The Perrysburg Journal

SAULT STE. MARIE, July 8, 1858.

Friend Huggins:—The question, what is there in a name? has often been asked, not as often answered by conjecture, or the answer colored by the bias of the mind which gave birth to it.

This remark has been called out by the name which graces the head of this letter. What is there in it? It is not only hard to pronounce, but more difficult to be understood. In English, it means simply the "falls of the St. Mary's river," which is not only much easier spoken, but which all can understand who speak the English language. Then why not call our places by English names? Are there not words enough in our language to give names to all the places in the United States?

But if the name of this place is dressed in uniform to be paraded before the public as a means of heightening the effect, the place itself is not less so in print; and both, when stripped of the paraphernalia of high sounding titles, are very plain and easy of comprehension, the one to him who reads, the other to him who visits.

The village, which consists of a few hundred inhabitants, is about equally divided in population between Yankees, Canadians, French, and Indians. The former represent the active element of the place, and all the business is in their hands. The village was built chiefly before the construction of its ship canal. At that time all the commerce carried on between the lower country and the copper region had to be conveyed around the falls by land carriage—this of itself afforded a good business for a large number of men. In the year 1855, the government commenced the construction of a ship canal around the falls, which was completed in the spring of 1856. Since which time the commerce between Lake Superior and the East has been carried on by means of unbroken lines of steamers, and indeed the commerce of this region is now open direct to Liverpool, or the rest of Europe.

The falls are about one mile in length, and in that distance the water falls something like 18 or 19 feet, which forms little more than a strong current, or what we would call on the Maumee river, a rapid. As trifling, however, as it seems, it was sufficient to break the chain of navigation, and much retard the settlement of this part of the country.

During the time the canal was in process of construction, speculators in real estate at this place, did not fail to get up an excitement, and profit largely by the disposal of their lands at high prices. Corner lots were in great demand, and here where the soil is almost as barren as a plank in the midst of the ocean, forming lots were sold at city vicinity prices. But the vision has passed away, and the vacant houses present to tell the story of their former tenant's folly.

But though these have left, not with the multitude swarm of speculators and officials who had charge of the construction the canal, they, like the Arab in the desert have left the foot prints of their moral wanderings behind them.

Painted over the door on one half of the vacant buildings is still to be seen one of the following signs: "Grocery," "Saloon," "Bowling Saloon," which for the want of a customer, have "gone down."

Visits to this place and vicinity by invalids have become quite frequent, and the country is gaining a reputation for the restoration of broken constitutions, which may one day class it with Saratoga or Newport.

The climate here is cool, the air pure and bracing, and invalids languishing in a more sultry climate, act wisely in repairing here to breathe the invigorating air of the Lakes at this point, or even higher up on Lake Superior. The thermometer is now standing at 54 deg., with the wind from the north east. We have a fire in the bar room of our hotel, and it is quite agreeable even in the middle of July.

The change in climates which we have undergone in the last three days, from sweltering in the heat's, thinly clad, to sitting by the fire with winter clothing on, is by no means an agreeable sensation. Never has the quick transition proved any of those unpleasant effects occasioned by so sudden a change in the climate of the same place.

The barrenness of the soil, (of which I have spoken) together with the coldness of the climate, prevent this from ever becoming an agricultural country. The principal occupation, therefore, of the inhabitants who are not directly connected to commerce of the country must be fishing: trading in fur, or hunting.

As a place of residence it is no means desirable, But as a place to cheat the sun of the murderous drops of sweat which it extracts from suffering humanity, the more a traveler, or to contain the sports of hunting and fishing and thereby drive the pains of ague from the weary brow, I know of but few places superior to it.

We shall leave here the next steamer for the copper mines of Lake Superior. I will give you an account should I have time.

W.