The descent between the foot of Portage No. 4 and the head of Portage No. 5 is eighty-seven feet; the descent of Portage No. 5 is thirty-seven eet. Portage No. 6 is on the line of sections 29 and 30, township 44, ange 29; length one-eighth of a mile. It is caused by an accumulation of flood-wood, so thickly matted that bushes and flowers have taken root, and flourish luxuriantly. Here the winter trail to Green Bay passes, and he mail courier has availed himself of this obstruction to cross the river. Within this township the Machigamig receives from the right its two principal tributaries, the Mitchikau or Fence river, and the Nebegomiwini or Night-watching river. The origin of these terms, as explained by our voyageurs, was this: At one time the deer were observed to be very numerous about the mouth of the former river, and the Indians, to secure them, built a fence from one stream to the other. They would follow rather than overleap this barrier, until they were entrapped by their concealed foe. This method of capturing the deer is also practised on the Menomonee. The latter stream abounds in beaver and other game; and it is the practice of the Indians, in the clear moon-light nights, to watch on its banks for their appearance; hence the origin of the term. Portage No. 7 is about two miles below the mouth of the last-named river, (township 43, range 31.) It occurs on the right bank, and is only one quarter of a mile in length. The river here falls perpendicularly nine A high range of slate roeks, rising from the immediate banks one hundred and fifty feet, was observed. Portage No. 8 (township 48, range 31) is over a ridge of hornblende and feldspar rocks, through which the river has excavated a channel: length one-eighth of a mile, descent seventeen feet. Portage No. 9 is in the same township and range, about four miles below the former, on the left bank of the river; it is one mile and threequarters long, the descent being forty-two and a half feet. The ridge, bearing north 72° east, attains an elevation of one hundred and fifty feet, whose summit is composed of granite, but the flanks consist of hornblende and mica slate, folded over it like a mantle. The banks of the stream are lined with precipitous ledges, and, altogether, it forms one of the most beautiful and romantic gorges on the Machigamig. The country in this vicinity is traversed by numerous ridges, more or less broken, which nowhere attain a great elevation. The rocks emerge to the surface at short intervals, and the immense accumulations of drift noticed above are wanting. Portage No. 10 is in the north part of township 42, range 31, about a mile and a half below the latter, on the left bank of the stream: length one mile and an eighth. The current is rapid both above and below, the descent between the two being fifty-six feet. At the foot of the rapids are several small islands which divide the current. The last portage (No. 11) is about one-quarter of a mile above its junction with the Menomonee. It is on the right bank of the stream, and oneeighth of a mile in length. The river here breaks through a ridge of vigorous hand to guide the frail canoe as it dashes on its tortuous course with the speed of a race-horse. Accidents often occur, but fortunately the means of refiting are always at hand-to wit, birch bark and spruce gum. hornblende slate, over which it is precipitated twenty-four feet. It is the most romantic of all the cascades on the Machigamig. The length of this stream from Sagiagans, following its meanders, is about seventy miles, and its general course is south of west: the area drained by it is nearly eight hundred square miles. The Brulé, or Wesacota, here joins it on the right, and, after the junction, the united streams take the name of the Menomonee. The Brulé has its origin in a lake of the same name, through which passes the south line of the boundary of this district. It is one of a chain of beautiful lakes which extends almost uninterruptedly along the whole southern border. The current is rapid; but only two portages occur in its course, about ten miles above its mouth, near the junction of the Mequacumecum, in township 41, range 32. The stream is eighty or ninety feet in width, its bed rocky, and its banks studded with a thick growth of cedar, tamarack, and birch, whose overhanging branches often obstruct the passage of a canoe. The Indians have been accustomed to ascend this river from time immemorial, on their route from Green Bay to Vieux Desert, and numerous camping-grounds are to be found along its banks. Its ascent is at all times practicable in a light canoe. The Mequacumecum is its principal affluent, which rises near the sources of the Sturgeon It has as long a course, and drains as great an area, as the Brulé itself. This river, too, is frequently ascended by the Indians in their passage to Lake Superior. The length of the Brulé is about fifty miles. The area drained by the Brulé and Mequacumecum contains about nine hundred square miles. The Menomonee may be characterized as a river of cataracts and rapids. Although it pours down a large volume of water, expanding in places to. a width of 600 feet, so numerous are the obstructions, that it can never be adapted to other than canoe navigation. Within the distance of twelve miles from the junction of the before described streams two portages occur, but the rapids at these places are sometimes run by voyageurs who are acquainted with the channel. A short distance below Bad Water lake, two falls occur within the space of a little more than a mile, the descent in each case being about nine feet.* The portages are short, and both are on the left bank of the river, and over ridges of chlorite slate. Great Bekuenesec (Smoky) Falls are situated in township 39, range 30, and are the most picturesque of all the cascades on the Menomonee. The portage is one mile and a half in length; and "within this distance," says Captain Cram, "the descent is 134 feet. This amount is divided into several chutes, with intervening rapids. The general aspect of this series of falls is very picturesque. At every change in the point of view, new and varied beauties are perceived." At the lower falls the water is precipitated in a sheet of foam from the height of forty feet. The river above is compressed between narrow and rock-bound banks, but below it expands into a pool 800 feet in width. Within the same township are situated the Little Bekuenesee Falls, where the water, in the distance of 250) feet, falls thirty-five feet. The portage on the left bank is short but arduous. The descent of the river within this township exceeds fifteen feet per mile. *The heights of the falls on the Menomonee are taken from the report of Captain Cram, of the United States topographical corps.-Vide Doc. 33, 26th Congress, 2d session. Near the west line of township 39, range 29, commence the Sandy rapids, which continue for more than a mile and a half. The bed of the stream is rocky, but the banks are lined with high dunes of sand, which make this portage, which is on the left bank, the most arduous on the Menomonee. The amount of fall here is twenty-one feet. In the same township, and about two miles below, occur the Sturgeon falls. The descent here, in the distance of one thousand feet, is about thir teen feet. The river is contracted within a span of eighty feet, and rushes between perpendicular walls of rock. The portage is on the left bank, over a ridge eighty-five feet above the stream, at the foot of the rapids. Before the construction of the dams near the mouth, the sturgeon ascended the river to this point, beyond which they could not go. Here the Indians were wont to resort in great numbers to fish, and the remains of their camp-fires are to be seen along the banks at short intervals. Quiver falls are situated in the south part of township 38, range 28. The descent is nine feet. The portage, one-fourth of a mile long, is on the right bank. The Pemenée (Elbow) falls are five miles below. The principal descent is about eight feet, but immediately above are several ong and difficult rapids. The portage on the right bank is a mile in extent. A short distance below is Chippewa island, (township 37, range 28.) Between this point and the junction of the Brulé and Machigamig the country is rugged and broken. Numerous sharp ridges of slate, and hornblende and feldspar rocks are seen aggregated together, without much system. At most of the portages bare masses of rock are exposed, sometimes precipitous, but oftener worn and polished. The soil is thin, and for the most part sterile. Fires have swept through the woods which once covered the surface, so effectually as to leave hardly a living tree. Blackened trunks rise up on every side as far as the eye can reach. Over this dreary waste the birch and aspen have sprung up, and seem to struggle to gain a precarious support. Below Chippewa island the soil is more genial. The valley is occupied by sandstones and limestones, and we meet with no sharp ridges, no exposures of rock, over large areas; but the country stretches out into gently rolling plains, traversed by occasional ravines. The river contains many rapids, but no falls. The Menomonee is one hundred and twenty-two miles in length, or about two hundred including the Machigamig. The whole basin embraces an area of not less than twenty-eight hundred square miles. For the purposes of navigation it is comparatively worthless, but it af fords an indefinite amount of water-power. The lower portions of the valley are covered with extensive tracts of pine, which are beginning to be made available. In this connexion we may mention the St. Mary's river, connecting together the two lakes, Superior and Huron. It is about sixty miles in length, flowing first a few degrees north of east, then bending abruptly, and flowing a few degrees east of south. Throughout its whole course it occupies the line of junction between the igneous and detrital rocks, forcibly illustrating to what an extent the physical features of a country are influenced by its geological structure. About twenty miles from the outlet of Lake Superior, at Saut Ste. Marie, the river flows over a sandstone ledge for the distance of three-fourths of a mile. The descent is between eighteen and a half and twenty-one feet, dependent on the stage of water in Lake Superior. Above the rapids the river shoals gradually from its banks, and the water is not sufficiently deep to float a vessel for several rods from the shore. The banks of the St. Mary's are low, rising in no place over twenty feet above the surface of the water. Efforts have been made, and will doubtless be renewed, to induce the government to construct a canal around these rapids, and thus connect the commerce of Lake Superior with that of the lower lakes. This connexion is much to be desired, and it is believed that the enhanced value communicated to the public domain would amply repay the expenses of the work. The mere construction of the locks is not all that is required. It will be necessary to extend a pier into the river, above the rapids, to protect the works and insure an entrance to the locks. This pier will be exposed to heavy currents, and at times to large accumulations of ice, and ought to be constructed of the firmest materials, and strongly protected. There are two points on Lake Superior, easily acces sible, where materials of the most enduring character may be obtained for this work. Scovill's Point, at the eastern extremity of Isle Royale, affords a tough crystalline greenstone, traversed by divisional planes, which would assist materially in the quarrying. Vessels could approach within a few feet of the rock, and be in a sheltered position while loading. The Huron islands, composed of granite, afford, perhaps, a still better material. It can be quarried within two hundred feet of the water, and delivered on a vessel by means of an inclined plane or with a derrick. The islands afford a good harbor at all times. This rock is also traversed by divisional seams, which will essentially aid the quarryman in getting it out. This granite, it is believed, will become an article of shipment so soon as there is a free communication with the lower lakes. The mouths of many of the smaller streams flowing into Lake Superior are silted up with sand and gravel, through which the water filters. In other cases, where the waves break, for the most part, in one direction, the streams are deflected from their true course, and run parallel to the shore for a long distance, until the accumulated back-water breaks through the barrier and makes a passage to the lake. |