The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-05-25

railroad were perfectly accessible at the end
of Rice's Point, to which straigM and
deep natural channel runs, from the Supe-
rior entrance.
And without doubt Congress would have
been quite willing to have increased, in the
interest of Duluth, the appropriation for the
Superior entrance, so as to have secured
the completion of that work within the last
wear, had Duluth been willing to join Sa-
perior in asking such an increase, instead
of going in headlong for some expedient
that would prevent shipping from coming
in by Superior. Why, then does Col.
Houston say, as above, that "the necessl-
ties of the case required that the inner har-
bor should be made available, and the
quickest way to do this was to cut canal
through Minnesota Point?:'' Col. Houston
also says on page 50:
The theory of the Government works at the entry is
not as stated in the memorial, which says: That the
theory and plan of said Government works, based up
on the combined and undiminshed flow of the Saint
Louis and Nemad Rivers through said entry, whereby
the formation of bar (Which results from the wash OF
the lake. and not from sediment Of the stream) will be
prevented
Now read what Lieut.. Miller, of the en-
c;neer corps, in charge of the works at Su-
perior says, on page A, of the Secretary's
letter, viz:
IL will be seen by the soundings at the Superior
entry that the results have been in Wind cation OF the
theory of that work e., the cutting through the bar
by conining and carrying the current across It."
The current referred to, as we under
stand it, is the scombined and et'adinai1e-
ished Aow of the St. Louis and Nemadjl
rivers" and why confse the current, un-
less to increase its flow and force? And
see letter of Col Houston below, as itarl-
cised by us.
Gen Humphrey, Chiefof Engineers, does
not concur in Col IIouston's conclusion
that after the completion Of the harbor
works at Superior, the dixie can be diSpens-
ed with, but thinks it will still be necessary
ssto exclude the flow of the Saint Louis
river, through the Duluth canal during
whole matter, is nuisance and outrage in
the shape Of dixie, for the purpose OF pre-
venting the direct and deleterious conse-
ouences of nuisance and outrage IN the
shape Of a canal, neither outrage having
the slightest palliation in the necessity OF
the case. We have not time now, to notice
other interesting points of this document,
as we should be glad to. AS pertinent to
some Of the discussions it contains, we ap-
pend the following copy OF letter address
sed bv Col. Houston, to Gov. Fairchild:
UNITED STATES ENGINEERS OFFICE, !
Milwaukee, Wis, April Sd, 1871 !
HIS Ercegeacy Lucius Faire5d Governor Of Wisconsin,
hudson, WIS:
SIR: In reply to your inquiries as to the effect OF
cutting a canal across Minnesota Point, near Duluth,
upon the outlet to the Bay Of Superior, would
that in nv opinion it would be highly injurious. The
present outlet depends the securing effect OF the
current ana if the proposed canal Is made portion
of the current of tho ST. Louis River will be Diverted
thus diminishing the strength Of the current at the
present Quiet. An examination OF the Lake Survey
Chart of Lake Superior shows that there Is body OF
water at the end of the lake known as the Bay OF
Superior and Alouez Bay, constituting really one sheet
bav is very shoal and is separated from the lake by
two narrow peninsulas known as Minnesota Point and
Wisconsin Point. There three rivers emptyng ln
to this bav the St Louis and the Nemadji, and the
Allouez The outlet of the bay between the two pen
insulas is opposite the mouth of the Nemadl
The narrow peninsulas composed OF sand and
gravel and are evidently the result OF the drift along
the lake shores, due to the prevailing storms The
western portion of Lake Superior, for length OF 90
miles is funnel shaped, and narrows III THIS distance
IA, ,ln. -. .pH to
the most severe gales that the shores are washed
by strong littoral current setting westward This
current carries with it large quantities OF shinSe and
sand Ii is evident that the St. Louis, the NemadJ,
and Aiouez rivers formerly empted directly into the
lake and that Minnesota and Wisconsin Points
composed of the drift along the lake Shores winch
deposited in meeting the currents OF the rvlrs The
process of drifting along the lake shores Is constantly
rling on The present outlet between Minnesota
Point and Wisconsin Point is where the ratio between
the securing effects of the combined currents OF the
three rivers and the resistance offered by the drift
the greatest The manner in which the present en-
trance formed is now plain. The current OF the
St Louis river the mouth of wh near the north
shore meeting the drift along that shore was diverted
TO the south those of the Allouez and Ncmad rivers
we're directed to the north and eventually, by COM
binins their forces maintained the present outlet.
The government Is work improving this outlet
on the Jta Of h5g the channel By parallel Pters,
assR trusting 10 the cbuttet 10 maintain a.
Now it Is evident that if additional outlet is
made ike the canal at Duluth that the rsiocy Of tie
rtrr5Ht tie present optd ell be diminished, and
tie effect eff the present improvement 1gU be lost Il
'ds rslocity is reduced beyond certain limit, the
CHAINED at the mouth ,ciR Be barred up By tie acton
IF the lake The proof that this is so Is to be obtain
ed 10y observation and experience in similar cases
The Milwaukee River is case in point Before the
present improvement was made, the river rau for
distance of three htths of mile IN a southeIly drec
ton parallel the lake shore before emptyIng into
the lake Between the river and the lake was nar4
row sand Spit evidently formed by the drift aio tue
lake shore caused bv northeastcry winds The current
If the river was not sufficient to overcome this, and it
was consequently diverted TO the south When the
Improvement was made a cut was made through the
4 hy f,arailpi IQIS