The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-03-23
HarbOr Improvements.
What VIII be Done In Superior ana
st. Louis Bay this Season by the
Governments.

4
st. Louis bay this Season by the
Governments.
Through the courtesy of Major Quinn,
of Duluth, Major of Engineers, an
Inter Ocean representative was given
an opportunity to inspect the charts
outlining the work of harbor improve
! ment in St Louis and Superior Bays
| for the season of 1889. OF the $4,000
which has been appropriated for the
improvement of Superior Bay the
principal portion will be expended i'll
: dredging out and Strengthening the
/ channel opposite Middletown. At this
point the tortuous course of the
channel has often caused much trouble
/ to vesselmen and the news of the
! proposed Improvement viii be crafty
/ ing to We ancient mariner, who will be
/ very numerous in these waters few
months hence. The principal part of
/ the appropriation will be expended at
this point, and will complete the
channel in direct line from the Superior
entry, to the entrance to st. Louis
Bay. Opposite Quebec Pier too, the
channel viii receive improvement
estimated at three or four thousand
dollars. Inside of Minnesota Point
near the Superior entry and at the
mouth of the Nemadji river, will also
be scenes of some Improvement.
The influence OF strong eddys and
currents in this locality. occasions the
gradual formation of sand bars, which
| have proved an annual annoyance and
expense. The Captain is of the opinion
that the course of the river at this
place should be changed so as to empty
into AlloueS, instead of Superior Bay
! To do this he thinks would be simple
matter, if the necessary legislation
could be secured, by simply cutting
channel across the narrow strip of
land which separates the river from
Alloues Bay. He considers that by so
dong the accumulation of sand-barS
in the ships channel near the mouth
of the river, would be averted and the
trouble practically remedied. The
Captain estimates the expenditure for
improvement in superior Bay for the
season Of 80 at $39 geo. The remain
ing ten or eleven thousand he will add
to Il reserve fund for contingencies,
This sum now amounts to about SD,
900 and the majors plans in regard to
its expenditure, is for the extension of
the piers protecting the channel to
! Superior Entry, about five hundred
| feet. He considereS it very important
| that this improvement should be made
and while there is no urgent need of
! such eXtenSi on he considers that it
would prevent eddyIng and consequent
/ ShOaling Of the water at the mouth of
the channel He does not consi Ter the
piers as they stand, absolutely invul-
nerable to heavy weather, but while he
does not anticipate any damage to
them from storms, the reserve fund of
/ twenty-five thousand dollars is at com
mand to make repairs. The channel in
4 Duluth harbor running PARALLEL with
| RiceS Point in accordance with the
reestablished dock line, will be dredged
! the coming season. 1t Will connect
with the Superior channel opposite the
entrance toSt. Louis Bay and at the
intersection of the channels, plenty of
deep water for leeway will be provided
for. This will be great convenience
to vessels clearing from Duluth for
West Superior docks, or vice versa.
! Heretofore, vessels coming from the
direction of Duluth had to go eastward
| by COnnor'S Point for some distance
and turn clear around to strike the
entrance to st. Louis Bay. Under
/ the head of Duluth improvements will
also be the dredging of the channel
! in st. Louis Bay to the Grassy Point
| bridge. The government dredging in
/ Superior Bay will all be done by G. s.
| Barker, who has secured the contracts
at fourteen cents per cubic yard He
| is enabled to take the work at this
! figure on account of the character of
| the matarial forming the bottom of
the Bay, which is good quality of
sand and can be disposed of to railroad
companies in large quantities for
ballast. Williams s. Upham have
secured the remainder of the govern
ment work