The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-06-29
MUST Do THE WORK
CITY ATTORNEY GIVES AN OPINION
ON HARBOR QUESTION.
WILL COST THE CITY $4,000
But the Government Engineers Stated
That no Work will be Done Until the
City Makes rovisions-Appropria-
ton Will be Made.

| WHICH Is lulpOEbduG w dill IuG0lCSG0u III
the commercial interests of the city OF
KeDosha.
A short time ago it seems there arose
controversy between the government
engineers ann the officials of the city
in regard TO the dockage of portion
of the land north of tie harbor, which
| is part of the ground recently purchased
from the Mygatt brothers and decided
by the city to the government. Re-
Gently notice was received from the
| engineers to the effect that the govern
| nent would not be willing to begin any
work on the harbor until the matter
was settled as to whether the city was
willing to pay for the docking of the
long strip of land reaching from the
shore line to the beginning of the pri-
vate property. AS the work contem-
plated the expenditure of over $4,000
the Council was slow to take any action
on the matter and it was referred to
the city attorney, with instructions to
present an opinion to the Council as
soon as possible on the matter. The
opinion of the city attorney is that the
city should arrange to have the work
done as soon as possible. The opinion
in full is as follows:
To the Hon. Mayor and Common
Council of the City of Kenosha, Wis.,:
Gentlemen: Pursuant to the request
of your committee on harbor and
bridges, G7king me to inquire of the
Government Engineer about the pro-
gress in the contemplated improve
ments of the harbor of the city of Ke-
nosha, and report, have made such
inquiries and respectfully submit the
following, viz:
The contracts for the entire amount
estimated for the enlargement and i'm
provement of the harbor, to-wit:-
$191 900, have been let, the last of
such contracts was submitted to the
authorities at Washington on the 18th
inst, and the approval of the latter is
expected within a few days. The
contractor must begin work soon after
the expiration of thirty days from the
date of the approval OF his contract by
the Government.
I afix copy of blank of contracts
covering the work for Kenosha harbor,
hereto
Of the said amount of $191, 900 the
Government has appropriated the sum
of $50, 900, which latter sum will be ex-
pended this summer, and the rest of
the work will be done in the summer of
1900 after appropriation is made for the
remaining Sal, 900, during the next
session of Congress.
The first thing intended to be done
is the building of new pier north of the
present one and some work on the south
pier and breakwater in lake, northeast
of end of new pier; also dredging to the
extended north line along the property
decided by the City to the Government
aud known as the former Mygatt prop
erty. The dock work along this prop
erty must be done by the City of Re
nosha. The Government does no work
beyond the shore line, except dredging.
attach hereto plat showing the
work contemplated and to he done by
the City of Kenosha. True, this is
along Government property, but the
GovernmentErequired to no more land
than was necessary up the line of the
proposed enlargement to the north,
and the strip remaining, will, almost
surely, be conveyed back to the City.
It is advisable that the City at once
determine the details of the work of
this dock, for the Government cannot
proceed without this being done, and
the work of dredging by the Govern
ment will be done simultaneously with
the work of building said dock and the
contracts for the building of said dock
should make this condition.
1t is to be remembered that under
date of January, 1897, Capt. Geo. A.
linn concluded his report to the Gov
eminent relative to this improvement
with the following words:
am of the opinion that the pres
ent interests of thescommerce involved
do not justify the proposed improve
ment."
Nevertheless the city has been for
tunate enough to secure this improve
ment, and the work is progressing as
fast as can be, under the efficient
supervision of Capt. Warren
LOUIS G.. BoHMRICH, City Atty.
The opinion was shown to Mayor
German, and heI stated that if it was
the duty of the city to dock the prop
erty it was his opinion that the city
should lose no time but should make
an appropriation for the work in order
that it shall start at once. Other
aldermen were seen and all seem to be
in favor of making the appropriation
The contracts for the work to be
done by the government in this city
will be let next week, and it is expect
ed that the work will be started at
once. $4,000 is now available for the