Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-08-19
rhe Hnrber Convention "a W &c n & "a ~
sty-she Importance of the Fro
teCt-Wbat Has heretofore Been
ssOne-an Inn n sc q In e rsng-PFo.
ceedings Of tho Gs nyenll0n.
,isl Dispatch 10 the The Chicago Times. !


Special Dispatch TO the The Chicago Times,
MICHIGAN CIrI Ind, Augut II.
At an early hour this morning the streets OF
Michigan City were thronged with residents OF
the Northwest, who had come from the surroun
ding States, to attend the Hsrbor Convention
which had been called for the purpose of pro-
vidng funds TO construct h2rbor at this place.
ARGUMENTS IN FAVOR OF TIRE HARB0R.
few preliminary explanations may serve to
give al idea Of the advantages claimed by the
lndianians for the proposed hsrbor at Michigan
City. They claim. and somewhat justly. that
they have no outlet for their produce; that they
have rich internal resources, both agricultural
and mineral. which would son enrich the State,
aud greatly enhance the value OF property, il an
outlet to the large mar kets could be made In
diana has several railroads traversing it's territory
which would find q common centre at Michigan
City. IL q share of the commerce of the lskes
could be obtained there The Louisville, New
Albany and Chicago Railroad crosses the State
in southerly direction, sffoTding a communlca-
tion with the OHIO river. almost direct, distance
of 800 miles The Cincinnati. Peru aud Chicago
Railroad would End its Northern terminus at
Michigan City. instead Of Lsporte. where it ends
al present. This intereguum is only twelve
miles IN length, and the ground 10 nearly ali
graded. Thus . direct route from Michigan
City to Cincinnati would be opened which would
greatly enhance the commerce of the lakes.
In Clay county, lndisna, extensive coal fields
have recently been deveIoped. which demand =
route to market. A gentleman from Pennsyl
sania is ready 10 build extensive iron works al
Michigan City il the harbor can be made navi
gable de will bring his coal from the mines
IN Clay county, over the New Albany Railroad.
costing on its arrival At the lakes only IS per
ton. Thus an immense traffic would be ssrnb
had hot h,.k
and the entire State, a. we'll a. influence the
Chicago market.
The principal shipments OF Indiana will be
made from Michigan City. being sent TO port
over The railroads above named. These will con.
SYST of hard wood coal, grains and MANY other
articles OF commerce. Mr. STRAIN, the Pennsyl-
vsnia iron merchant. will bring his ore from the
Lake Superior mines and smelt it with coal
brought from Clay county The products OF
northern ludAna will find q ready msfkel al
Chicago. whereas they now shipped by rail
10 the Ohio river
Another argument for the construction of the
hsrbor IS. that south of Chicago there IS no
haven for vessels driven ashore bv north And
northeast winds, aud that many thousand dollars
worth of property and many lives are lost every
year in consequences Indiana also has Local
pride 10 the matter She Is nov without single
h4fbor on her coast. from which 20 import or
export articles OF traffic.
The present. condition OF the barber Is "a FOL
love: small stream called Trail creek here
discharges itself INTO the lake. through I'm mense
beds oil sand. which are constantly duf,iDg into
It's mouth. By several acts OF Oongress small
sums have been. from time 10 time appropriated
10 build plsF' .tthe mouth of this creek into tbe
AXE sufficient distance to protect vessels 10 a
gale Osing 10 the small sums thus allowed TO
zoe State Tor haroOr Improvements, these pier
ssre neither built Substantial or durable The
total appropriations made for this purpose bv ths
Government amount 10 Abs 733 50 Tn. Ga
piers. built With thus money. we're in extent three
hundred feet. respectively, from the mouth OF
The creek. The space between them is filed
With sand. as 10 also Trail creek, for long dis
lance iron its mouth
The estimated co.s of the Improvement. ssids