The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-10-25
ONTONAGON PEOPLE MUST AID
IN IMPROVEMENT OF HARBOR
Graham o. Fitch, in Charge Of Lake
Superior Waterways. Writes to As
certain What ontonason Residents
Are Willing 10 Do IL Government
Provides Deeper Channel


Something should be done and1that
AZ once regarding Ontonagon harbor'
says the ontonagon Herald. The Her
aid continues. .
Letters have boon received from era
ham u. Fitch regarding he same, ana
II we do not get busy we will be liable
10 be cut OF with a very small appro-
prlsii0n or perhaps none at all.
Some months ago Mr. Fitch made a
report TO the chief engineer on a ore
nminary examination OF Ontonagon
ssrbor. which was authorized by con-
gress, relating TO the question OF deep
er dredging and the limits 10 which the
dredging should be extended.
The report was referred In regular
course to the board Of engineers for
rivers and harbors and the latter made
an endorsement whicn Is as follows;
~The history Of this Improvement
make clsar the fact that commensurate
returns 10 general commerce have not
resulted from the expenditures made,
and that the continuance OF work un-
der the existing project will not satisfy
the Demands Of navigation or be fol-
lowed by benefits propOrtionate 10 the
cost.
whether the locality is worthy OF
further improvements depends in the
opinion Of the board, upon the cost OF
the work involved. the prospective
commerce 10 be benefited and whether
local interests viii cooperate in secur-
ing the Improvement. IL is therefore
recommended that an estimate be au-
thorized and that the district officer
investigate and report fully upon the
probable future commerce and the
question OF local cooperation"
In accordance with the foregoing
the officer has written the village pres
ident. Hawiey Bros, Ontonagon Lum-
Der & Cedar company. Greenwood
Lumber company, James Corgan, board
Of county supervisors and the Bust
ness Mems association, asking for an
opinion or expression regarding the eX-
tent 10 which the local interests Will
cooperate in securing needed improve
ments at this harbor. He wants TO
know in particular. whether the village
or county or private corporations,
firms or individuals may be expected
to bear a portion Of the cost of dredg-
ing the harbor.
He has compared the extent Of COM
merce Of this harbor and states that
when compared with other harbors in
this district that il is questionable
whether the government will provide
funds for improving our harbor In
years to come.
The village and county in former
years have contributed 10 the improve
ment by dredging a portion of the in
ner harbor and he states that the first
work Of Improvement OF the harbor
was done by the county over forty
years ago.
Some OF the business concerns have
done some dredging in the inner har-
Dor within the past year, we say some,
are sure that the Cedar company did
considerable dredging along the west
side docks this spring.
MI TllSH N~'iilAh 1" hio" IL Al' p''
pie In this vicinity could or would do
all the dredging in the inner harbor
providing that the government pro-
vides us with a deeper entrance and
does the dredging to the end OF the
government pier He wants to know
just what we are willing and able to
do then he can make his report TO the
chief engineers
It's up to US now and the sooner we
get busy the better il will be for the
village.