USA > Michigan > Wayne County > Detroit > History of Detroit and Wayne County and early Michigan: A Chronological Cyclopedia of the Past and Present, Vol. I > Part 143
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An interesting event in the history of sailing ves- sels was the direct shipment, on July 22, 1857, of a cargo of lumber and staves to Liverpool by the bark C. J. Kershaw. She arrived September 5, and was the second vessel to depart for Europe from this region, the Dean Richmond, from Chicago and Milwaukee, being the first. On her return the Ker- shaw brought iron and crockery, but reached Mon- treal so late in the season that she did not come to Detroit until the spring of 1858.
The Madeira Pet, loaded with hides at Chicago, and staves at Detroit, also sailed in 1857. In 1858 eleven vessels, loaded with lumber, staves, and wheat, sailed for Liverpool and London from this port, and in 1859 sixteen other vessels carried simi- lar cargoes to European ports. Other vessels have since made the trip, but no regular line has been established.
In late years the chief home business of sailing vessels has consisted in carrying grain, lumber, iron, ore, and coal. About fifty tugs are employed in aiding them when the winds are feeble or contrary. In number, power, and beauty, the tugs of Detroit are particularly noticeable. They cost from $3,000 to $60,000 each, and $2,000,000 or more are invested in them. They have crews of eleven men each, and ply between Lakes Erie and Huron.
Equally as necessary are the dry docks for the building or repair of vessels. The floating dock of O. M. Hyde was launched on December 10, 1852; and about the same time the docks of the present Detroit Dry Dock Company were established at the foot of Orleans Street. The business was con-
1 For information regarding the lines of boats operated by rail- road companies, see article on Railroads.
NAVIGATION ON RIVERS AND LAKES.
9II
ducted from 1857 to 1861 by G. Campbell & Co., from 1861 to 1867 by Campbell & Owen, from 1867 to 1869 by Campbell, Owen, & Co. In May, 1870, on account of the impaired health of Mr. Campbell, he was succeeded by S. R. Kirby, and on July 1, 1872,
forty feet long, thirty-eight feet wide, and has nine feet draft of water. A dock built in 1865 is three hundred and six feet long, forty-five feet wide, and has thirteen feet draft. The dock-yards have a frontage of seven hundred feet on Atwater Street,
GENERAL OFFICES.
DETROIT& CLEVELAND STEAM NAVIGATION CO.
DETROIT & CLEVELAND STEAM NAVIGATIONCO.
GENERAL FREIGHT OFFICE.
GENERAL PASSENGER OFFICE
JOHN BROWN EH
Mich
CLEVELA
A. M
CLEVELAND
GENERAL OFFICES OF THE DETROIT & CLEVELAND STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY, Foot of Wayne Street.
the present company was incorporated with a capital stock of $300,000. The officers in 1884 are : John Owen, president; Frank E. Kirby, consulting and constructing engineer ; A. McVittie, secretary and treasurer ; F. A. Kirby, superintendent at Wyan- dotte ; John Parker, superintendent at Detroit. Their original dock at Detroit is two hundred and
and extend through to the river, with every facility for the repair or construction of vessels of any class, either of wood or iron.
Since 1879 the company have owned the extensive yards at Wyandotte established by E. B. Ward in 1872. These yards occupy about seven acres, and have a river frontage of seven hundred feet and a slip
1
DRY DOCKS AND REPAIR YARD OF THE DETROIT DRY DOCK COMPANY, DETROIT, MICHIGAN. Foot of Orleans Street
MACHINE SHOF
CARPENTER
SHOP.
MILL
BOLLER SHOP
PAINT. SHOP.
FORGE ROOM.
LUI
THECO
IRON SHIP-BUILDING DOCKS OF THE DETROIT DRY DOCK COMPANY, AT WYANDOTTE, MICH.
914
NAVIGATION ON RIVERS AND LAKES.
six hundred feet long in addition. Upwards of six hundred men are employed in these establishments, and the yards are equal in their equipment to any private yards in the United States, and excel any on the lakes. The company build vessels of either wood, iron, or steel, and the growth of their business is indicated by the fact that from 1867 to 1879 they built but thirty-four vessels, while from 1879 to 1884 they built thirty-six, the average value of which was double that of the vessels first built. Among the vessels constructed were six steamers, twenty- eight screw steamers, three barges, two barks, eleven schooners, six tugs, ten steam ferries, two steam and two car barges. Their cost ranged from $2,500 to $275,000. The company have originated several features for lake vessels that are now gener- ally adopted. The Gordon Campbell, which they built in 1871, was the first double-decked vessel on the lakes. Square pilot-houses for lake vessels and iron mooring-bits are of their introduction.
The following is a list of steam vessels built at this port ; all those built since 1867 and marked with a star were built by the Detroit Dry Dock Company :
Name.
Tonnage. Built.
Name.
Tonnage. Built.
Argo
1827
Marquette
862
1859
Michigan
472
1833
Little Eastern
32
1859
Gen. Brady
66
1833
Clara
77
1860
Erie (Little)
149
1836
Star
23
1860
United
37
1836
Mariner
104
1860
Walter Scott
9.33
1880
* W. L. Frost
1,322.16
1883
Illinois
755
1837
Philo Parsons
221
1861
* Iron Age
859.46
1880
Pauline
14.10
1883
C. C.Trowbridge
30
1838
John P. Ward
160
1861
Nile
650
1843
Geo. H. Parker
188
1861
St. Clair
250
1843
Sam'l. Lewis
102
1861
Prop. Detroit
290
1845
Morning Star
1,075
1862
New Orleans
610
1845
Mohawk (rebuilt)
213
1862
John Owen
230
1845
Empire
704
1862
Romeo
180
1845
W. K. Muir
125.80
1863
Boston
775
669
600
1847
Zouave
II8
1863
Dispatch
225
1848
H. Morton
227
1863
Mayflower
1,354
1849
City of Toronto (rebuilt)
416
1863
Argo
III
1849
Stranger
8g
1863
J. W. Brooks
312
1851
Sentinel
297
1863
Swan
209
1851
E. A. Brush
35
1864
Odd Fellow
99
1852
Mayflower
127
1864
Dart
297
1853
Sunny Side
138
1864
Fintry
590
1853
Loon
21
1864
Hercules (rebuilt)
255
1853
Skylark
134
1864
Falcon
663
1853
Wm. A. Moore
153
1865
Ottawa
316
1853
Geo. N. Brady
131
1865
Illinois
926
1853
Mackinaw
141.75
1866
Albion
132
1854
* R. N. Rice
1,096.94
1867
Lion
457
1855
J. P. Clark
80.75 1867
Old Concord
457
1855
B. W. Jenness
356.94
1867
A. R. Swift
15
205
1856
Jay Cooke
414.62
1868
B. L. Webb
843
1856
* Vulcan
249.43
1868
Olive
71
1858
*Annie Young
1,006.52
1869
Kilbola
396
1858
O. Wilcox
158.73
1869
Experiment
123
1858
Favorite
51.06
1869 *
Olive Branch
71
1858 * J. L. Hurd
759.88
1869
Canada
143
1858 R. J. Hackett
748.66
1869
Tonnage. Built.
Name.
Tonnage. Built.
* Hope
149.79
1870 Sea Wing
22.45 1881
Scotia
64.18
1870
* City of Milwau-
Alpha
72.73
1870
kee
1,148.71 1881
J. Cartier
65. 1I
1870
* Clarion
1,711.97
1881
Petronille
70.15
I870
* Tron Chief
1,154.08
188 [
Wyoming
154.65
I870
S. J. Macy
548.42
585.62
1881
Frank Ford
155.75
1871
Uarda
89.36
188[
* Monitor
105.40
1871
* Iron Duke
1,152.22
1881
* G. Campbell
996. 14
1871
Middlesex
567.58
1881
* Jennie Briscoe
82.59
1871
Ariel
201.91
1881
* Niagara
276.87
1872
J. H. Farwell
1,200.96
1881
Red Wing
13.26
1872
* Brunswick
1,120.II
1881
Riverside
153.82
1872
Daisy
16.56
1881
Resolute
22.83
1872
* Algomah
486.28
1881
* Victoria
192.17
1873
* Michigan
1, 183.18
1882
* Inter Ocean
1,068.76
1873
Osceola
980.70
1882
*Argonaut
1,063.30
1873
* Merrimac
1,202.26
1882
W. H. Barnum
937.15
1873
* Wisconsin
1,181.66
1882
* M. F. Merick
205.62
1873
Handy Boy
136.27
1882
Gazelle
182.52
1873
Manistique
437.65
1882
* John Owen
328.34
1874
Mayflower
17.01
1883
J. Pridgeon, Jr.
1,211.88
1875
* E. K. Roberts
189.75
1883
* Fortune
199.77
1875
Alice E. Wilds
235.74
1883
Pearl
551.66
1875
W. L. Davis
16.53
1883
* Excelsior
229.39
1876
* F. & P. No. I
Alaska
510.93
1878
(rebuilt)
769.96
1883
* City of Detroit
811.94
1878
* F. & P. No. 2
636.57
1883
* Grace McMillan
234.71
1879
D. C. Whitney
1,013.22
1883
Fisherman
18.70
1880
Remora
86.93
1883
* City of Cleve- land
* Iron State
852.95
1880
* City of Macki-
Angler
18.70
1880
naw
807.89
1883
* Transport
797.47
1880
*Michigan Central
Garland
249.26
1880
* Lansdowne
1884
* Lehigh
1,704.57
1880
*Wm. A. Haskell 1,440.78
1884
W. La Chapelle
6.18
1880
*Wm. J. Averill
1,425.43
1884
* Boston
1,829.52
1880
Minnie M
295.67
1884
* W. H. Gratwick
174.86
1880
Schoolcraft 595.77
1884
* Thos. W. Palmer
836.56
1880 Florence E. Dixon 2.22
Myrtle
·35
1884
John F. Eddy
1,252.51
I886
Manhattan
1, 102.74
1887
The following table gives the date of first arrival or departure of vessels at Detroit during the various years, and is also of interest as containing the names of many steamboats whose names do not now appear in the Marine List :
1821, May 18, Walk-in-the-Water, from Buffalo. 1822, May 25, Superior (first trip), from Buffalo. 1823, Jan. 13, sail vessel, from Sandusky.
1826, May 8, steamer Henry Clay, from Buffalo. 1839, March 12, steamer Erie, for Toledo.
1840, March 8, steamer Star, from Cleveland.
1841, April 18, steamer General Wayne, from Buf- falo.
Windsor
223
1856
* Champion
263.36
1842, March 3, steamer General Scott, for Buffalo. 1843, April 18, steamer Fairport, for Cleveland.
1844, March 11, steamer Red Jacket, for Fort Gra- tiot.
285.39
1881
Mystic
121.54
1870
* S. C. Baldwin·
356.26
1871
1873
* Massachusetts 1,415.43
1882
Nahant
909.93
917.29
1880
* Sappho
223.61
1883
1846
Susan Ward
365
1863
Albany
1846
Heather Bell
149
1863
1884
Dolphin
42
1849
1855
Phil. Sheridan
710.90
1867
Union Express
1868
Geo. E. Fisher
20.87
1883
1884
Michigan
Martin Swain
* S. F. Hodge
188t
Name.
915
NAVIGATION ON RIVERS AND LAKES.
1845, January 4, steamer United States, from Buffalo. 1846, March 14, steamer John Owen, from Cleveland.
1847, March 30, steamer United States, from Cleve- land.
1875
5,158
851,241
24,300
1880
5,571
1, 178,518
21,782
Cleared.
Year.
Vessels.
Tons.
Men.
1850
2,347
723,634
32,364
1855
2,180
991,117
28,896
1853, March 14, steamer Bay City, from Sandusky. 1854, March 21, steamer May Queen, from Cleveland. 1855, April 2, steamer Arrow, for Toledo.
1860
3,217
713,811
32,054
1865
4,558
1,037,568
42,233
1870
5,453
1,020,913
55,896
1875
4,97 I
866,984
28,503
1880
5,825
1,240, 564
22,320
1858, March 17, steamer Dart, for Toledo.
1859, March 10, steamer Island Queen, from San- dusky.
1860, March 6, schooner Spy, from Sandusky.
1861, March II, steamer Ruby, for Port Huron.
1862, March 29, steamer May Queen, for Cleveland. 1863, March 29, steamer Dubuque, from Cleveland. 1864, March 13, steamer Young America, from Port Huron.
1865, March 26, steamer Philo Parsons, for Sandusky. 1866, April 4, steamer City of Cleveland, for Cleve- land.
1867, April 8, steamer City of Cleveland, for Cleve- land.
1868, March 24, steamer R. N. Rice, for Cleveland. 1869, April 5, propeller Edith, from Port Huron. 1870, April 7, steamer G. W. Reynolds, for Malden. 1871, March 8, steamer Dove, for Malden.
1872, April 3, steamer Northwest, for Cleveland.
1873, April 7, steamer Jay Cooke, for Sandusky.
1874, March 24, steamer R. N. Rice, for Cleveland. 1875, March 29, propeller Rob. Hackett, for Malden. 1876, March 20, steamer R. N. Rice, for Cleveland. 1877, April 10, steamer Northwest, for Cleveland. 1878, April 3, steamer Northwest, for Cleveland. 1879, April 1, steamer Northwest, for Cleveland. 1880, March 2, schooner John O'Neil, from Cleveland. 1881, April 19, steamer Northwest, for Cleveland.
1882, March 7, wrecking tug Winslow, for Lake Michigan.
1883, March 26, steamer City of Dresden, for Mal- den.
1884, April 3, steamer City of Detroit, for Cleveland.
The following table gives the number of vessels that have entered at and cleared from Detroit in various years, with their tonnage and the number of their crew :
Entered.
Year.
Vessels.
Tons.
Men.
1850
2,341
671,545
31,784
1855
2,191
997,724
28,644
1860
3,351
731,419
30, 147
Year.
Vessels.
Tons.
Men.
1865
4,597
966,047
58,326
1870
5,401
1,003,152
52,793
1848, March 22, propeller Manhattan, for Buffalo. 1849, March 21, steamer John Owen, for Cleveland.
1850, March 25, steamer Southerner, from Buffalo.
1851, March 19, steamer Hollister, from Toledo.
1852, March 22, steamer Arrow, for Toledo.
The immigration that followed the surrender of 1796 made communication between the two banks of the Detroit more frequent. Many of the new- comers did not own canoes, preferring to be ferried over by one of the skilful oarsmen then so numer- ous. Very soon the business of ferrying became a profitable employment, and in order to regulate and control it the Court of General Quarter Sessions issued licenses to those wishing to establish ferries. On Friday, March 5, 1802, a license was granted to Gabriel Godfroy for a ferry " from his house across the river Detroit," and on Tuesday, December 7, 1802, a ferry license was granted to Mr. Askin. On Thursday, December 9, 1802, the court pre- scribed the following
REGULATIONS FOR FERRIES.
River Detroit in winter, from Ist of November to Ist of April, man, Is. 6d. ; horse, 4s. In summer, Ist of April to Ist of No- vember, man, Is .; horse, 3s.
On December 21, 1803, a license was granted to James May, and on July 19, 1804, a license was granted to Jacob Visger to keep a ferry " from his land near to the town of Detroit across the Detroit river to opposite shore."
In 1806 the ferry-house was about fifty feet west of Woodward Avenue, and between Atwater and Woodbridge Streets; the river at that point then came fully half way up to Woodbridge Street. In 1820 the following rules and rates were established :
Each ferry shall be provided with two sufficient and safe canoes or ferry-boats, and one like sufficient and safe scow or flat. From the first day of April until the first day of November in each year, each ferry shall be attended by two good and faithful men, and from the first day of November to the first of April by three like good and faithful hands. The ferry shall be kept open from the rising of the sun until ten o'clock at night, and at all times, when practicable, shall transport the mail or other public express.
The rates of ferryage shall be as follows:
From Ist of April to 20th of November, for each person, 12}c .; for each horse, 50c .; for a single carriage and one person, $1.00; for each additional person, 12}c .; for each additional horse, 25c .; for each head of horned cattle, 37tc .; for each sheep or hog, 6}c. From 20th of November to April Ist, for each person, 18c .; for each horse, 75c .; for each single horse, carriage, and one person,
1856, April 15, steamer May Queen, for Cleveland.
1857, March 24, steamer Ocean, for Cleveland.
916
NAVIGATION ON RIVERS AND LAKES.
$1.50 ; for each additional person, 18c .; for each additional horse, 37{c .; for each head of horned cattle, 562c .; for each sheep or hog, oc.
On January 11, 1820, J. B. St. Armour took out a license for a ferry at the foot of Woodward Avenue, and on August 8, 1820, Ben. Woodworth was granted a license for a ferry at foot of Randolph Street. On February 10, 1821, licenses were issued to James Abbott and Ezra Baldwin to maintain fer- ries at foot of Woodward Avenue, and on January 15, 1824, Owen Aldrich was authorized to keep a ferry at Roby's Wharf. The ferries, at that time, were in part composed of sailing vessels, which sig- nalled their approach to either shore by the blowing of a horn. In 1825 there were still greater improve- ments, which are indicated in the following adver- tisement from The Gazette of September 22 :
HORSE-BOAT FERRY.
The subscribers have recently built a large and commodious Horse Boat for the purpose of transporting across the Detroit River, passengers, wagons, horses, cattle, &c., &c. The Boat is so constructed that wagons and carriages can be driven on it with ease and safety. It will leave Mckinstry's Wharf (adjoining that of Dorr & Jones), for the Canada shore, and will land passengers, &c., at the wharf lately built on that shore by Mckinstry & Bur- tis. The Ferry wharves are exactly opposite.
D. C. MCKINSTRY. J. BURTIS.
DETROIT, September 22, 1825.
FERRY BOAT ARGO.
This horse-boat was built at Cleveland, and arrived in Detroit on August 12, 1825. It was thirty-two feet wide and fifty feet long, and was operated by French ponies. Two years later the ferries con- sisted of Burtis' Horse Boat from Mckinstry's Wharf ; St. Armour's Sail Boats from John R. Williams' Wharf, and Labalaine's Canoe from Gil- lett's Wharf. In the year 1827, John Burtis built the Argo, the first steamer belonging to Detroit. The hull consisted of two whitewood logs each side of a centre-piece on which was a light deck with canvas sides. It had a four-horse-power engine, and made regular trips to ports on the river and Lake St. Clair.
In 1830 the steamboat, General Gratiot, took her place as a river-boat, and the Argo was leased to Louis Davenport, and became the first steam ferry. .
The horse-boat ferry was in use in 1831, controlled by Peter St. Armour, and made trips from the foot of Bates Street every half hour.
In 1834 there was a ferry named the Lady of the Lake. Louis Davenport's ferry, the United, made her first regular trip on July 13, 1836.
In 1837 a committee of the Common Council reported in favor of allowing Louis Davenport, Charles H. Matthews, and Matthew Moon to main- tain ferries at the foot of Griswold Street, for $150, at foot of Wayne Street, for $100, and from foot of Therese Alley, for $50 annually.
Mrs. Jameson, in her "Winter Tours and Summer Rambles," gives the following pleasant description of ferry-boats and trips in June, 1837:
A pretty little steamer, gayly painted, with streamers flying, and shaded by an awning, is continually passing and repassing from shore to shore. I have sometimes sat in this ferry-boat for a couple of hours together, pleased to remain still, and enjoy, with- out exertion, the cool air, the sparkling, redundant waters, and green islands ;- amused meantime by the variety and conversa- tion of the passengers. English emigrants and French Cana- dians, brisk Americans, dark, sad-looking Indians, folded in their blankets, farmers, storekeepers, speculators in wheat, artisans, trim girl's with black eyes and short petticoats, speaking a Norman patois, and bringing baskets of fruit to the Detroit market, and over-dressed, long-waisted damsels of the city, attended by their beaux, going to make merry on the opposite shore.
George W. Osborn has expressed his opinion in the following lines :
RIDING ON THE FERRY.
When the mercury denotes Sultry summer heat, Then the spacious ferry-boats Afford a cool retreat. On a shady upper deck, Joined by friends so merry,
Bless me ! ain't it pleasant, Riding on the ferry ?
Back and forth from shore to shore, On the rippling river, Watching spray beads rise and fall, Where the sunbeams quiver ; Reveling in the cooling breeze, Every one is cheery ; Bless me ! ain't it pleasant, Riding on the ferry?
Now you 're sitting vis-a-vis With a charming creature, Happiness is in her eye, Joy in every feature. " Is n't this superb ? " she asks, " Yes," you answer, "very." Bless me ! ain't it pleasant, Riding on the ferry ?
Thus the heated hours are passed,- Laughing, joking, singing ; Joyous shouts from happy groups On the cool breeze ringing. Now you see your charmer home, Feeling blithe and merry, 'Cause engaged to go to-morrow Riding on the ferry.
917
NAVIGATION ON RIVERS AND LAKES.
The ferry Alliance began running in 1842; her name was afterwards changed to Undine. In 1848 Argo No. 2 began plying as a ferry. In 1852 G. B. Russel built the Ottawa, and in 1856 the Wind- sor. This last boat was subsequently chartered by the Detroit & Milwaukee Railroad, and was burned at its dock, together with the depot, on April 26, 1866.
In 1855 the Mohawk and Argo constituted the line of ferries. The Gem was added in 1856, and the Essex in 1859. In this last year the Olive Branch was used for a few months. The Detroit was built in 1864, and ran till 1875. The Hope was built for George N. Brady in 1870.
In 1887 there were seven ferries, viz., the Excel- sior, Fortune, Hope, Garland and Victoria, of the regular line, and the Ariel and Sappho of Walker & Sons. Besides these there were six railroad ferry boats. The Fortune is one of the best representa- tives of the river ferries. Her tonnage is 200, and she cost $34,000. She is one hundred and twenty feet in length and forty-two in breadth over decks. Her ordinary capacity is 1,000, but she has carried 1,350 persons. She was built to take the place of the Detroit.
The ordinary rate of ferriage is five cents in summer and ten cents in winter. During the warm summer days and evenings the boats are thronged with people, who ride back and forth to enjoy the delightful breeze and ever-changing scenery. For the nominal sum of one dime, one may thus spend an entire day, and the ride offers a rare combination of comfort, health, and safety. The boats are in frequent demand for short excursions up and down
the river. The ferries pay city licenses of $250 each per year.
The harbor formed by the Detroit River contains more room than the harbors of Buffalo, Erie, Cleve- land, Milwaukee, and Chicago all combined, and the water is deep enough to float the largest ships of war, and in any kind of weather vessels find safety here. No danger lurks about when making or leaving the port of Detroit. After all ordinary winters, navigation opens from four to six weeks earlier here than it does at Cleveland, Buffalo, Chi- cago, or Milwaukee, and, with scarce an exception, vessels from Detroit can go east two weeks earlier than those from Chicago or Milwaukee, as vessels from those ports have to wait until the Straits of Mackinaw are clear of ice.
Since 1863 the city has employed a harbor master, whose duties consist in preventing interfer- ences between vessels, determining, when necessary, places of anchorage, keeping the harbor clear of all obstructions, seeing that the public docks are not unduly obstructed, and keeping the way clear for the ferries. He has charge of twenty-six life- preservers owned by the city, which, by vote of the council on August 25, 1871, were ordered placed along the docks. Four others are provided at Belle Isle.
The harbor master was formerly appointed solely by the council, but since February 28, 1872, the office has been filled by a policeman detailed for the purpose and confirmed by the council. The names of the harbor masters have been as follows : 1862-1866, C. W. Newhall; 1866-1868, Jacob B. Baker; 1868-1872, Arthur Gore; 1872-1884, John W. Moore ; 1884- , W. H. O'Neill.
CHAPTER LXXXVI.
UNITED STATES LAKE SURVEY .- LIGHTHOUSES AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION .- LIFE SAVING SERVICE .- HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. - INSPECTOR OF STEAMBOATS. - SIGNAL SERVICE. - MARINE HOSPITAL.
UNITED STATES LAKE SURVEY.
ALMOST as soon as the first explorers came, they began to take soundings and make rough charts of the river and lakes. The taking of soundings and making of a survey by the United States was first suggested at a meeting held in Detroit on October 28, 1831, and Congress was then petitioned to pro- vide for a survey of the lakes and for a ship-canal at Sault Ste. Marie.
Ten years later, on March 3, 1841, $15,000 was appropriated to commence a survey of the lakes and of the large rivers connecting with the Atlantic. This and subsequent appropriations, ranging up to $200,000 in a single year, have conferred immense benefits upon the merchant marine of western rivers and lakes. Judging from the official records of disasters, which have occurred, notwithstanding these efforts to prevent them, it is probable that thousands of lives and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of property would be lost annually except for the information afforded through the operations of the Lake Survey. In fact, the naviga- tion of the lakes would of necessity almost entirely cease but for the information thus supplied.
The offices of the Survey were established at Detroit in 1841, and for many years prior to 1865 were located at the corner of Wayne and Congress Streets. After 1865, and up to the discontinuance of the office on July 1, 1882, they were located at the junction of Grand River Avenue with Park Place. Many instruments of extraordinary cost and accu- racy were provided ; one, for measuring base lines, was valued at upwards of $20,000.
Several persons connected with the office were under pay the entire year, their salaries ranging from three to six dollars per day. In recent years and up to 1878, fifteen persons were usually employed in the office, six draughtsmen, four computers, and five clerks. Parties of surveyors went out about May I, and returned the middle or last of October. To each party special duties were assigned; as, for instance, in 1875 there were detailed five shore-parties, of about twenty-five men each, to take the sound- ings, ascertain the depth of the rivers and lakes for
the distance of about thirty-six feet from the shore ; and to note all reefs, shoals, and obstructions of any sort. Two steamers, with a force of thirty men each, took the soundings of the lakes from the limit assigned the shore parties, to a point ten miles out. Six triangulation parties, of three men each, were specially charged with the triangulation or accurate location of difficult objects and places. A total of nearly two hundred men were frequently engaged during the summer season in the work of the survey. On the return of these parties, the result of their work was arranged, systematized, computed, and transcribed for publication. When the survey of any river or lake, or portion of the same, was completed, an elaborate draft was made, and forwarded to Washington, and then engraved, or photolithographed in the best possible manner. These charts are issued without charge to the masters of the lake or river vessels who have a register or certificate from the collector of customs; and are also on sale at fifty cents each. During the year ending July 1, 1883, 6,406 charts were issued.
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