessions. The entire length of this coast-line considerably exceeds 1,300 miles, following the sinuosities of the shore; and from the isolated situation of many portions of the district, it has been found impossible to obtain full or satisfactory returns. The country bordering upon the great length of coast in this district was partially explored, and even mapped, with sufficient accuracy, more than two centuries ago, by the French Jesuits- those indefatigable discoverers and civilizers, and pioneer colonists of the mighty West; and from that period it has been at all times more or less frequently visited by missionaries, traders, trappers and hunters, until the present day, when a systematic and steady colonization may be said to be fairly established, together with a practical and successful development of its resources, by the cultivation of its productive lands, the prosecution of its fisheries, and the exploitation of its forests and its mines. Notwithstanding all this, there is much ground. for the belief that the influence which it is one day destined to exercise on the commercial affairs of this continent, though it may be appreciated by a few far-reaching minds, is litle foreseen or understood by the people at large. The grounds existing for this confident expectation are to be found in the following peculiar, and in some degree singular, features of this district: First, the unequalled facilities, which it possesses for navigation, afforded by its numerous lakes, bays and rivers, through which, and their artificial improvements, it has ready access to both the St. Lawrence and Mississippi, from which, by the various internal chains of canal and railroad, it has easy communications to almost every important market along the vast seaboard stretching from the Balize to the straits of Belleisle. Secondly, the unbounded productiveness of its fisheries, which may be, and are, it might be said, advantageously prosecuted through the entire length of its waters. Thirdly, the immense resources it possesses in the magnificent forests of pine which border all the southern portions of its coasts, and are capable of supplying lumber for the entire consumption of the North west. And, fourthly, the incalculable wealth of the mineral regions of Lake Superior. These four influences-apart from any agricultural resources, which, under the stimulus of demand arising from the development of the former, are constantly and steadily on the increase-are already felt surely to a degree which has commanded the attention of those engaged in commercial pursuits, and in fact of the government itself. Every succeeding year fresh ports are springing into existence at different points-all imperatively demanding aid for the construction of light-houses, and piers, and other facilities for navigation; and all as imperatively demanded by the requirements of a commerce growing spontaneously-not forced into life by any fictitious stimulants of speculation-with a rapidity and steadiness hitherto unknown in the commercial history of the world. At the southern extremity of this district is Manitowoc, about thirtyfive miles north from Sheboygan, on the Michigan shore-a port which, almost unknown three years ago, has now, including the country in which it stands, a population of 5,000 inhabitants, and a trade, though hitherto almost entirely overlooked, already exceeding that of Chicago for 1839, as regards exports, although the imports are necessarily something inferior, owing to the smaller extent of country at present looking to Manitowoc for its supplies. The exports are principally lumber, laths, pickets, ashes, shingles, furs, wood, white-fish, &c., &c., to the value of... $77,122 The imports consist of merchandise, as salt, flour, pork, beef, meal, butter, lard, &c., to the value of... 106,721 Making a total of..... 183,843 Entrances, 788; tonnage, 227,940. A few miles north of Manitowoc is the port of Two Rivers-also in Wisconsin-well situated for lake trade. Both these new ports require appropriations for light-houses and piers. The country adjacent to Two Rivers is finely timbered, and furnishes large quantities of lumber for export, as also shingles, ashes, furs, &c.; but, whenever the land shall be cleared, its exports will consist of grain, wool, animals, and other agricultural produce, such as is furnished by the land of Wisconsin generally. So that, in a few years, the commerce of these two ports may be expected to undergo an entire revolution— becoming, from exporters of lumber and importers of agricultural supplies, exporters of the produce of the soil, and importers of assorted merchandise and luxuries. The business of Two Rivers will be confined to the peninsula east of Green Bay, and Lake Winnebago, and Fox river; since that route, being more direct, and affording extraordinary facilities for water transportation, will undoubtedly prevent any trade west of it from passing to the lake shore eastward. The local business, however, necessarily flowing to these points on the shore, will keep up, for all time, an activę and advantageous trade at them. The port of Two Rivers has never before reported its commerce fully, but the following results show an excellent commencement: Imports in 1851. Exports in 1851... In 1847, the imports at this port were valued at $53,747. Of the exports there were-Products of the forest.. Fisheries... Domestic manufactures.. $115,000 112,763 227,763 $42,585 72,424 115,009 $90,072 16,198 6,493 112,763 Entrances, 822 steam; 192 sail; making a total of 1,014 arrivals during the season. The next port claiming the attention of the commercial classes is in fact the most important in the district-Green Bay-situated at the southwestern extremity or head of the great basin of the same name, and the outlet of the Fox river. This port, indeed, bids fair to rival Chicago, as the lake depot for all that most important branch of the lake trade, which has its origin on the borders of the upper Mississippi. The work known as the Fox river improvement is now nearly completed, connecting the Mississippi with the great lakes, by steam navigation. This work has so greatly improved the navigation of the Fox river, flowing from Lake Winnebago into Green bay, as to admit the ascent of small steamers to the former; whence, by a further improvement of the Fox river, and a canal connecting it with the Wisconsin river, the passage is free to the Mississippi, entrance to which is had about two miles below Fort Crawford. From this point steamers can navigate the Mississippi upward or downward, at option, as occasions may require. This is the first water route which has been opened connecting the lake, with the Mississippi, navigable by steam power; and what the practical result of its operation may be, is yet in the bosom of the future. Fort Crawford is situated 4S7 miles above St. Louis; 257 above Burlington, Iowa; 80 above Galena, Illinois; 60 above Dubuque, Iowa; 5 below Prairie du Chien; 243 below St. Paul's, Minnesota Territory; and 255 below the Falls of St. Anthony. The distance from Green Bay to the mouth of the Wisconsin is about 220 miles, through the richest valley of Wisconsin; by this route, therefore, there is an uninterrupted steam communication from Buffalo, Oswego, and Ogdensburg, or the Canadian cities, and the mouth of the St. Lawrence, to St. Louis, New Orleans, and the Balize. This is certainly indicative of a new era in the practice of inland steam navigation; as it will open at once an easy and direct communication between New York and the new States of Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Minnesota Territory, rendering any of the above-named points on the Mississippi easier of access by way of the lakes than St. Louis itself. This is a fact which cannot be overlooked by immigrants, and will therefore bring the public lands of those new States and Territories advantageously into the market at no distant day. This line of communication also brings the lead mines of Galena nearer by a hundred miles to the lakes, than to St. Louis; and to it ultimately all the hidden wealth of the upper Mississippi valley, incalculable in its amount and apparently inexhaustible, must become tributary-inasmuch as for the transmission of heavy freight and produce this is the easiest and most direct and therefore, of course, the cheapest channel. Along the eastern portion of this route across the State of Wisconsin, there have already sprung up several promising ports on Lake Winnebago and Fox river; among them Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Du Pere, and Fond du Lac, all well situated, with good harbor facilities, and rich agricultural regions circumjacent. The public lands are in rapid progress of selection and settlement, whether by warrants or regular entry in the land offices, while plank roads are traversing the country in all directions. Green Bay, which has for several years been a great depot for fish and lumber, is now rapidly becoming the great commercial depot for the internal trade of Wisconsin, and during the season of 1851 there was a line of steamers regularly plying between this point and Buffalo. The completion of the Fox river improvement will, however, demand much greater facilities, henceforth, than have ever before been brought into requisition. No details of the business at Green Bay for the season of 1851 have been received, but it is notorious that the commerce of this place has advanced incalculably within the year; and in the absence of accurate information, it may be fairly assumed as follows: Imports. Exports.. Total.... $2,000,000 1,000,000 3,000,000 This estimate of imports may, at first view, appear too large; but, when it is remembered that the country, in the rear and around, is comparatively new, and unable, as yet, to export anything very material, and that the tide of emigration, constantly and regularly pouring in, demands a great quantity of supplies of all kinds for subsistence, for which it must be temporarily in arrear until the land shall be cleared, cultivated, and brought up to the standard which shall constitute it an exporting in lieu of an importing region, this opinion will be reversed. In consideration of the great and still growing importance of Green Bay, and the remoteness of its situation from Michilimackinac, it might properly be made a port of entry, with the shores of Winnebago, Green Bay, and the lake coast, from the straits of Mackinaw to Manitowoc, constituting a new district. Debouching into Green Bay, flow from the northward the rivers Oconto, Peshtego, and Menomonee-the latter a large stream, and formerly, for some distance, the frontier line between the States of Michigan and Wisconsin. On it are situated several saw-mills for the cutting of lumber for the Chicago market. The source of this river is but a few miles distant from the shore of Lake Superior, on the southern watershed of the northern peninsula of Michigan. Its course is about two hundred miles in length to its outlet, in which space it has a descent of 1,049 feet, and is emphatically a river of cataracts and rapids, bringing down a vast volume of water, and occasionally spreading to a width of 600 feet. It can, therefore, be made available to any extent for water-power; though its navigation will be, in all times, limited to canoeing. The lower course of the Menomonee, toward its mouth, is bordered by tracts of heavily timbered pine-lands, the produce of which is now growing into brisk demand in the neighboring lumber markets. Below the Menomonee, to the northeast, the White Fish, Escanaba, and Fort rivers, discharge their waters into the Little Bay de Noquet. They are also fringed along their skirts by extensive pine forests, from which much lumber is annually manufactured. The Monistique falls into Elizabeth bay, farther to the north. The principal business carried on upon the islands of Lake Michigan, belonging to this district, is fishii.g and wood-chopping; steamers and propellers frequently stopping at them to wood, and obtain supplies of fish, for the latter of which groceries, fruit, &c., are given in direct barter. The climate is genial and the soil productive; but the present inhabitants-being principally Indians and half-breeds, or fishermen, who have few tastes except for fishing and hunting-contrive to subsist themselves principally by those employments, and the cultivation of small patches of corn and corn and potatoes. The North and South Manitous have good harbors for the shelter of vessels, as well as the Foxes and Beavers. On the latter group there is a settlement of Mormons; but so far as civilization, refinement, and the tilling of the soil are concerned, they are in nowise superior to the neighboring tribes of savages. Mackinac island, in the straits of Mackinac, which connect Lakes Huron and Michigan, is an old missionary settlement and military post, first established above two centuries ago by the French Jesuits, with that admirable forecast and political wisdom which they displayed in the selection of all their posts. It is, in fact, as to natural military strength, the Gibraltar of the lakes, and might easily be rendered almost impregnable. The present fort, however, is a blunder, and could not be defended for half an hour, being commanded by an almost unassailable height within half a mile in its rear, from which, in effect, at the commencement of the war of 1812, it was threatened with two or three light guns, dragged up the reverse during the night, by a handful of Indians and British, and, being unable to offer any resistance, was reduced to an immediate surrender. It was for a long time an important depot of the American Fur Com |