Detroit Gazette (Detroit, MI), 25 April 1826, page 2

Mr. Editor,

I was pleased to see, a few days since, Col. Allen's Boat from the Lower Huron, lying at one of our wharves. This boat is of a different construction from any one that has been built here. It is seventy feet in length and seven in width, with a light draught of water, and will carry one hundred barrels; I am in formed that it is built on the plan of the James' River boats of virginia, which have been found best adapted to the navigation of rapid streams without much depth of water.

This Boat was built at Ann Arbour, and left that place with a large party at one o'clock P.M. and ascended the river as far as the mouth of Mill Creek, and then ascended the Creek to the saw mill of Mr. Dexter, arriving there the same evening. Thus establishing the fact, that Boats of this construction are well adapted to ascend the current.

There is no doubt that, with a slight improvement of the navigation, Boats of this description, may open a communication between Oakland and Washtenaw, a result offering many advantages to both counties.