Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-04-17
BUT NOT THIS YEAR
The Cost Of improvements for
Grand River
SUBMITTED By COL. LUDLOW
But No Appropriation WIN Be Forthcom-
ing Because Il 10 too Late for the
Present Congress-

wAsHixGrox, April l6.-Ths secre-
tary Of war sent to the house today the
report Of Major Ludlow Of the engineer
corps on the survey Of Grand river,
Michigan. below Grand Rapids. with .
view to determing the existence OF non
existence Of underlying rock, the
hydraulics of the river and the detailed
topography Of the valley subject to
overflow.
Grand river 10 the largest in the state,
and the main afiiuent OF Lake Mlchi-
gan. drains the heartof the Lower PEN
insula with . water shed stretching
across to within forty miles OF Lake
Rrie and covering some 500 square
miles of territory. At the mouth OF
Grand river, on the east shore of Lake
Michigan, 10 the town Of Grand Haven,
whose harbor has always been an i'm
portant harbor OF refuge by reason OF
its capacity and depth due to the large
discharge OF the stream.
Forty miles up the river, At the head
of navigation. IS the city Of Grand
Rapids, an exceptially thriving
y
whose products. particularly furni-
ture, reach the markets OF the world.
Between Grand Haven and Grand Rap
ids the river 10 nsvigable for light draft
vessels, the depth diminishing from
four fAthoms in the harbor 10 four
feet in the upper reaches, with few
bars al minimum stages; and this uavl'
CATION. it 10 proposed. Il practicable. to
deepen and maintain IN order that the
full capacity of the stream for water
transportation may be developed.
Detans ez the undertaking.
The question, therefore, resolves itself
into:
First-The extent to which the
physics Of the stre>m and its valley will
admit of betterments Of~existing trans
portation facilaties.
Second-Of the means best adapted
to this end, and
Third-The cost of securing them.
The report then-proceeds To discuss
the details of the undertaking and
sums up the reso4ts OF the survey as
follows:
In case Of project of this magni-
tude there should lie no difficulty 10
doing the work within LAs figure. The
government dredging At the harbors OF
the east coasf, with plant Of small Ca
pacity and moved FROM point to point,
averages less than ten cents, and, IN
one case, . contact for. 10 600 cubic
yards was made at PQftAGe lake for
that price. When it comes TO handling
5000, 900 or 1000, 600 yards, the p rice,
if adequate mesns aud q properly
equipped plant are available. should
not exceed seven or eight cents.
Cost Of the Improvensnt.
The general conclusions derivable
from the data now at hand may be
stated as follows:
First-An open ten-foot channel of
navigable width can be constructed
within y sun, the expenditure Of which
would he warranted by the magnitude
of the commercial interetts concerned
and the economic value of the i'm
portant navigation.
Second-The construction OF q dam
in the stream in order to diminish the
amount of dredging needed to secure
ten-foot navigation will not reduce the
total cost OF the project and the Oh
lection thereto, viz: Cost OF operation
and maintenance and interference
with the free movement of vessels and
flow Of water, as well as possible claims
for land damages-are not balanced by
any economical advantages.
Third-The reduced cost OF the eight
foot open channel is not sufficient TO
Offset the restriction in navigation
facilities.
Fourth-It 10 probable that, at some
points, permanent works IN the bed OF
the stream might hereafter be found
advisable to regulate the movement OF
the water, and an allowance is made in
tho estimates for these constructions.
1t is evident, however, that such per-
mauent work should not be built until
the approximate correct regimen Of the
river shall have peen established, and
prolonged observation and experience,
charge, clearly proved their necessity
and indicated the sites and methods to
be adopted in building them.
The estimated cost of the three CON-
parative projects 10 as follows:
First--for tho open eightfoot navi.
CATION, $463. $50.
Secopd--For ten-foot navigation, with
lock daa,, $67l,s8).
Third-For the open ten-foot naviga-
ton, $50, 800.
now u May First he Done.
These totals IN eacn case include
sum Of $l6e, 900. - preliminary
estimate for wing dams, etc. II is en-
tirely possible that much of this cost
will be found unnecessary, but 1t
10 considered proper TO introduce
them. | recommend the adoption OF
the last project. and that an approprIa-
ton Of $780, 900 be made for beginning
the work. IL practicable. the total
sum required should be placed at the
disposal Of the engineer department. TO
bs drawn against IN annual sums as
should be needed. IN order that the
completion of the work should he pro-
vided without suspension of funds. and
contrscts made for the full amount OF
work 20 be done. BY this means costly
delays would he avoided, and sdvsn-
tsses could be isker % secure the ser.
vices Of q thoroughly equipped and
effective plank. and conditions favor.
able To economy IN engineering resnlts.
ft may be stated, N CONCLUSION. that
the rs,iuctlon OF level At t,rand Rapids
10 due tn the deepening Of the navsga.
ton 40 ten feet. and producing an add.
ditionst hesd At the dan of about foar
and Que half feet ~ low stage. may
be turned to aesonnt fos industrial
purposes, bat independently OF this
sill b. u advantage IN getting a bsttsr
fall 30 toe sewer system of ths city. aud