River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-23
TURNING THE ST. LAWRENCE
n Gigantic scheme for Improving the
HarbOr OF Montreal.

A gigantic scheme Of harbor inn
provements, costing 100000 has
Just been launched here; and if carried
out, even in a modified form, will
make Montreal one of the finest har-
bors on this continent The plan orig
mated with and was submitted to the
board of trade by James Shearer, who
| is q practical mechanic, and Il leading
| manufacturer Of old standing in this
city. Mr.. Shearer's plan is to divert
| the current of the St. Lawrence opposit
the city into the channels between st.
Helen's Island and the southern shore,
and this he proposes to do by having
various distractions removed from
this canrel and running dam or
peninsula" as he calls it, from Point
| st. Charles, in the west end ofthe city,
to St. Helen's Island, midway IN the
river, thus stopping the current from
running through the present main
channel between the city and St.
Helen's Island. The practical ad-
vantages that will accure to the city
and harbOr from the carrying out of the
project are several. In the first place,
the dam will prevent the showing Of ice
opposit the city, and the consequent
flooding of the Griffintown district,
which is annually very destructive to
property, and will make of this still
water harbor, where vessels may lie
| during the winter. 1t is estimated
that the construction of the dam, which
would be about 300 feet long and 900
feet broad, would raise the water two
feet in the river and lower it ten feet
in the harbor. This would give head
of twenty-five feet for mills, elevators,
and factories and the transportation of
| freight The dam would afford a road
way across the river. Upon the con-
struction of bridge from st. Helen's
Island to st. Lambert, thus removing
the necessity of a tunnel, this could be
utilized for Il railway, a road for car
| riages, and foot-passengers. These are
the main resu,4ss anticipated from the
carrying out of the project. The pro-
| posed peninsula or dam would start at
the abutment of Victoria bridge and
would be joined to the western end of
ST. Helen's Island 1t could be made
with the stone and dredgings taken
| out of the south channel. The scheme
has been Endorsed by eminent en-
! SiiIttlos MI htullCuS3 NV lLdA bOl tll-
gineer, being one of them, as perfectly
practicable. Mr.. Thomas Cramp, one
of our ablest pul lie men, and interest
ed in the port - one Of the greatest
steamboat agenys in the city, said at
the meeting Of the board that the plan
would secure al once set eral import
ant Obiects,such as a new railway cross
ing and roadway between both sides of
the river without interfering with navi-
cation, improving and enlarging the
harbor proper, while rendering its
access more easy, providing safe whit
ering space for vessels, and thus in
creasing the length of our business sea-
son, creating large available warehouse
sites with water-pOwer III convenient
position. City-engineer Ansley says
the scheme is practicable, if the south
side is sufficiently dredged to allow the
full force OF the water to pass through.
The originator has presented his plans
to the city, and does not ask or expect
any rewars for his labors. Plans by
eminent American and English en-
gineers, some years ago, cost the city
thousands of dollars, and were subse-
quently found to be impracticable. 1t
will be strange if a simple and com
paratively unlettered mechanic can
solve the difficulty.