The river's relatively large size, stable flows, and dearth of cataracts or other difficult passages made it ideal for the transportation of lumber. During this period huge numbers of white pine logs, some as large as  in diameter, were floated down the river to the port at Manistee and eventually on to the lumber markets of Grand Rapids, Milwaukee and Chicago.
The river's considerable size, steady flows, and absence of rapids or difficult passages made it ideal for transporting timber. During this time, enormous numbers of white pine logs, some as wide as  in diameter, were floated down the river to Manistee port and then shipped to lumber markets in Grand Rapids, Milwaukee, and Chicago.