Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-02-25


TO q resolution The L. S. Senate, Jan.
Is, 1917.
This Report presented to the Senate in De-
cembcr last, and though quite voluminous, is an
exceedingly interesting and valuable document
throughout 1t gives mass of statistical and other
information in regard to the great Northern chain
OF Lakes,-tLeir extent-thc extent of their COM
merce, and its probable ucrease-importance of
harbors-poin's al which harbor Improvements
have been aud should be made for the protection
of commerce-amounts expended on these i'm
proyements, &c, &c.-and in regard also to West
crn rivers the Mississippi and its rlbutaries-extent
of steamboat navigation, their commerce, &c. To
give, however even the heads of the various depart.
ments and subjects of this Report would require
more room than we can at present spare-and we
can only add that so far as we have examined it,
and our knowledge extends we should Judge it 10
be the most complete and accurate Report of the
kind with which the country or Congress have ever
been favored and the plea of ignorance as respects
the importance and necessity of appropriations for
harbor and river improvements in the northwest,
can no longer be urged in excuse of those who in
Congress oppose these appropriations The mem
Der who sins now, must do it in the face of very
strong light and his condemnation should be ac-
cordingly. That the people of the country and
particularly of the west, under great obligation
10 the author of this Report for the able and faith
ful manner in which he has discharged the arduous
aud important duty imposed upon him, il were su.
per1uous to say
We take from the Reporta brief extract relating
to harbor Improvements on the western shore of
Lake Michigan. The opinion advanced concerning
the practicabty of a harbor improvement at Lit
lie Fort will strike the attention of the reader-as
also what is said in reference to the Importance of
completing the work commenced at Southport,
being the first point north OF Chicago-a distance
of 81 miIes-at which harbor can be made. But
the reader will note this as we'll as other important
facts having bearing upon questions concerning
the relative importance of the harbor improvements
sTolen Of
Little Fort about 80 miles north of
Chicago. 1t would be fortunate for the
commerce of the LAX s fa harbor could be
made at this place, but il is doubted if one
can be. The difficulties do not exist solely
in a bar at the entrance, for difficulties Of
this kind have universally yielded to our
efforts, but there is no depth of water after
entering the creek. A good landing to ac-
commodatc its trade, and for steamboats,,
could he made by extending a well con-
structcd bridge pier into the lake, which is
the most, in my judgment, which can be
., ...I,g Ia tod Il
Proceeding north from Hi
nois, the first harbor is Southport, about
Is miles from Little Fort. and about seven
miles from the boundary of Illinois. 1t is,
therefore, adapted to much of the trade Of
the state ofIIlinois, as we'll as of Wisconsin,;
and as it is the first place on this shore of
!, the lake, north of Chicago, and distant from
it Sc miles, at which harbor can be made,
=. it becomes a place of importance to the
general trade of the lake, as well as the
trade of its immediate vicinity.
lis entrance was DISTRACTED by bar, at
times entirely closed, and never with more
than two feet of water over it, Works for
its improvement were commenced in 1914;
a second appropriation was made in lS45;
y and the total amount expended is ST. 500.
. "As there is a sufficient depth and ca
{ pacity in the creek, after crossing the bar,
have no doubt that q good entrance can be
made but, as vet, the works have not been
sufficiently extended to produce permanent
: advantages. Occasionally there has been
D SIN feet of water 0verthe bar since the works
were commenced, but for the want of a
greater extension of the piers, it soon re-
lapscs to lis former condition.
Racine, 10 miles from Southport
5 Private enterprise has done much to im-
TO- prove the entrance to this harbor before the
/ government extended its patronage to it.
e The original condition of the entrance did
not admit Of more than two feet of waite:
over the ohstructlng bar; but the effects Of
=, the works to improve the pass have been TO
a increase the depth to 81 feet.
j. Nilwau &c, 20 miles north Of Racine
!. The greatest depth Of water found on the
Milwaukee bar was four feet, and often
D. much less. There is now, from the works
n which have been erected there, perna-
nent depth at the entrance of III feet. The
first appropriation made for this harbor was
ii in 1913. and the total amount appropriated
y is $4,000. The piers require repairs,
. dredge should be used on part of the chan
4 mel within the piers.
is "TheSe are the only harbors, namely.
e Chicago. Southport, Racine, and Milwau-
's kee, on the western shore of Lake Michi-
: gan, upon which the government has made
;, expenditures. Blu; from Milwaukee 10 the
t. entrance of Green Bay, about $50 miles,
le there are no harbors, except such as nature
has made. In this distance. however.
there are two positions admirably adapted,
L. for improvement and capable! of being
made harbors for first-class lake steamers.
y The first of these is Sheboygan, 80
\. miles north of Milwaukee, with about four
feet of water over its bar. The second is
Mnitowoc. % miles north of S leboygan,
er with about five feet of water over its bar.
'e Both of these places have eapacious and
* deep water way, after passing their obstruc-
ting bars. Nothing has been done at either
J. but to make surveys, plans, and estimates.
n These harbors are extremely essential 10
to the commerce Of The lakes, rs steamboats,