Report on the natural advantages, accompanied with an estimate of the cost of construction, for a harbor at the mouth of Root river, on the west shore of Lake Michigan, in Wiskonsin Territory. The portion of Lake Michigan at the entrance of Root river possesses very decided advantages for a harbor, whether viewed with reference to the wants of the general navigation and commerce upon the lake, or with reference to the pressing and daily increasing wants of the agricultural interests of the southern tier of counties in Wiskonsin, and of the northern part of Illinois. The shore at the mouth of Root river is so much indented, that the site is well protected from the north winds by projecting land, about two miles to the north, called "North Point," and which is composed of hard and durable materials that do not easily wear away by the action of the surf; and the whole bay at Racine is admirably defended from the effects of south and southeast gales by a natural breakwater, consisting of a reef of rocks off the mouth of the river. The northern extremity of this reef bears south-southeast from "North Point," and is distant about two and a half miles; the southern extremity bears east from the light-house, which stands on the projecting point next south of Racine. The greatest width of the reef is, perhaps, half a mile, and its extent must be about a mile and a half. Between the reef and the shore there is a clear and capacious channel of ample depth and width. The effect of this reef in checking the fury of the waves, even in the present high stage of the lake, is very great; and its advantages as a breakwater will be still more effectual, and will be more appreciated, in proportion as the water in the lake shall gradually become (as it undoubtedly will) lower and lower, from year to year, until again attaining to the level of its ordinary stage; which stage, according to the best data that can be obtained on the subject, will be about two feet below the present level. Another beneficial effect of the reef would be to lessen the cost of construction of the inner works of the harbor, inasmuch as they need not be made so strong as would otherwise be necessary to resist the action of the surf from the southeast and east. The entrance of Root river is near the southern limit of the strip of woodland on the west side of Lake Michigan, and all reasonable facilities should be afforded at this point for furnishing fuel for steamers employed in the general commerce upon the lakes. Indeed, for the trip from this point to the southern extremity of the lake, and back, there is no place where a steamer can be readily and advantageously supplied with fuel. The proximity and excellence of the materials, in wood and stone, that would be required for the construction of a harbor at the site in question would make the cost of construction comparatively low; and in the event of suitable works being constructed at the mouth of Root river, the mate rials that abound in the immediate vicinity might be made available at a much less expense than under present circumstances, for constructions tha may be required at other points on the lake south of Racine. There are no stone quarries known near the lake-shore south of the Root-river quarries. All the foregoing facts have a direct application to the general com merce and navigation upon Lake Michigan, and should, therefore, be re garded as so many circumstances of general, rather than local, consider ation. There are, however, some peculiar advantages pertaining to the site at the mouth of Root river, which, although somewhat local, do, nevertheless, have an indirect, if not a direct, bearing upon the general policy of constructing harbors upon the west shore of the lake, and therefore may, with propriety, be stated. The portion of the river just before entering the lake, as will be seen on the map, has such form, depth, and width, as to afford a capacious and very convenient inner basin, at small expense of construction, whenever the business of Racine shall require it; and there is no fear of there ever being depositions to entail an annual expense for dredging to maintain a sufficient depth for the largest craft in such a basin. At the head of navigation of Root river, a few miles above its mouth, there occurs a series of rapids over a limestone bed. These rapids afford water-power, such that, with small investments in improvements, a large amount of business in the manufacturing of flour and lumber might be done; and to which may be added the burning of lime. This is the only water-power of any note within an area of eighty miles in extent and twentyfive miles in width, bordering upon the southwestern shore of the lake. The population of a large portion of the Territory west, southwest, and northwest of Racine, has increased so rapidly, and the products of their industry expended upon this fertile district have become so abundant, that conveniences for shipping the surplus produce, and for landing goods and passengers without risk of destruction from the waves, are very greatly needed. There is another view, which, although of a pecuniary character, may nevertheless, (and perhaps for this very reason should,) operate in a measure upon the question of constructing harbors upon the west side of Lake Michigan, within the Territory of Wiskonsin. There can be no doubt in the mind of one who is conversant with the natural advantages of Wiskonsin and the present dangers of the lake navigation, that the cost of constructing suitable and durable harbors at points that would be adapted to the demands of the general commerce upon the lake would be more than returned to the Treasury of the United States in a very few years, from the consequent in. crease of sales of public lands that would most assuredly follow throughout the whole eastern and southern portions of the Territory. The plan for such a harbor at the mouth of Root river is represented on the accompanying map, and the estimate of its cost of construction is as follows: 1. Raising from present position, removing and depositing at proper places, sand, 1,958 cubic yards, now under a column of water 103 feet deep, at 6 cents per cubic yard-inside Sand, 3,392 cubic yards above water, at 12 cents per cubic yard; 11,572 cubic yards, under a column of water 7 feet deep, at 5 cents per cubic yard-inner bar Sand, 25,440 cubic yards, under a column of water 10 feet deep, at 20 cents per cubic yard; clay, 5,090 cubic yards, under a column of water 13 feet deep, at 50 cents per cubic yard-beyond outer bar $117 48 1,017 60 7,635 00 2. Materials for, and labor in, framing, erecting, and completing 220 running feet pier-work, 6 feet thick, 16 feet high, filled with rammed clay in 14 feet depth of water, at $5 96 per running foot of pier 580 running feet pier-work, 18 feet thick, 16 feet high, filled with stone in 14 feet depth of water, at $20 53 per running foot of pier $1,311 20 11,907 40 295 running feet pier-work, 24 feet thick, 18 feet high, filled with stone in 14 feet depth of water, at $29 10 per running foot of pier 8,584 50 Kyanizing all the wood that would be exposed to decay in the pier 3. Repairs and use of a Government steam dredge 3,000 00 One new pile driver 2,500 00 900 00 3,000 00 45,871 28 2,752 28 Repairs and use of 6 Government scows Office, blacksmith's shop, carpenter's shop, tools and stable 4. Superintendence and contingencies, 6 per cent. To insure stability in the pier-work, it has been supposed in the foregoing estimate that it would be necessary to excavate, so as to allow the piers, throughout their entire length, to rest on a foundation of clay 14 feet below the present level of the lake. It is also supposed in the estimate that the whole area represented in the map between the piers shall be dredged to a depth of 14 feet: it being presumed that the lake will fall to its ordinary stage. The harbor would then be left with 12 feet depth of water everywhere between the piers. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect, your most obedient servant, THO. JEFFERSON CRAM, Captain Topographical Engineers. February, 1840. To J. J. ABERT, Colonel Topographical Engineers. Report on survey and cost of constructing harbors at the mouth of Pike river, and at the mouths of Pike creek, on the west shore of Lake Michigan, in Wiskonsin Territory. From the general tenor of the petition of certain individuals to the Colonel of the Topographical Engineer Corps, asking for an examination of the relative merits of the mouths of Pike river and Pike creek for the location of a harbor, &c., it was inferred that the petitioners desired such an examination as would serve to test the relative advantages of both sites, not only with reference to the immediate wants of the adjacent country, but also with reference to the general commerce upon the lake. In order to make such a comparison, and with a view to embrace all the circumstances which should be allowed to induce an undertaking so im portant as the construction of a harbor, it was found necessary to make a critical survey of not only the mouth of Pike river, but also of both mouths of Pike creek; three points, therefore, become involved in the general question of comparison. These three points are represented on the accompanying maps; and for the sake of brevity in discussing their relative merits, the mouth of Pike iver will be designated by the letter A; the north mouth of Pike creek by the letter N; and the south mouth of Pike creek by the letter S as represented on the maps. Advantages of outer harbor.-The portion of the lake which embraces the points A, N, S, is not more than about one mile in extent, and is not well provided with projecting land to the north and south to afford protecion to vessels approaching either of the said points. There is, however, a projecting point on the north, which undoubtedly affords some defence to il three mouths against a north wind; affording less to S than to N, and rost to A. In no other respect has nature provided any feature in the cinity which can be properly regarded as forming an outer harbor. The force of the surf is so great at all three points that it would be Decessary to construct the piers of greater thickness and height than at any sther site for a harbor in contemplation on the Wiskonsin shore of the lake, n order to resist the fury of the waves produced by winds from the northeast, east, southeast, and south. The cost of construction at A, N, and S, would therefore be proportionably enhanced; and in respect to that portion of the cost of construction which would depend upon the thickness and height of the piers, neither point possesses any advantage over the other. But with reference to materials: a given quantity of stone would cost about more at N and S, than at A, owing to the increased distance of transportation. In all other respects the cost of a given quantity of materials would be the same for all three points, A, N, S. Characters of the streams.-Pike river holds a greater depth for a disance higher up than Pike creek; and the former would afford some facilties for transporting wood and timber to the lake, which ought to be regarded as a matter of some consequence, and particularly to the steamers tgaged in the general commerce upon the lake. The business in furnishng fuel and timber, however, can never be great in the vicinity of Pike ver or of Pike creek, owing to the small quantity of the commodity; so Eat steamers could only receive supplies of fuel for a few years at most. Although there is a sufficient depth of water for some distance up Pike nver, still the stream is so crooked that no craft, excepting scows, would be Ekely to encounter the task of ascending, without stronger inducements fan have yet been discovered along the very few miles of that portion of the stream which holds deep water. Pike creek can only be ascended, even with a scow, for perhaps a mile above the point where the bridge is indicated on the map. Advantages for an inner harbor.-It will be seen, from the map, that, by constructing works at N and S, an excellent inner harbor would be ob tained in Pike creek; and, in this respect, Pike creek has decided advanta ges over Pike river. Indeed, a better inner harbor could be made by only Constructing works at S, than could be obtained by a construction at A. The island represented between the two mouths of Pike creek has been considerably worn away during the high stage of the lake for the last few Fears. According to all appearances, however, the lake is returning to its ordinary level, and it may be reasonably expected that the injury to th island will partially cease in proportion as the lake shall become lower. A the island rests upon a substratum of clay, it may be protected from furthe injury by a proper construction of sheet piling, which measure should b taken to secure all the advantages which naturally pertain to Pike creek fo an interior harbor. Immediate wants of the adjacent country.-It is apparent that the gen eral benefit that would accrue to the agricultural interests of the neighborin district, for a large number of square miles in area, would be very nearly th same, whether the work be located either at A, N, or S. It should be said however, that there is, about the south mouth of Pike creek, a flourishin village, where all the business coming from the back country to this part the lake now centres; and, although it is not presumable that a harbo would be constructed for the mere accommodation of a village, it may, ne ertheless, be proper to advert to the statistical condition of the village abou S, where there are nearly 300 inhabitants, and from 70 to 80 buildings; an where, during the year 1839, there were 298 arrivals and departures of ve sels, which landed 850 tons of merchandise and household goods, 600 lumber and shingles, 1,300 barrels of salt, and a large number of passenger About the point A no business of any consequence is being done; the are but a very few buildings, and but a very small number of inhabitan In reference to capital invested, actual business, and number of inhab ants, the point S has greatly the advantage over A. PLANS AND COST OF CONSTRUCTION. The plans are all represented on the maps at the respective points, a the estimates of the cost of construction are as follows: 1. Estimate of cost of construction at A, (mouth of Pike river.) 1. Raising from present position, removing, and depositing in proper place Mud, 11,914 cubic yards, from under water 81 feet deep, at 4 cents; a 5,075 cubic yards from under water 10 feet deep, at 5 cents-insi inner bar Sand, 3,236 cubic yards, from above water, at 12 cents; and 11,020 cubic yards, from under water 5 feet deep, at 4 cents; and 3,005 cubic yards of clay from under water 12 feet deep, at 30 cents-inner bar Clay, 16.104 cubic yards, from under water 11 feet deep, at Clay, 9,232 cubic yards, from under water 12 feet deep, at 50 cents-under and beyond outer bar 2. Materials for, and labor in framing, erecting, and completing: 600 running feet pier-work, 6 thick and 16 high, filled with rammed clay, in 14 feet water, at $6 50 1,050 running feet pier-work, 24 thick and 18 high, filled with stone, in 14 feet water, at $40 07 $730 1,746 5,636 382 4,616 3. Kyanizing all the wood that would be exposed to decay in the pier 3,900 42,073 9,939 |