timore. In 1853 or 1854, E. B.
Ward took over the Sam Ward, and Col. McKnight took the propeller
Peninsula over in the winter of 1852 or 1853.

In the spring of 1855, the Saut Canal was completed, since which date
the trade with that important region has rapidly grown into commanding
importance. It will be seen by the table below that the importations
of machinery, provisions, supplies, and merchandise, for the past year
amounted to $5,298,640, while the exports of copper, iron, fur and
fish amount to $3,071,069.

The following are the names of the steam craft now regularly employed
in this trade:

S. B. Illinois. Prop. Mineral Rock.
S. B. Lady Elgin. Prop. Montgomery.
S. B. North Star. Prop. Northern Light.
Prop. Marquette. Prop. Iron City.

A number of other steam-craft made occasional trips last year, and
next season it is expected that another line will be placed on the
route permanently. The Detroit shipping-office has published the names
of ninety-six sail vessels that have been engaged in the iron trade
the past year.

Rapid as this trade has increased, it is destined, no doubt, to yet
undergo a still greater transformation. The latent resources of the
Upper Peninsula are of a character and magnitude that defy all
estimates of their future greatness. With regard to the importance of
the trade to our city, and the steps to be taken to retain it, ample
comments have already appeared in the _Tribune_, both editorially and
in the form of communications, to which we can add nothing.

The aggregate amount of tolls collected in May, July, August and
September, was $10,374.18, a large increase over the corresponding
months last year. Including the probable amount for the months not
reported, and we have at the lowest not less probably than $16,000, as
the tolls for 1859.

Number of passengers: May, 2,493; June, 1,764; July, 2,116; August,
2,617; September, 1,538; October, 1,015.

It is _now_ almost universally admitted that the State of Michigan
possesses in her soil and timber the material source of immense
wealth. While in years past it has been difficult to obtain
satisfactory information concerning the real condition and natural
resources of a large portion of the surface of the Lower Peninsula,
the re-survey of portions of the government land, the exploration of
the country by parties in search of pine, the developments made by the
exploring and surveying pa