, 1864-08-02
OUR HARB0R,e
Thing Tp-DredeiDs Out-E1tension Of the
hofth Pier-Reports Of the City En-
giaeef ana Board Of Pnb]ic Works.

The state OF the hatbor has long been the subject
OF great anxiety with all who feel an interest in
the commercial future OF Chicago. We lie in very
un1avorable poRition-situated nearly at the head
Of the Lake with strong normal current generally
setting In from the Northeast, generally driving
up the eotl continually from the bed Of the Lake
and from the more northerly portion Of the bank
Into the mouth Of The river. We have no natural
harbor NO bay to receive the deposits at the out
side oud keep them from the river and the current
OF that river being equal to nothing, there ls no
contrary force to wash hack the sand. Hence VIC
are etnstaDtly filling up. Every year the depoalt
inert asee, and each year tpmtthlng ueeds to be
soEs to check tns choking process. ioI ths xases
forget to convey rhc former back again hence we
are in danger Of being swamped through carrying
too much ballast, preventing slnsle sail from en-
SEVERAL year, ago the difficulty wss met by car
ming out pier from tie north bank Of Cur tiny
hasbor. which has caught the sand partially. Bat
this provision is now become ineuf.cient. The
whole c1panee to the Dosthward Of the pier il
filed up With sand. maxine many acres Of new
iDe out to The soulhward, gradually extending it,
leEeth to mile and its bcisht to within about
four and katf feet Of the surface. n order to
down eouih to near Twelfth street, then come H.
nsrew .s channel having The ba5 o. one slde and
which he most breads lee shors win no lee lee
Q@En
wrecked that breakwater, and the channel Itself
il now hlled up 60. much that from being danger
Gus 1he passage Is now become almost impossible,
the larEer caes of-eeeels being unable to make It.
Various have been the plans proposed during the
PAST tep years for averting the tate which threat
ens uF, 1ut all seem to be only temporary meas
ment rroniseda great relief The design embra-
ces the construction Of large 10cksge ayetem on
the lake shore, to the northward of the present
torib Tbis would andonbtedIT preyet setioos y on
detsimept to. our harbor for number Of years.
but # seene the work hes teen laid over for the
present and i bat become imperative on the city
Get to work to make a paseage through thie bar,
close 10 the liehthoosc, through which vessels
might pafs. The channel was made, but allied up
partially outin. the winter 1thas been rcdrcdRed
this 6ptnmez. and the wotkmen are still employed
on It. T. prevent SUBSEQUENT hihng IN, It !. nov
to 81 he 9Sh 5 RE. int as k
we're submitted to the Common Council at Its last
sss Bos5s I'd .! Rev osp EpG e. a oSesse aas
nuch, the City EnpiEeer:
To the Board Of Public Works:
The DIT dying at the mouth Of the river has now
Proceeded 60 far - to furnish better entrance 70
ne harbor than that obtained through the south
channel. 4 few days more OF good weather and
the contractors for dredging will be able to give to
yesse!E tnteTtna and leaving the bsrbor,, all the
1sy ssees v u Of
progress Of the work is somewhat lnterfered with
by the passage OF vessels. r
In order to secure to the future benefit Of the
city the channel thus reopencd to navigation, q
pier should he built Oh tic Lotth side this year.
This pier should be strong and as large those
built By the National Government ior similar
depths Of water on the lakes. The length from
the end Of the present pier ought not to be lees
than 400 feet, the height not eas than 20 feet, nor
the width lees than 24 feet. Such pier In orltn-
| a1y tinea would cost about $35000; but under
present circumstances 1t would not be cate to es-
! Date It at less than &15,0 for which sum md
perhaps for less. there is good reason to believe
That tetpopsible and competent parties Will under
take and guarantee the contraction Of this pier
| during the present ee4sou- -..-....
| ought to have made this communication sooner
to the Bonrd, hut kno Ing that the Ch!caso Dock
| and Canal Company intended until Qnite recently
to complete their pier for an outside hatbor, inst
north Of the present pier. this season, and beeV-
| ting that their plans, with slight modification,
would be perfect equivalent for ours tn protect:
ing the entrance 10 the harbor, ] have hoped and
believed that some arrangement might be made
between the city and that Company By which the
| cpup1Chon Of their works during the present sea
eon Wopld he guaranteed, and the city thus save
| considerable portion ofthe cost Of extending the
North Pier. Now, however, that Company In view
OF lhe great inucaRe IN the price Of labor and mA
ttsAl. propoEer to guarantee the completeness on
II Of be rcquisite length Of pier running out eas
ward flrn The shore, but doea not propose to guar