The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-05-25
LOOKING A LITTLE AHEAD.

LOOKING A LITTLE AHEAD.
Reports from cities alopg the lake north OF
Kenosha show that very active interest Is be-
ing taken in harbor improvements. Several
of these cities have employed experts to recon-
mend program for harbor extension with the
idea that in no long distant time there will open
a great waterway to the sea for the commerce
of the lake ports and that the facilities which
are Offered by the cities will, largely dictate
the value Of this development to communities.
Some cities are now dickering for the pur-
chase of land for the extension of their dock
facilities. Others are having plans made and
these plans are to be submitted to The govern
men engineers in hopes that the coming SEES
sion of congress which will deal with the St.
Lawrence waterway wiz also make appropria-
tions for the improvement of lake harbors.
Kenosha must get in on the ground floor on
this movement When the canal is opened to
the Atlantic there is certain to be a grand rush
for harbor extension and harbor Improvement
and the cities which are in on the ground floor
will be pretty certain to get the first consider
alton from the houses of congress. The cities
which fail to take an interest in their own
problems along the line of harbor development
are going to find it mighty hard to get tight
listed committee in congress to think very
much of them.
For years Kenosha has failed utterly to .ap-
preciate the possibilities of lake transportation
The railways have favored Kenosha to great
extent and Kenosha is gracious in acknowledge
ing that the railways have aided materially In
building up its business but one railway is not
enough to insure the transportation facilities
of great city. Some time Kenosha is going
to need lake transportation and need it bad.
No city can have too great transportation ia
cilities.
The question of extending the harbor in Ke-
nosha has been informally considered. 1t
should be part of the definite city plan of
the city. 1t should be a matter for immediate
consideration. AS cities grow and as lake
transportation becomes more valuable the
chance of extending harbors become more re-
mote. The prices Of real estate abutting on
harbors which only little while ago would
have been decidedly small is liable to soar to
hundreds of thousands. Kenosha with a def
mite plan for the extension of its lake shipping
facilities could begin at once to acquire the
property which will be necessary for these ex-
tensions Undoubtedly the securing of this
property now would demand some expenditure
but the cost of it ten or twenty years from now
will be multiplied many times. Experts seem
to agree that Kenosha must provide the extern
sion of her shipping by digging the harbor
along the lines of the river. Undoubtedly in
some future time the government will be will
ing to pay portion if not all of the cost of the
actual digging of this harbor but the govern
ment will insist that the city do its part in pro-
viding the land necessary. There should be
something done now to get possession of the
land which will be needed. Kenosha owns the
frontage on one side of the river and the addi-
tional frontage should be acquired as rapidly
and as cheaply as possible.
Kenosha must be one Of the cities to get in
on the ground floor and have her claims for
recognition before congress early in the game