The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1907-07-18
Major Judson to Meet Officials Of
Racine and Kenosha at Belle
City Friday Evening
WOULD PURCHASE 0REDeE
Major Judson Believes That He Has
Solved the Problem of Keeping
the Harbors Free From
Sand and Gravel

Major William V. Judson, govern
ment engineer in charge of this dis
trict, is to, meet city officials of Ra-
cine and Kenosha in Racine next
Friday evening, when he will ex-
plain to the officials his reasons for
desiring suction dredge In this dis
trict. It is estimated hat the dredge
will cost about $4,000 and will be
paid out of money allowed the sew
era1 harbors in the district for i'm.
provements
Major Judson, since being in charge
of this district, has used his every
effort to obtain sufficient money from
the government for each harbor IN his
district to make them the best on the
lakes. Certainly Major Judson has
given Racine and Kenosha harbors
much attention and the city officials
should assist him in every way posi-
BILE.
In a letter written to Mayor Horlick,
of Racine, in which Major Judson
recornm ends the construction for use
in this district of suction dredge of
the sea-going hopper type, similar to
the General Gillespie, now owned by
the United States land used on the
eastern shore of Lake Michigan,
the major al1udessssto the fact that
there is not SO much dredging in this
district as upon the eastern shore and
as general rule the channels in this
district which are maintained by the
United States government are only
dredged slightly in excess of project
depths. He shows that every winter
there is tendency for bars to form
at the entrance to ssthe harbors. The
dredging plants can not be towed
around earlyt in the spring without
considerable danger, which contrac-
tors do not like toaassume, as there
is demand sfor their plants for in
side work andsconsequently it is sew
eeral weeks. Batter the opening of
navigation eachgyear before the more
troublesome CHARS of annual forma-
ton have been removed.
In the meantime it is claimed this
has made agreat difference to ship
pers and they shave. been obliged to
charter lighter draft vessels or load
less than full cargoes during the per-
iod in question. frequently in the
spring vessels go aground on these
bars.
Major Judson has prepared table
of the dredging..that has been done in
this district during the past five years.
The total amount of the dredging ag-
gregates 3, 391,850 cubic yards by the
United States. The cost of dredging
per contract has averaged % cents
per cubic yard. The dredging by the
United States plant has cost II cents
per cubic.yard, including repairs, etc.
If he had such dredge as is recon-
mended he Awould9 start her early in
the spring in the southern end of the
district a mouth or more before the
straits opensand thereby secure pro-
ject depths upon the opening of
through navigation. In his opinion
the benefits secured by the dredge
would be much greater than would be
apparent on consideration of the cost
al which she would dredge each cubic
yard. In brief, the benefits would be
such as would result from a uniform
increase Of the depth of from one to
three feet at each harbor on the west
shore Of the lake.
After explaining the large capacity
of suction of such dredge and other
facts, the major states that he has
had Informal correspondence with
Major Sanford, corps Of engineers,
and is informed that a dredge
similar to the General Gillespie
can be delivered at Milwaukee,
completely equipped and ready for
work, for the sum of $4,000, and that
she can be completed and delivered
on July 1, 1908 The major further
states that it has been suggested that
the sum required for the construction
Of the dredge be derived by allotments
from appropriations and amounts
authorized under the continuous con-
tract system, for harbors in the dis
trict. In event it should be held
that such allotment is practicable he
should like to be so informed. In re-
commencing the construction by
a1lotments the ma jor says he has taken
the broader view.