Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1843-03-21
HARBOR DOCUMENTS,


man oil the Committee on Commerce,
in the United States Senate:
Sr-The bill making appropriations for
the construction Of Harbors on the vest
ern shore Of Lake Michigan, in the Ter
rltory OF Wisconsin, at the toWps OF Mil
waukee, Racine and Southport, and a
Lighthouse at the latter place, having pass
eI the House Of REPRESENTATIVE. and be-
ing now before the Senate and referred to
toe cOmDiItee on commerce, | would res
pec,fully, as the Delegate, call your atten-
ton to the fact, that along the entire west
crn coast Of Lake Michigan, from its nor
thern extremity to Chicago, distance Of
near five hundred miles there is no harbor
except at Green Bay, IA nd that natrral
one which cost the Government nothing,
where vessel can find a shelter during a
storm; and to this cause alone may Re at
tributed the great loss Of life and destruc-
ton OF property which annually occur.
| would respectfully invite your attention
TO the hume rous petitions which have been
addressed to Congress, for the last seven
years, as well by the citizens as by the L.
gislAtive Assembly Of the Territory, and
from several Of the states Of the Union,
setting forth in strong and sincere appeals
to the justice and humanity of Congress,
the necessity OF assistance, and demoDstra
ting, by unquesiionable facts, the advanta-
ges which would result from harbor appro-
priations at the points indicated.
The entire want Of harbors on the west
ern shore Of the Lake, added 10 the great
accession of population Of the Territory
within the vicinity Of the Lake borders,
amounting at the present time to at least
$4,000 souls, and the greatly increased
commercial resources Of the territory, de-
rived from lis agricultural and mineral adj
vantages, unite in urging upon your com
mitee, in behalf Of the people, whom
have the honor to represent, the exercise
of a just and enlightened liberality,
The land holders in the territory have
paid INTO the treasury, near three millions
Of dollars: five per cent. Of that sum would
amount TO $l50,000, sum nearly suffi-
Gent 10 construct the harbors in question.
There are several millions Of acres Of the
public lauds remening unsold in Wiscon-
sin; and the erection Of harbors on the
western shore of the Lake. would have a
tendency to increase the emigration, en-
thus would the national treasury be enabled
to realize. and at a much earlier period,
the proceeds from the sale.
Several States Of The Union bordering on
The Atlantic, are deepy interested in the
construction Of these harbors Wisconsin,
in the large and constantly increasing sur.
plus which will be annually shipped from
Wisconsin, consisting OF wheat, -four.
pork, &c. from the eastern portions; and
lead, copper, shot, &c. from the western;
and which must eventually seek the mar
kcs Of New York. Boston, Philadelphia,
Baltimore. &c through the Lakes. A
a-gc proportion o. the last named staples
y, present. FIR tn" most part. take the cir
cu,tous and tardy route Ivy the way ofNow
Orleans.
cons der, sir, the construction OF har-
bors nj the points Indicated TO a rtain ex-
tent. works Of a national character.
The Government o. The United States is
equally interested with the people of Wis
conSin, in having safe harbors on the west
ern shore Of Lake Michigan. In case of
rupture with England, the possession Of
tho Lakes must be very important point
to the people Of the United States, ms they
would require harbnrs where might be
safely landed OOPS and ammunitions Of
war, and without these the people on the
northern frontiers could not easily be pro-
tee'ed. In this view more especially, this
appropriation would seem 10 be strictly Of
national character, and particularly as
this portion of the public domain is beco-
mlng Of great and increasing interest to the
Union.
From tie be ST data which have been
able 10 obtain from the territory, the I'M
ports TO tho towns of Milwaukee, Racine,
and Southport, during the present year,
will amount 10 at least, three millions Of
dollars, whilst the exports amount to up-
wards Of one million.
Steamboats, and vessels are daily land
ing at the points indicated. curing the sea-
son of navigation, with emgtants and mer-
chandize, and receive in return passengers
and ircights in the products Of the ierrto-
rv. The only means of communication
with he shore are by small boats and flats.
which are not only tardy. but dangerous
aud expensive. Emigrants destined for
Milwaukee, Racine and Southport, have
been compelled, for want of harbors al
these points, TO g. on to Chicago in the
state Of Illinois, some hundred miles dis
tant,
1 will invite your attention To the fact
that, the price of labor. provisions and ma
terals OF every kind for the erection Of
harbors at the points designated in the bill
before you, is more than n hundred per
cent less. nor than the time the estimates
were made by the officers Of the govern.
ment For instance, .'the price of plank
at Milwaukee. &c. in 1886 was mi dol
lars per thousand feet, whilst at the prosen,
time the price does no, exceed fifteen dol
lars per thousand feet The harbors in
nnnSfin, | hnun In,,ht