, 1872-12-12
OUR HARR0R.
The Work Of Dredging and
Docking---Our Present
Dockage Faci-
tiles.
What Has Been Done on the
Lake-Front and at CAL
umlct--Bridges.

LIZ uhIDUI ACCOMMODATIONS u 1i1C<EO AAfo
always been small, in proportion to the demand
for room, and dredging and docking we're car
1ied forward rapidly for several years previous
to the fire. Up to June 90th, 1571 a total Of
about IT miles of dockage had been built, Of
which AK miles we're then in use; nearly
miles Of that first built having been renewed. A
Tnst amount Of dredging had also been done pre-
rious to tho fire. chiefly at tho mouth OF the
harbor, and in the North Branch. In 1863 the
North Chicago Docking Company, commenced to
put down o line Of piling and crib-work, north Of
the harbor, but it was swept away by the waves,
and the work was abandoned till 1867, when it
was again proceeded with, and was nearly fin
ished when tho Great Fire swept over our city,
andagain suspended operations. The work has
since been undertaken anew, and will be COM
pleted next season. Another dock extension was.
begun in 1870. near tho mouth Of tho river to
the south; and al appropriation Of 5100,0 900, had
been made by Congress, which was expended
during the same year, leaving the extension
still unfinished, but preparations are being made
for finishing the work next spring. A break
water, 900 feet long, was built in 1871, running
eastwardly from the south pior, and extending
out into tho lake as fer as the north pier, leav-
ing passage Of 500 feet wide, between them for
6utIallGb iuLC HitI pOl IIptA tl4t tdSttIu tu1
Of this brealI-water extends another line, 5000
feet long, which will soon be extended
to 1000 feet connecting with another line
running 9,400 feet westward, to tho breakwater
Of the Illinois Central Railroad.
this vicinity, in the Calumet Harbor, seven
miles south Of this city. Congress appropriated
$50, 900 in 1870 for the improvement OF tho
channel and the construction Of piers, and the
money was expended during that year in the
~ ot1o1,.
nsl. The harbor WAS also dredged out to q
depth of ten feet. It is estimated that these
projected improvements will cost the Govern
ment about 100000. Since the fire the
Il 0''fihe d3eEing, Dredging, and 1uilding
piers, and tie company has expended ubout
as much more, having built some 5000 feet Of
pier and dockage on the north side, and LOCO
feet on the south side. The Harbor is now 800
feet wide and 10 feet deep. improvements will
be continued rapidly next season.
The operations since the fire at this port have
consisted in the extension Of the breekwater to
the south distance Of 500 feet, and tho con-
etruction of return at the north end 300 feet
in length. There has been constructed since
the fire 2,250 feet of breakwater, including su-
perstructures very nearly finished, at o total
cost Of 100000, or Ss8.68 per lneal foot.
This also includes the protection OF the north
the whole work may be safely estimated at
5100 per foot, including covering. It is pro-
posed with the pf0pran % Of
raS paon aaa on the ba o sdd 6s5 to hs hs
return at the north end Of the breakwater, as
originally designed. It is estimated that 800
feet will be added to the brcakwater during the
present fiscal year, making total length OF
nna s3o 10 ha an 10
In addition to this, the plan adopted contem-
plated the construction Of q pier connecting tho
south end OF the breakwater with the shore, at
cost Of s16 and adePsng aan g5td this ;7 estimate in
quired, or 8 total sum Of 1851 900, which, owing
to the price Of material and labor, is much less
than the original estimate.
Major D. G. Houston, United States Engineer
at this port, gives the following plan, which, if
adopted, viii curtail the EXPENSES somewhat,
and at the samo time tho interests Of this harbor
will be better subserved. He says, "that in-
stead Of constructing the south pier as proposed,
breakwater II the bfeakwater was prolonged
in its present direction it would afford all tho
protection required, and if the lake front is used
for the construction Of wharves and slips, as
contemplated, in the constitution Of tho harbor,
the necessities OF the case will require this e1-
tension. In the plan now under consideration
the south pier would Interfere with tho nayiga-
tion OF vessels IN the lake front. If the lake
front is used at all for such purposes it will not
stop at the present limits of the proposed harbor
| require" He further says that nn appropria-
ton Of $780, 1000 can be advantageously expended
in repairing and extending during the fiscal year
ending Juno 80, 1873.
Since the fire, dredging to the amount Of
| 100000 cubic yards has also been done in the
river and its branches, chiefly from the oldBand-
bar inside OF the harbor, which interferes with
| it's usefulness as roadstead, although it is q
| source of considerable profit to the owners Of
dredges, who are removing great quantities OF it
! f0r bnildiDp purpOse8.
| During tie last year, over eight miles Of new
| dockage has been built at this port, and about
| three miles Of repairing dono on docks par
TALLY destroyed by the fire, at total cost Of
| nearly 100000. -
In September 1871, no less than twenty-seven
bridges we're standing in Chicago erected at Q
cost of from $50 900 to s480 900 each, besides six
railroad bridges, which had been erected at IN
average cost Of $4,000.
| When the fire visited US it took away eight Of
| our principal bridges. namely, Chicago avenue,
Wells, Clark, State, Rush, Adams, Van Buren,,
and Polk street bridges. To-day they are all re-
placed at q greater cost, and are better etruc-
| tures in all respects than those burned down.
The cost of the separate bridges fully completed
| is as follows: Chicago avenue, $2o,85o; Wells,
| $4s;4846o; Clark, $4,000 State, 100000; ;
Rush, 100000; Adams, $4,000; Van Buren.
| 9l3,200.70; Polk, 923, 1000. Making the total
amount expended on bridges 1902, $3.50.