OUR INLAND SEAS

Their Shipping Commerce for Three CenturiesWhen the land began to show its increase and Indian trade was fostered, the lakes and rivers were the natural highways of communication with the outside world, and upon their waters were carried the rich products of the wilds. On the return trips the light, bobbling canoes brought the goods and trinkets of civilization for barter with the natives. With increasing trade there appeared larger and beamier boats, much more stable, to take the place of the Indian canoe, and in time the small sailing craft became the economic mode of conveyance.Finally the steamboat appeared and, with all its fussing and fuming and boiler explosions, was soon the popular means of travel. There was some degree of certainty in its movements, as it was less dependent upon wind and wave.When the tide of immigration set in about eighty years ago, there followed a rapid development of the material resources of the new land, and the expanse of the lakes and the connecting water highways became arteries of an extensive commerce. Shipbuilding was greatly stimulated, and the steam tonnage was of such size and the cabin accommodations for the comfort and pleasure of passen gers so well provided, that travel on the lakes was no longer regarded as a hardship to be avoided if other means were at hand. The increased size of the steam boats and the march of progress toward the West brought about demands for deeper channels, which were met by digging out the navigable streams and the canalization of narrow and shallow rivers. The principal ports on the lakes were made safe harbors of refuge, lighthouses and other beacons were established to mark dangerous reefs and narrow channels, and, in more recent years, the life-saving service and the lake survey have been added as further safeguards to life and treasure.As years passed, excursions on the lakes became popular and of daily occurrence from the larger ports durin the summer months, and tourist travel throughou