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Appropriations Asked For Michigan Rivers And Harbors

Appropriations Asked For Michigan Rivers And Harbors image
Parent Issue
Day
5
Month
January
Year
1882
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In the report of tho chlef oí 1 ( neers it is recommended that provisión , 3e made f or the improvement of sixteen ( mrbors in Michigan, thvee rivera and , ;wo canals. , Following wlll be found a ooncise description of the most important of these, compiled by a correspondent of the Post and Tribune f rom the report of the Ghief of engineers : DETBOIT BIVER. The original conditi on of the channel at the lime kiln crossing was such that vessels drawing 13 f eet of water could often barely pass. The object of this improvement is to make a cut through this ridge along the main channel to a width of 200 feet, in which cut there shall be a depth of 20 feet in ordinary low water stages. No amendments llttVÜ MCOI1 UiaUO 1U LUC UilglUAl jJUjvu except to change the direction of the lower half of it slightly, The amount expended is 1179,785.22. ïhe only benefit resulting from this has been to bring the cut nearer its completion. It is only then that any benefit from the work will result. Incidentally during the past year a temporary channel has been created. The ainount that can bo profitably expended during the next fiscal year is $186,000, andsliouldthe suni )e ippropriated it is expected that the mprovement will be completed. The engineer says : "The amount of jeuefltthat will arise f rom this improvenent is that it will prevent loss by detention and llow the great number of 10,000 vessels which pass this point afinually to load to a deeper draught, and will thus, in thejudgment oL the officers in cliarge, lower tho rate of freiglits sufficiently to pay for the whole woik 141 two good seasons." ïhere is now available 195,214.78. SAGINAW R1TER. Tne natural cliannei oí tuis nver was tortuous and obstructed by many bars, with not more than seven feet at the slioalest part. The present project was adopted in 1874, and modified' in 1878, the object being to afford a clear depth of not less thau ten feet over the bars in the river. The amount expended is $88,962.88, and has resulted in securing a channel not less than 100 feet wide and with a depth of not less than rune feet. D uring the past year the appropriation was apent in the preservatton of tke chan nel at Ourrollton bar, and to aurveying wit)' a view to the ïinprovemeut of the channels at and below Bay City. The amount t Wat canbe proiïtebly expended during the next yer is $205,000, and the amount required to complete the improvement is $380,000, exclusive of the upper river improvement. CLINTON RIVER. In 1870 the channel of entrance to this river was very shallow, the shoalest place showing ouly 3J f eet of water, while the river was 10 friet 'm depth. A project of itnproving the rivsr waa adopted in 1870, the object being to afford n channel 50 f eet wide at bottoui, with a depth of 8 feet, and in the execution of the improvement the amount expended liaa been $5,000. Another .appropriation of $8,000 was made laat spring, and this money is to be applied to dreiging a channel cut 8 feet deep ;ind 60 feet wide at the entrance of the river. An appropriation of $25,000 is asked for next yeai , which will complete the improvement. ST. CLAIR FLATS CANAL. This canal was projected ín 1866, the object being to aiïord a straight channel 300 feet wide in the clear and 14 feet deep, and modifled in 1874 so as to make the canal 200 feet wide with a depth of 16 feet, and the amount expended, $588,987 62, has resulted in securing a channel of this width and depth. The amount expended in repairs duving the year bas beenonly $2,556 47. AIIÍT MART'i RIVER AND OANAX. A depth of about 11 feet 6 incheg couïd be carried through the channd between Lakes Superior and Huroü, when the government began its improveinent in 1870. The canal had ,i depth of 12 feet at the ordinary stage. lts width at the bottom was 62 feet and at the water surface 100 feet. The originally adopted project was to deepen the canal to adniit a draught of vessels at ordinary stage of 16 feet and to widen the canal. This original project for the improvement of the river was adopted in 1879, and consisted in deepening the present navigabla channel to 16 feet at every place except East Neebish, which it was believed the Canadian government would improve. The amount expended on this improvement has been $2,119,669 59. lts availability or adaptability for the purposes of navigation and commerce were no better nor greater than when the work was flrst be gun, excepting that the prism of the canal was wider and deeper, and could be more easily entered and navigated. With the amount on hand it is intended to complete the work according to its original and modified project. This, however, does not include the East Neebish. Another appropriation must be made for thia portion of the river, but this amount cannot be stated until after the survey has been made. The aoiount available is $285,381 41. SAÍTO BEAOH HAKSOR OF REFUGE. This project was adopted in 1873 and its object is to furnish a harbor of refuge to the vessels engaged in the commerce of the northern and northwestern lakea. The amount expended is $614,070 13.' At the close of the fiscal year 4,880 feet of breakwater had been completed. The amount that is required for the next year is $100,000, whioh will be used in completing the substructure of the lake arm and the south shore arm of the breakwater as well as dredging inaide the harbor. The amount required for the coiapletion of the work is $200,000. The number of vessels which were driven to take refuge in this incomplete harbor in the eight months of navigation was 1,018, of which U were passenger vessels. RAITD R1VER. The portions of channel below Grand Rapids to be improved have less than four feet at low stage. The project adopted last year is to give relief to light navigation by securing four feet depth of water over shoals, but no money has been expended upon the work. An appropriation of $15,000 is asked to complete the work. AU SABLE HARBOR. The original channel at the mouth of the river was not more than 5 feet in depth at the shoalest part. The project is to afford a channel of entrance of 100 feet in width in the clear, and not less than 10 feet deep. Theofficer in charge expects in a few more season's operatiqns to complete fhe design originally proposed. Tiie amount expended is $47,000 whioh has resulted in securing a channel SO feet wide with a depth of not less thau eight feet. Itequired to complete the' project, $12,000. SEBEWALNG HARBOR. Originally there was no channel trance at this point except for small boat. The project was for a channel 100 f eet wide and six feet deep, but upon the completion oí this work an additional project was submitted for a channel 500 feet wide and seven feet deep, which it is hoped to complete by aidof theexisting appropriation. ICE HARBOP OF REFUE, BELLE RIVER. .a.uer a, survey ot tno Dar ai iae mouth of Belle river, an appropriation óf $7,000 was made for its removal. Belle river is about 140 feet in width and f rom seven to nine feet deop at the lower reaehes, vvhich it is intended to improve. The project adopted in 1 80 is to afford a channel 50 feet. wide, 13 i'eet deep to the flrst bridge, and 12 feet deep to the second. No money has yet been expended on the improvement. JUNISTEE MARBÜR. A narrow channel wit.li not more than eight feet deptb was afforded at tliis harbor by the slab piers bnilt by local enterprise. The present project is to afford a channel at the entrance oí uayigauíe wiuiq unu noi íes uian 12 feet deep. Since the r ment of work, there has been an expenditure oí $185,000, and ;i channel , 170 feet wide and not lesa than nine feet deep has been secured. During i the year there cribs, 50 feet in length, have been added to the north United States pier, and in deepening the channel to 14 feet for a narrow width, to connect vvith the improved rivcr and channel above. Ah appropriation of $40,000 is asked for next year, with the statement that it is proposed to expend it in completing the channel to lull width and 14 feet deep and in pier extensión. The estimated amount required lor the completion of the project is indeterminate. LUDINGTON IIAKBOE. A channel made by local enterpnse it this liarbor was narrow and not more han seven feet in depth. The governnent project is to marease tliis to a lavigable -width and not lesa than 12 [eet deep. There has already been expended in this enterprise s little over 1200,000, resulting in a channel of enIrance of navigable width, and witli a iepth of noc less than 10 feet aloug the axis. The amount tliat can be proQtably expended during the year ending January 80, 1883, is 135,000, which it is intended to apply in general repairs, dredgingthe channel ot' entrance to 12 feet, and in 200 lineal feet oí' pier extensión. PENTWATER HARBOR. When the government first raade a survey of this harbor the channel was , narrow, and not over fonr feet of water . was found in the shoalest part. The ( project adopted in 1866 was íor a chanael of not less tlian 12 feet. Since work ( Qegan there has been expended $172,000, and a channel has been secured 150 ieet wide and of aufficient depth in mid channel to accommodate vessels drawing 9 feet of water. The amount that can be profilably expended is $35,000, which it is intended to use in completing the dredging of the channel to clear 100 feet width, with 12 feet depth, and in 200 feet pier extensión. MUSKKGON HARBOR. Tho original channel at tliia harbor was irregularly deflned by slab piers, which gave fair access, hut a bar just at the pier ends, on which but seven feet of water was found, obstructed the entrance. It is intended to afford a channel entranca of navigable width with the ends of the pier resting in 17 feet poundings over the bar. The amount expended on the work is $151,00. A channel has been secured 186 feet wide an3 13 feet deep for nearly the entire width. For the next year an appropriation of $75,000 is asked, which is to be used in completing the detached section of the north pier to 17 feet depth of water and exfencling the south pier to a correspondí ng distance. BAND HAVEN HABBOK. The outlet of this harbor was wide but shoal, there being only 9 feet of water onthebestcourse. A channel of entrance of 18 feet deep is intended by the government. Up to this year there has been expended $321,000, and a channel has been secured 400 feet wide, with the depth varying from 9 to 23 feet, An appropriation of $125,000 is asked for next year, which will be expended as folio ws: $100,000 in pier extensión and 125,000 in rebuilding and repairing piers and revetraents. There is required for the completiun of the work $300,000.

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Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat