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130 THOMPSON'S COAST PILOT. "BAY DE NOQUET AND MARQUETTE RAILROAD. This road was commenced in 18538, as a private company, by the late Herman B. Ely and his associates, and chartered in 1855, under the title of the Iron Mountain' Railroad ; finished in 1857 to the Lake Superior Iron Mine, 17 miles distant from Marquette, pass- ing the Jackson Mine 14 miles, and the Cleveland Mine 16 miles. In 1859, it was consolidated with the Bay de Noquet and Marquette Railroad, which will be extended to the head of Little Bay de No- quet, situated on the north end of Green Bay, a total distance of 70 miles. When finished, it will form a direct route, by means of rail- road and steamers, to all the ports on Green Bay and Lake Michigan. This road has a land grant from government of six sections of tim- bered land for every mile constructed, amounting to 420 sections: of 640 acres each, or 268,800 acres, valued at $672,000. This is a well constructed road as far as finished, having an as- cending grade for twelve miles, overcoming an elévation of 850 feet before reaching the Iron Mines, thus facilitating the transportation of iron ore to the port of shipment, where extensive piers are con- structed for loading of vessels engaged in this growing and impor- tant trade. 'The amount carried over the road in 1859, averaged 1,500 tons daily, during the season of navigation. It has at the pre- sent time (1862) in use four first class locomotives and 350 freight cars, with a carrying capacity of 2,500 tons a day. ~Portace Lae is an irregular body of water about twenty miles in length, extending nearly across Keweenaw Point to within two miles of Lake Superior. Steamers and sail vessels draw- ing twelve feet can pass through Portage Entry, and navigate the lake with safety. This body of water was an old and favorite tho- roughfare for the Indians, and the Jesuit Fathers who first discovered and explored this section of country. A canal of two miles in length would render this portage route navigable for steamers and sail vessels navigating Lake Superior, thereby reducing the distance over 100 miles. During the winter months the atmosphere is very clear and transparent in the vicinity of Houghton, and all through Keweenaw Point; objects can be seen at a great distance of a clear day, while sounds are conveyed distinctly through the atmosphere, ete te city Nah abate a lie