The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-06-13
IMPROVEMENTS 5ii1 [ VI
TO WATERWAYS
ENLARGED SHILLING BASIN FOR
CANAL ENTRANCE RECON-
MENDED BY CHIEF OF
ENGINEERS.

Junior Engineer George II, Banks,
i'm charge of the Portage Lake water
ways, has received copies of the report
OF Colonel Graham u. Fitch, formerly
engineer i'm charge of the Lake super
Tor District relative to the enlarge
ment of the shilling basin inside the
breakWater at the Portage Lake ship
canal. and the plan To increase the size
of the harbor of refuge at Lily pond
I'm regard to the latter, Colonel Fitch
after considering the subject, finds
that there is no necessity therefore
and is of The opinion that the improve
meut should not be undertaken at this
time. The report relative To the en-
largement of the shilling basin at the
canal entrance is Concurred In by w.
H. Bixby, chief Of Engineers with re-
commentators to congress accompa-
uying the submission of Col. Fitch's
report, called for by the river and
harbors act Of June pa, 1910.
THE district officer presents plan
for further improvement at the west
em Lake SUPERIOR entrance, involv-
ing the removal of the two 1O0-foot
arms or LIS at the present outer ends
of the breakWaters and the constuc-
ton of pierheads at the oXtremities
of the main breakwater piers; dredging
to a depth of 30 feet an additional area
of 50 acres between the breakwaters,
thus increasing the deep-water area in
the stilliug basin 10 53 acres; removal
OF 400 feet of each of the Old revet-
ment piers al the inner entrance, and
construction of new pierheads at the
eXtremities OF the remaining portions;
an at am estimated cost OF $l5S000,
with a probable maintenance charge
of S40O annually"
Ia giving reasons for the advisable
ity of making the Improvement pro-
posed Col Fitch in a previous report
stated:
More area OF deep water is needed
in the suuiug basin inclosed by the
two breakWaters, TO enable vessels
Curing storms TO safely pass from the
outer opening through the basin into
the channel between the revetment pi-
ers. AT present the deepened area is
much restricted, and vessels have ex-
rerienced trouble Oh number of occa-
siOns. Since the completion of the
breakWaters In 1902 nine vessels have
missed the inner piers and gone on the
bottom within the breakwaters ON this
account. Five Of these vessels required
the assistance Of the lifve-saving crew.
what is needed is TO dredgc out the
shilling basin-that is the protected
area within the broakwatcrs. remov-
ing the shoals TO "a depth Of at least
ID feet within a radius of about 200
feet from the outer opening between
She bre1kwater ends, and remove the
cutter portions Of the two old revet-
meut piers Cat the entrance to the
canal proper to within POO or 300 feet
of the shore line, OF to a distance of
gbout Loo feet from the breakwater
entrance
This would give more room for yes
sells. which is much needed i'm making
the entrance during heavy winds in
order To- right themselves after passing
the outer entrance and head for the
inner entrance between the piers. For
Instance. in a heavy westerly storm a
vessel might have to run before the
wind I'm making the outer entrance in
order to avoid being thrown upon the
CAST brc1kwater This would carry 10
over to the east side of the basin. and
with the present shoal water ON either
side of the axis Of the canal, and the
short distance from the outer entrance
o. the piers Cabout 1,2SO fccO. it would
pave the necessary room or time 60
straightcn up ON the course and make
the entrance between the inner piers.
Another advantage would result
from charging the area within the
hreakNatrrs, namely, il would allow
the storm waves TO spread out and re-
duce boz height to greater degree than
occurs under present conditions
Tho enlargement of the basin would
also Dee advantageous loo ease of "a yes
seI falling Go make the inner cntrauc,
and going on the bottom with the
enlarged deep water the vessel would
then fetch up against the bank az a
greater distance from the outer en-
trance. in less disturbed water II