[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S6908]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SOO LOCKS

 Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, this year marks the 150th 
anniversary of one of our Nation's most visionary engineering feats--
the construction of the world famous Soo Locks at Sault Ste. Marie, MI. 
The Soo Locks shaped the course of our Nation's history and have become 
a key part of Michigan's cultural heritage. There will be a grand 
celebration on Engineers Day, June 24, to kick off a summer of special 
events in commemoration of this significant anniversary.
  The St. Mary's River is the connection between Lake Superior and the 
other Great Lakes. The challenge with this natural link is the 21-foot 
drop in elevation between Lake Superior and the lower lakes which 
creates the St. Mary's Rapids. Early traders were forced to unload 
their cargo, haul it around the rapids by land, and then reload it into 
other boats. And if it wasn't for the vision of three men, Alpheus 
Felch, Pierre Barbeau, and James P. Pendill, we might still be using 
the same shipping methods today.
  The story of the Soo Locks really begins in 1850 when two Senators 
from Michigan, Lewis Cass and Alpheus Felch, realized the need for a 
large-scale lock system at the Soo in order to transport iron ore from 
Michigan Hills to the mills in Pennsylvania and Ohio. As a former 
governor of Michigan, Senator Felch took charge of the project. He met 
with Mayor Pierre Barbeau and the two convinced the people of the Soo 
to vote to build the locks. Now that they had the public's support, 
they needed the materials for construction. The lumber for this 
ambitious project was provided by James Pendill, who owned the land 
that would be later gifted to the American public as Hiawatha National 
Forest. Construction began in 1853 and a system of two 350-foot locks 
was designated. The State locks opened in 1855.
  It soon became clear that the State lock and canal were of national 
importance for commerce. In 1881, the locks were transferred to the 
United States Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps operates and maintains 
the locks to this day. The lock system gives safe passage to a variety 
of ships and creates the major artery for shipping and trade in the 
Great Lakes.
  I hope that my colleagues will join me in honoring and celebrating 
the Sesquicentennial of the Soo Locks and the vision of the people of 
Michigan.

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