Mr. DRIGGS. Mr. Speaker, the bill under consideration appropriates 100,000 acres of lan to aid in the construction of a harbor and ship canal from Bctegrise to Lac LaBelle, which bay and lake are situated near the northern end of Keweenaw Point, Lake Supe rior, in the State of Michigan. The lands are to be selected from alternate odd numbered sections in the upper peninsula, not mineral, and from the nearest vacant land to the re osed improvement. It will be seen that no an s are to e acquired by the company until the work is entirely completed, and accepted by the governor of the State, and as the grant only extends for 2 years, unless completed within that time the lands will revert to the U.S. I Lac LaBelle is a small inland lake of some 2 by 5 miles in extent, with an average depth of 27 feet of water. To afford an entrance from Lake Superior and Betegrise “to this lake it is only necessary to widen, deepen, and straighten it natural channel less than a half mile long. When this is dope and the proposed i er and breakwater at its entrance are comp eted, it will afford one of the best and safest harbors on this immense inland sea, and will secure a refu e at a oint halfway between Bafield and Sant Ste. arts, which now afford the only safe harbors, With the exception of Grand sland and Portage Lake, for a distance of 400 miles, and these 2 harbors are a long distance out of the usual route taken by vessels in going to and returning from Ontonagou and the head of the lake. Mr. Speaker, this infill, is considered of very great importanceto tesafety and convenience of commerce, not.only by the people of Michi gun, but by all the States bordering onthe at western lakes. I have before me petitions from nearly all the ship ping interests of Oswego, Buffalo, Cleveland), Detroit, Milwaukee, and Chicago, with resolutions recommending this grant from the Boards of Trade of all the important lake cities, with similar expressions from the Chambers of Commerce. Mr. Speaker, the committee have also in their poasessmn aletter from the Gpvernor of Michigan transmiting JtResolutions of the legislature of that State in favor of the grant; a letter from Colonel W. I". Reynolds, topograph ical superintendent of the lake surveys, showing the necessity and practicability of the work, an official map accompanying the same; and a petition si iied by 2500 miners masters o vessels, merchants, and others,0 Lake sufferior. the lake cities, and by citizens of NewYork, Boston, Hartford, Philadelphia, and other cities. In addition to all the foregoing, your committee have had before them numerous other letters and petitions praying for the grant. The bill has passed the Senate and has been unanimously approved by the House ComPubLands. And [have been directed to report the some back with the recommendation that it pass. I therefore call the previous question, and ask that a vote may be now taken.