Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2018 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Manitowoc County Herald Saturday, February 1, 1851 (extracts of marine news) Navigation Open - The Cleveland Plain Dealer of the 13th says, "our harbor is now open, lake free of ice, and two sail vessels from up the lake, probably Detroit, are now approaching port. Steamers Advertised - The GLOBE is ad- vertised to leave Buffalo on the 9th of April, and the HENDRICK HUDSON on the 8th, for the Upper Lakes. River and Harbor Improvements. - The Milwaukee Sentinel, in an article urging the attention of western legislators to the proper consideration of this subject, suggests that something like the following be passed by the Wisconsin Legislature, and sent to Washington: Whereas for a long course of years large appropriations have been made for the im- provement of Rivers and Harbors upon the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, the neccessity and propriety of which is not questioned; and whereas the commerce of the Western Lakes and Rivers has increased to an ag- gregate only equalled by the whole foreign commerce of the country, and is without adequate protection, therefore, Resolved, That the Senators and Repre- sentatives from Wisconsin be requested to use their efforts to obtain the immediate and favorable action of Congress in aid of Western Harbors and Rivers. We second that motion. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Manitowoc County Herald Saturday, February 8, 1851 (extracts of marine news) No marine news in this issue. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Manitowoc County Herald Saturday, February 15, 1851 (extracts of marine news) Harbors and Rivers. The following urgent appeal, in behalf of the River and Harbor Bill, was addressed by Gov. Doty of this State, to the Chairman of the House Committee, on the day of its date. As yet no response has been made to it, and scarce four weeks of the Session remain. We cannot, however, believe that Congress will do the West such g*** wrong as to adjourn without action on **** **** important subject. - Sentinel. House of Representatives } Washington, Jan. 18, 1851.} The Hon. Robert McLane - Dear Sir: - The anxiety which is felt by the people in the Valley of the Great Lakes, more especially perhaps by those who are en- gaged in Commerce, for the passage by Congress of the Bill making appropriations for Harbors, at the present Session, impels me, as one of the Representatives from the North West, to address you as the Chairman of the Committee which has that Bill in charge, and to urge, that the proper steps may be taken under the rules, so soon as your convenience may permit, to bring it before the House for its action. I am aware of the effort which you made last month to have it taken up by the Committee of the Whole; but, if you will allow me to suggest the propriety of having it made the special order for a particular day, many of its friends believe it might then be reached and a favorable report upon it obtained. The citizens of the Town of Sheboygan and its vicinity, on the Western shores of Lake Michigan - for which place a small approriation is contained in the Bill - are apprehensive that the necessity and importance of a good and safe Harbor at that place are not fully known, or appreciated by Congress. You will therefore, I hope, pardon me again, as their immediate representative, pressing the con- dition of the harbor at that place upon your notice, and for presenting for your own use, and that of the House, the following statis- tics of its business, communicated to me by one of its most intelligent citizens: Passengers landed at Sheboygan during the past season of navigation, 17,020 Tons of Merchandize 2,986 Bbls bulk of miscelianeous goods 19,180 do Furniture 48,118 do Fruit 5,176 A Plank Road from this Town to Taycheedah, on Winnebago Lake, is commenced and is con- tracted to be completed by the first of October next, which is certain to largely increase the business of these towns. The returns of the Custom House show the value of the Exports and Imports during the past year on Lakes Erie, St. Clair, Huron and Michigan to be Exports $72,341,612 Imports 69,254,955 Value of tonnage 5,947,520 ---------- Total $147,541,087 The returns for the other Lakes give these aggregates: Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, $28,141,000 Lake Champlain, 16,750,000 Lake Winnebago estimated 500,000 ---------- Total $192,932,087 The total value of the Lake Trade, therefore, omiting Lake Superior, is one hundred and ninety- two millions nine hundred and thirty-two thousand and eighty-seven dollars. The Passenger trade may be fairly stated at one million dollars; and the tonnage of the Lakes is 203,041 tons. The disasters to commerce on the Lakes during the year 1850, the most of which have occurred from the want of safe and commodious Harbors, are stated by those persons who have kept an accurate account of them, to be, in value: On Steamboats, $235,700 " Propellers 30,444 " Sail Vessels 272,782 -------- Total loss of property $538,926 And with these vessels have been THREE HUNDRED AND NINETY-FIVE lives lost. While liberal appropriations have been made from the Treasury for the protection and secur- ity of the Coasting and Foreign Trade of the United States, which are less in ***nt than the Inland Trade upon the Lakes and the Western Rivers, years have passed since an appropriation has been made for the protection of the commerce of the Lakes and Rivers. Are not these interests alike worthy of the notice of this Government? Justice and humanity demand the speedy and favorable action of Congress on the numerous petitions for appropriations for these objects which have been presented during the past Session. They are signed by every class of our citizens - by merchants and farmers, by mariners, passengers, insurers, and by the owners of shipping. An in- terest in the improvement of the Lake Harbors is felt and avowed in almost every part of the United States; and it ****** the appeal which has been so earnestly made to this Congress, and to which I have the honor to again call your at- tention as the Chairman of the Committee to which it has been appropriately committed by the House, will not be entirely disregarded. I have the honor to be, With great respect, Your obedient servant, James Duane Doty. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Manitowoc County Herald Saturday, February 22, 1851 (extracts of marine news) The Opening of Navigation. - We have information that the Central Rail Road line of Steamers will commence their usual trips as soon as the boats can be got clear of the ice in the Chicago river, where they have been confined since the "close." The CHAMPION, Capt. Howe, will take her accustomed place in the line, in company with the DETROIT, Capt. Eastbrook. This will give us a daily line from New Buffalo, and we shall probably have a daily boat from the "lower lakes." "Capt. Howe," says the Milwaukee Sentinel, "tells us that the CHAMPION was in commission last year, for nine months and sixteen days, and during all that time lost but one trip on account of the weather. This speaks well for her qualities as a sea-boat, and for the good management of her worthy "Captain." Indeed it does speak well for "that same" - and Capt. Howe and his boat deserve to be spoken well of by those who are magnanimous enough to appreciate merit and to award credit where it is due. The Sentinel further remarks: "In anticipation of a heavy business, during the coming season, the Messrs. Ward are preparing to add to their line on this Lake. The ST. LOUIS is expected up, as soon as she can pass the Straits, to run between New Buffalo and Chicago. The PACIFIC and SAM WARD will probably make the round trip, from New Buf- falo to Milwaukee, stopping at the intermediate ports. The DETROIT and CHAMPION will keep up the line to Manitouwoc and probably Grand Haven, and the new and elegant steamer ARCTIC is talked of as an express Boat, to run direct from Milwaukee to New Buffalo and back every day. This new feature in the arrangements for 1851 would be a great convenience to our own citizens, as well as to the crowds of travellers who start, every year, from this port, upon visits of business or pleasure to the east. It would, too, enhance very materially the claims of this route to the patronage of the Wisconsin public, and add largely, we doubt not, to the business and profits of the Central Rail Road Line." The CHAMPION and DETROIT would have resumed their trips on Saturday the 15th, but for the ice in the Chicago harbor. - They will probably do so the coming week. Boats on the Green Bay and Buffalo Line. The Green Bay Advocate states that most probably the MICHIGAN, ROCHESTER and ST. LOUIS, together with one of Ward's boats on the Chicago route, will run from there during the ensuing season. ===========================================================================