The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1895-05-30

harbor what Stephenson did for the I
Menominee. 1t is to be hoped that
congressman Clark viii exhibit 1iks /
diligence
To the Mayor and Board Of Alder !,
men of the city Of Ndnit0lc0e, /
The Manitowoc Terminal Company /
respectfully represents:
The completion OF the 10 and q /
foot channel" so-called, between But t
falo and Chicago and Duluth will
WORK q tremendous change in the
character of commerce III Lake Aiichi-
gan. Hessels drawing twenty feet in
stead OF fourteen feet will then re
quire accommodation at docks and
wharves, and harbor facilities must be
provided for them.
Few people appreciate how soon
this change in the very basis of lake
commerce Will be actually accomplish
ed. Next year will see it in operation
and no time IS to be lost in preparing
the harbor of Manitowoc for these
great vessels.
The United States engineers off
cially state that the contracts require
coapl ssen Of all the eight sections OF
the channel by the close of the season
of 1895; that three of these sections
are already finished; that fair progress
is being made on the rest and that
there is good chance for completion
Of them ali within the contract time.
excepting that section eight mouth of
Detroit river possibly may not be en-
tirely done this autumn.
Vessel. of heavy burden and deep
draught have always proved most
| economical. 1t is quite plain there
fore that water freights between Lake
Erie ports and Lake Michigan ports
will very soon go in vessels and steam
ers drawing twenty feet. Those har-
bors on Lake Michigan which are not
ready next year 20 accommodate such
steamers and vessels will be at great
disadvantage. Manitowoc harbOr, hav
ing unexcelled natural facilities and
open water during the entire year,
ought at once to be made capable Of
receiving them. At present, no her
bors on Lake Michigan can do this,
and slight preparation has yet been
made anywhere for this radical change
in the character OF shipping between
Lake Erie ports and those on Lake
Michigan.
The Manitowoc Terminal Company,
being deeply impressed with the wis
dom Of making ManitowOc harbor
ready without delay for the accommo-
dation OF vessels drawing twenty feet.
and OF improving all the bridges and
harbor approaches to suit these large
vessels, now urge upon your Honorable
body the Importance of appointing q
SPECIAL STANDING COMMITTEE to act
for the city of Manitowoc which shall
have power, without delay and in ell
efficient ways, to cooperate with the
ManitOwoc Terminal Company in
preparing docks and slips and harbor
facilities for the accommodation of
steamers and all other vessels drawing
twenty feet. 1t respectfully submits
that the importance to the City Of
Manitowoc Of being able to accommo-
date such large vessels as soon Us they
enter L0ke Michigan, can hardly be
! overestimated. 1t asks that this
! committee may be empowered to con
fer with the different business inter
| ests which will be affected, and that it
be authorized also to negotiate for
| the construction of bridges and other
public works and report to you its
| recommendations, in order that all
plans my be harmomzed for rendering
Mrnitowoc one Of the very best posi-
BILE harbOrS for accommodation Of big
vessels on Lake Michigan, 1t also
represents the importance Of taking
Immediate steps to induce the URited
States further to develop, improve and
profess the harbor of Manitowoc and
its approaches, and it urges that the
Special Committee on the Harbor be
empowered to do everything which is
expedent or necessary to lay kais
rAats o. before the Congress of Nss
United States. It further urges upon
your Honorable body that the munici-
pal authorities forthwith take such
action a7 the charter of the city per
mits for dredging or aiding to dredge
the channel of ManitowOc River to .
depth sufficient to accommodate yes
sells drawing twenty feet, and secure
cooperation, SO far as it is possible,
between the municipal authorities and
the owners of lots bounding on said
river in procuring this uniform depth
Throughout the channel. Your pc
titioneris is now the owner Of large
amount of property fronting on said
river and is getting ready to drsdge
along its own water frontage for the
accommodation of vessels of twenty
feet draft. The appointment Of .
Special Committee on the Harbor to
represent the city authorities of Mani
towoc will greatly aid the completion
of this public Improvement, which
your petitioner believes to be the most
important for the prosperity of the
city which has ever been undertaken
since it was founded
Dated Manitowoc May 9th. 1895.
MANITowoc TERMINAL COMPANY.
Sgd EDGAR c. Hoe, Secretary.
Attest.
Sgd Z. B, GREEsLEAF, President.