§: f [IIIIIIIIIII.Immmmmmmmmmmm IIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTITUITTRÆÐIRITTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!„iſ Err№S (º: № ||||IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIĮĮĶĶĹ№§§ ·Ķ {■ !. º ſ: & º Ǻ º º tº Jº My My Nº & ºj∞ %s. £ Ē ## £ €). ! != ! ± W HE ! E ſ 2- º №. ſ ≡ ſ E. ſ := 0 ≡ u º £ € ſ :=) £ € ſ H @ : • E {} ); , ## № E ſ ≡ ſ ≡ № E ! № ! 5 U №. 0 £ Œ œ § 2 ! ± £ € 0 : e :-) G ## № œ Œ £ € ſ= ¡E ! Fi [] № ſ ≡ № ſ. № () Ë §3 Wºº. Nº Za'ata', Aſſſ!!!!!!!!!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII||I||I||I|[}}]] *…!!!”,: ſae ſae º| át, atſj:*0 ،… * <!--w: il 59TH CoNGRESS, } HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. } DOCUMENT 2d Session. No. 266. ** -*-- - ſº w %) * S Af €c i- K3, 23 (.3 9–42.2 * Q.”-3 t º \; * | X----' … ."*~ ^_Q Q * 2: # \ . \ SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. T. E. T. T. E. R. FROM THE SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OR ENGINEERs, REPORTs of FXAMINATION AND STUIRVEY OF SEIIR CHANNEL CONNECTING: WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. DECEMBER 11, 1906.—Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed. WAR DEPARTMENT, |Washington, December 6, 1906. SIR: I have the honor to transmit here with a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, dated 15th ultimo, together with copies of reports from Col. Charles E. L. B. Davis, Corps of Engineers, dated April 10, 1905, and January 12, 1906, with maps, of a prelimi- nary examination and survey, respectively, of ship channel connecting waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905. Very respectfully, WM. H. TAFT, - Secretary of War. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVEs. WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF of ENGINEERs, Washington, November 15, 1006. SIR: Under authority conferred by joint resolution of Congress approved June 30, 1906, I have the honor to submit here with for transmission to the Public Printer reports of April 10, 1905. and January 12, 1906, with maps, by Col. Charles E. L. B. Davis, Corps. AS H D–59—2—Vol 50—12 Transportation Library T-6 2 SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. *23,30f Engineers, upon preliminary examination and Survey, respec- .A45 | 3 Oſo tively, authorized by the river and harbor act of March 3, 1905, of - Ship channel connecting waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, with a view to obtaining depths of twenty-two and twenty-five feet, respectively, and sufficient width. - These reports have been referred, as required by law, for consider- ation and recommendation by the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is respectfully invited to the conclusions of the Board in its final report of November 5, 1906, also herewith, as follows: : The Board concurs with the district officer and the division engineer in the Opinion that the obtaining of either 22 or 25 feet navigation in the Great Lakes should be deferred until it is plainly shown that a safe and reliable 20-foot Channel is not equal to the necessities of lake commerce. The Board also considers the present authorized channel in lower Detroit River inadequate in width, and is of the Opinion that the auxiliary channel recommended in the lower Detroit River is warranted by the existing navigation and is preferable to a widening of the existing channel, notwithstanding the increased cost of the former, and for the reasons stated within agrees with the district officer that the depth should be 22 feet. - The Board therefore recommends the adoption of a project for an auxiliary channel in the Detroit River 22 feet deep, conforming approximately to the gen- eral outlines shown as plan B, east route, the cost of which is estimated by the district officer at $6,670,950. While, therefore, the recommendations as outlined above are against the construction for the present of either a 22-foot or a 25- foot channel in its entirety, they are in favor of providing now a por- tion of the 22-foot channel, namely, that portion lying within the lower Detroit River, and to this extent are favorable to the project of which Congress directed the examination. I concur in the views expressed in this report. Very respectfully, A. MACKENZIE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army The SECRETARY OF WAR. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES BETWEEN CHICAGO, DULUTH, AND BUFFALO. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Detroit, Mich., April 10, 1905. GENERAL: The act of Congress approved March 3, 1905, “making appropriations for the construction, repair, and preservation of cer. tain public works on rivers and harbors, and for other purposes,” provides in Section 9 for making a preliminary examinatiºn at the following locality: * MICHIGAN, Ship channel connecting waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, with a view to obtaining depths of twenty-two and twenty-five feet, respectively, and sufficient width. The duty of making this preliminary examination having been assigned to me by Department letter of March 16, 1905, I have the honor to submit the following report: Cº-º-º: t_c^*_ ſ Č. 2. **** 2 y- **** SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 3 The present project for the improvement of the ship channel connecting the waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo was adopted by the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, and calls for a navigable depth of 20 feet and a minimum width of 300 feet, at an estimated cost of $3,340,000, all of which money has been appropriated. Congress by act of March 3, 1899, called for a depth of 21 feet in St. Marys River and in the Detroit River, and reports upon these projects were submitted December 3, 1904, and November 22, 1904, and were printed in House Documents Nos. 215 and 40, Fifty- eighth Congress, third session, respectively, and call for increased estimates of $4,410,000 and $2,000,000 over the estimates of the pre- liminary reports of $5,750,000 and $1,750,000. Congress has therefore seen fit to Sanction projects for obtaining 21 feet at those two localities at a total estimated ultimate cost of $14,000,000. The only portion of the ship channel not yet provided for under the depth of 21 feet is the stretch covering Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, and the lower end of Lake Huron. As to the character of the commerce, the tendency is toward larger and larger steam freighters, nine new vessels being put in commission for the Lake Superior trade last year, ranging from 245 to 560 feet in length, and designed for an economical speed of 12 miles per hour on a draft of 19 to 21 feet. Twenty-four freighters, to carry from 6,000 to 10,000 tons each, are now under contract for delivery this season, and contracts have already been made for the construction of six 10,000-ton boats, to be put in commission next season. The towing of barges seems to be on the decline. As to value of the commerce, it amounted last year to nearly $450,000,000. ğ. It would therefore seem that the projects called for are worthy of being undertaken by the Government provided they can be accom- plished within reasonable limits, which can only be determined by careful estimates. As stated in letter" of March 29, 1905, returned by indorsement a of April 3, 1905, there are three places on the route of the ship channel where the depths are less than those called for in the act, viz: (1) The mouth of the Detroit River; (2) Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River, and the lower end of Lake Huron, and (3) the St. Marys River. At the first and third localities there are data enough at hand to enable this office to make estimates of the cost of obtaining 22 and 25 feet, respectively, and a channel of sufficient width. At the Second locality a careful survey will have to be made. From . the 25-foot depth in Lake Huron to the lower end of Lake St. Clair is about 60 miles, and of this stretch of water about 18} miles will have to be carefully sounded and examined with the sweeping bar, which will take about ninety days, at an estimated cost of $5,000. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAs. E. L. B. DAVIs, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers. Brig. Gen. A. MACKENZIE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. a Not printed. 4 SETIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. [Second indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORs, Washington, D. C., April 20, 1905. A Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States rmy. * * * The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors has given careful consideration to the within report of the district officer on the subject of a preliminary examination of “ship channel connect- ing waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, with a view to obtaining depths of twenty-two and twenty-five feet, respectively, and sufficient width,” and to such other data as are available. The original project for this waterway, which provides for a depth of 20 feet, has been completed. In the act of June 13, 1902, Congress provided for a depth of 21 feet for two sections of this channel, viz, St. Marys River and Detroit River, which work is in progress. The commerce using this channel is enormous, amounting in 1903 to about 34,000,000 tons, valued at $450,000,000. This commerce has been steadily increasing for years, and there is every indication that it has not reached its full development. The vessels transporting this commerce have been increasing in size until now there are a number in use and others building of a draft fully equal to that of the channels now being provided. It is believed that if a channel of greater depth than is pro- vided for by existing projects were secured, the draft and capacity of the vessels using it would be correspondingly increased. It should be mentioned that the depth being provided at the more important lake harbors under present projects is 20 feet and that a reconsideration of all such projects as to depth would necessarily follow any provision for a deepening of connecting waterways as contemplated by the act. In view, however, of the great magnitude of the commerce in- volved, the Board believes that a determination of the cost of in- creased depths, as required by the act, is warranted, and it con- curs in the recommendation of the district engineer that a survey be authorized at an estimated cost of $5,000. - For the Board: R. L. Hox1F, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers, Senior Member Present. [Third indorsement.] * WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERs, TWashington, April 26, 1905. Respectfully submitted to the Secretary of War. This is a report on preliminary examination of ship channel con- necting waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, with a view to obtaining increased depths for navigation, act of March 3, 1905. Inviting attention to the report of the Board of Engineers for SHIP CHANNEL connecTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 5 Rivers and Harbors in the preceding indorsement, I, recommend that a survey of the locality, as proposed, be authorized. A. MACKENZIE, Brig. Gen., Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. [Fourth indorsement.] WAR DEPARTMENT, April 27, 1905. Approved as recommended by the Chief of Engineers in the preceding indorsement. ROBERT SHAw OLIVER, Assistant Secretary of War. SURVEY OF SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES BETWEEN CHICAGO, DULUTH, AND BUFFALO. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, Detroit, Mich., January 12, 1906. GENERAL: 1. In accordance with instructions contained in De- partment letter of May 2, 1905, I have the honor to submit the following report and estimates of cost of a- Ship channel connecting waters of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, with a view to obtaining depths of twenty-two and twenty-five feet, respectively, and sufficient width. 2. The present project for a ship channel through the connecting waters of the Great Lakes was adopted by the river and harbor act of July 13, 1892, the object being to provide a navigable depth of 20 feet by excavating channels to a minimum width of 300 feet through the shoal places in the specified waters, at an estimated cost of $3,340,000, the scope of improvement being limited to shoals not specifically provided for by the then existing appropriations— that is, the appropriations made specifically for improving the chan- nels in St. Marys River, St. Clair Flats Canal, and Detroit River. 3. Under approval of the War Department, dated October 20, 1892, operations were commenced in the spring of 1893 and by 1897 channels of the prescribed depth of 20 feet and widths of 300 feet or more had been excavated through all the shoal areas originally speci- fied in the project. Since 1898 the work has consisted in increasing the width and depth of channels at angles, some exposed places in the open lake, and other critical points, and in removing many isolated shoals of comparatively small area that have been found to inter- fere with the safe navigation of the channel by the larger class of ves- sels now in use. PLANES OF REFERENCE. 4. At the time of the adoption of this project certain planes of reference were adopted for the various portions of the connecting waters referred to mean tide level at New York expressed in feet above that level. For the ten years between 1892 and 1902 the prevailing water levels of Lakes Huron, St. Clair, and Erie had been almost continually below the assumed elevations, and in consequence the 6 SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. actual draft available was considerably below the 20 feet called for by the project. 5. For this reason Maj. W. H. Bixby, Corps of Engineers, then in charge of this district, in his project of October 13, 1902, for the im- provement of Middle and West Neebish channels, recommended cer- tain changes in these reference planes which received the approval of the Secretary of War October 31, 1902, and which have been used in the estimates. 6. These reference planes are as follows: 601.5 for Lake Superior, 580.2 at head of Little Rapids, 579.3 through Hay Lake, 578.9 in Little Mud Lake, 578.8 at Sailors Encampment, in Mud Lake, and Iake Huron. Such levels correspond to 573.8 in Lake St. Clair (head of canal) and 570.8 in Lake Erie, these being the monthly means of November, 1895, when the three lakes taken together were at their lowest since 1860, when the records of Lakes Michigan and Huron were commenced. LOCALITIES REQUIRING IMPROVEMENT. 7. Maps accompanying this report show the localities where deep- ening will be required to obtain the suggested depths of 22 and 25 feet. Map No. 1 is an outline map of the lakes, showing the vessel routes between Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, the places requiring dredging being marked by rectangles called maps; No. 2 being St. Marys River; No. 3 showing the lower end of Lake Huron, the St. Clair River and Lake; No. 4, the lower Detroit River, and No. 5, the western portion of the channel between Lakes Huron and Michi- gan, where there are shoals in Grays reef passage. These maps are shown on a larger scale by drawings marked to correspond to the numbers of the rectangles. ST. MARYS RIVER, 8. On the completion of the project now being carried out there will be a single channel of at least 600 feet in width, excepting in the ship canal from Round Island shoals to deep water in Hay Lake. Toward the lower end of Hay Lake the channel divides into two 300-foot channels, one by the way of Middle Neebish and the other by way of West Neebish Rapids. The least depth of water in these channels will be 21 feet referred to low-water stage, except in the exposed Round Island shoals section, where a depth of 23 feet has been made. 9. The new projects called for consist in improving the above chan- nels by increasing the depth 1, foot and 4 feet, respectively, over the dredged areas and all the additional areas lying between the 21-foot contour and the 22-foot and 25-foot contours. 10. The dredging done under recent contracts has demonstrated the fact that the material on many of the sections becomes much harder as the depth increases, and in several places will in all proba- º reach bed rock, exclusive of the places already known to be SUIC:{l. 11. The estimated prices were made after giving consideration to the prices paid on previous contracts, the large areas covered, and the increased hardness of the material. t SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 7 12. The Gros Cap reefs in the upper entrance to the St. Marys River have a sufficient depth of water over them for a depth of 22 feet on the line of the present navigable channel and will require no excavation, but for the greater depth of 25 feet a large quantity of granite rock in situ would have to be removed and, on account of the very exposed locality, at great expense, the estimate being 1,000,000 cubic yards, at $2.50 per yard, amounting to $2,500,000. 13. In order to avoid this excessive cost I have shifted the sailing course to the westward of the 27-foot contour surrounding the shoals, necessitating, of course, the shifting of the range lights near Birch Point. This change will require the removal of 6,000 cubic yards of gravel and clay from Point Iroquois shoals, which, at $1 per yard, will amount to $6,000. 14. The following table shows the estimated quantities and cost for the two channels of 22 feet and 25 feet, respectively: Estimates of quantities and cost of 22 and 25 foot channels. Quantity. COSt. Locality. 22-foot. 25-foot. 22-foot. 25-foot. Cubic yas. Cubic yds. A. Point Iroquois Shoal.--------------------------------- 0 6,000 $0 $6,000 B Round T land shoal No. 1 --------------------------- 100,000 330, 000 || || 50, 000 132,000 C. Round Island Shoal No. 2 --------------------------- 142,850 470, 000 100, 000 305, 500 D Vidal Shoals----------------------------------------- 66, 666 230,000 fiſ’, (100 2ö4, 500 E. Canal approaches ----------------------------------- 67,000 380,000 100,000 5,70, 000 F. Lock deepening ------------------------------------- 0 0 250,000 oš,600,000 G. Shoals between locks and entrance to Hay Lake- - - 67,000 280,000 20,000 S-4, 300 H. Bayfield Shoal.--------------------------------------- 20,000 60,000 15,000 39,000 I. From upper entrance to 22 and 25 foot contour in Hay Lake ----------------------------------------- 1,150,000 || 3,550,000 250,000 674,500 J. Ninemile Point Shoal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 50,000 207,000 50,000 207,000 K. 22 and 25 foot contour, Hay Lake to angle Middle Neebish---------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - 250,000 750,000 43,000 120,000 L. Middle Neebish ------------------------------------- 166, ſ(0 650,000 | . 375,000 1,202,500 M. Little Mud Lake ------...---.'----------------------- 394,000 b260,000 85,000 277,200 N. Sailors Encampment -------------------------------. 78,000 230,000 175,000 437,000 O. Section 4, Mud Lake -------------------------------- Q: , 060 360, tº) 24,000 517, 500 P. Courses 4 and 5 -------------------------------------- 530. (R)0 1,600,000 90, 000 240,000 Q. West Neebish ---------------------------------------- 143, (k)0 c 595,000 357,000 1,005, 000 R. Courses 7 and 8-------------------------------------- 345,000 | 1,473,000 62,000 235, 680 S. Isolated shoals from Mud Lake to Lake Huron - - - - - - 48,000 175,000 48,000 175,000 Total estimated cost ----------------------------------------------------- 2, 144,000 || 10,092,380 Add 15 per cent for engineering and contingencies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32], 600 1, 513, S57 Total for project--------------------------------------------------------- 2,465,000 : 11,606,237 * i * In the case of the 25-foot channel this item would require a new lock. * 90,000 cubic yards of rock, the rest earth. • 480,000 cubic yards of rock, the rest earth. 15. The fact that before one project has been completed another calling for a greater depth of water has been adopted has kept the channels in question constantly undergoing improvement for many years, so but little experience has been obtained on which to base an estimate of the cost of maintaining the channels. The rock cuttings are of course permanent; but the Submarine blasting leaves many fragments on the bottom which, unless picked up, gather together into mounds and require removal. The repairs to the dikes at the Middle Neebish and Little Rapids have amounted to $10,000 since Hay Lake channel was opened, and the dike at the Middle Neebish will need another $5,000 during the year. The total cost of maintenance during the ten years that the Hay Lake ** 8 SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. channel has been open is $20,450, the yearly average $2,045. Basing an estimate on past experience and probable future conditions, $10,000 would apparently furnish an ample annual allowance for the maintenance of either the 22-foot or 25-foot channel. FROM LARE FIURON TO HEAD OF DETROIT RIVER, 16. There are two principal shoals in this stretch where deepening will be necessary. One is at the lower end of Lake Huron, extend- ing from a point a mile above Point Edward range lights northward for about 4 miles. The estimates through this shoal have been made for a width of 1,200 feet. 17. The other shoal is in Lake St. Clair, and extends from the upper end of the St. Clair Flats Canal entirely through Lake St. Clair to a mile above Windmill Point, and includes the canal and the Grossepoint cut. This shoal is 17 miles long, and the estimates have been made for a cut 800 feet wide. 18. In addition to these two principal shoals there are seven points in the St. Clair River where some improvement is necessary. The estimates for these points have been made for a minimum width of 600 feet. 19. The original project was for a ship channel 20 and 21 feet deep, the former depth where excavated through soft material and the latter in rock bottom or through bowlder shoals. PLANES OF REFERENCE. 20. In the project a of Maj. W. H. Bixby for the expenditure of funds for the improvement of the ship channel, dated October 3, 1902, and approved October 16, 1902, he states that the navigable conditions have changed, the mean levels of Lakes Huron and Erie having dropped 1.5 feet. He discusses the subject at some length, and, adopting 578.8 for Lakes Michigan and Huron, he suggests subplanes of reference at intermediate points, as follows: Foot of Lake Huron, 578.8; Port Huron lower bend and middle ground, 577.5; Stag Island, 576.5; St. Clair middle ground, 576.1; Squirrel Island, 574.3; head of St. Clair Flats Canal, 574; foot of St. Clair Flats Canal, 573.8; middle of Lake St. Clair, 573.8; Grossepoint, 573.6, and foot of Detroit River, 570.8. For reasons stated these new reference planes were not then proposed for use, but the state- ment was made that they would have to be adopted later on. 21. The planes of reference suggested by Major Bixby are hereby recommended for adoption, and have been used in the computations for the required deepening in the stretch of water between Lake Huron and the Detroit River, so as to conform to the planes already adopted in the other reaches of the ship channel. a Not printed. SEIIP CEIANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 9 22. The following table shows the estimated quantities and cost for the two channels of 22 feet and 25 feet, respectively: Quantity. Locality. 22-foot 25-foot channel. channel. Cubic yards. Cubic yards. Lower end of Lake Huron..............--------------------------------------. 1, 511,000 4, 644,000 Opposite Black River---------------------------------------------------------- 73,000 441,000 Near Stag Island--------------------------------------------------------------- 88, 000 283,000 Near Village of St. Clair-------------------------------------------------------- 29,000 178,000 Fawn Island------------------------------------------------------------------ 23,000 200,000 Russell Island --------------------------------------------------------------- 34,000 116,000 Squirrel Island ---------------------------------------------------------------- 19,000 100,000 Southeast bend ---------------------------------------------------------------- 63,000 200,000 Lake St. Clair------------------------------------------------------------------ 8,665,000 16,251,000 Total.-------------------------------------------------------------------. 10, 505,000 || 22,413,000 Assuming the cost of excavation per cubic yard as 12 cents for Lake Huron and 10 cents in St. Clair River and Lake, the total of the two channels will be, for a 22-foot channel $1,080,720, for a 25-foot channel $2,334,180. - 23. The cost of maintenance of a 22-foot and 25-foot channel would probably not differ materially from that for a 20-foot channel. There has been but little filling in generally, but there are three points where the channel does not seem to be stable, viz, opposite the mouth of Black River, Squirrel Island, and the lower approach to the St. Clair Flats Canal. The annual filling in at these three points has not exceeded 30,000 cubic yards, with a cost of $3,000 for removal, So that $5,000 would probably suffice for annual maintenance of either of the new channels. DETROIT RIVER, 24. An estimate has been made for deepening the present channel to depths of 22 feet and 25 feet, respectively. Should such deepening be undertaken in this channel, navigation will necessarily be re- stricted to 300 feet width—one-half of the channel—while the work is in progress, which will mean for a period of from six to eight years. During this time, with the constantly increasing volume of traffic, much damage will be done by vessels, striking obstructions thrown up by submarine blasting and by collisions due to vessels 500 to 600 feet in length navigating this restricted waterway in a current at times from 2 to 4 miles per hour, collisions which may at any time entirely block the channel and suspend traffic until the wrecks can be cleared. The cost to the vessel interests of one such blockade for a period of ten days would not be much less than the difference in cost between that of a deeper channel through the present route and that of an entirely new channel of the same depth at some other locality. 25. For this reason I have had estimates made for channels of the two depths called for in the act at three other localities and have designated the four routes as plans A, B, C, and D. Plan A is the present channel through the Limekiln Crossing, B to the eastward of Stony Island, D to the westward of Stony Island, and C entirely in American waters. .” 10 SEIIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 26. The following tables show the estimated quantities of material and cost of deepening to the required depths on the four routes above mentioned: IMPROVING DETROIT RIVER, PLAN A. Estimate of quantities and cost of 22 and 25 foot chammel. Quantity. COSt. Ločality. 22-foot. 25-foot. 22-foot. 25-foot. - - Cubic yas. Cubic yds. Grosse Isle South Channel range----------------------. 520,000 | 1,340,000 || $1,317,500 $3,975,000 Limekiln Crossing------------------------------------ 502,000 847,000 599, 300 1,387,500 Amherstburg Teach----------------------------------- 105,000 479,000 240,000 1,338,750 Hackett range ---------------------------------------- 515,000 | 1,588,000 295,000 1,482,250 Bar Point Shoals. ------------------------------------- 1, 309,000 2,825,000 654, 500 1, 130,000 East route -------------------------------------------- I, 120,000 || 2,640,000 560,000 | 1,056,000 West route -------------------------------------------- 2,318,000 || 4,434,000 | 1,738,500 2,660,400 Removal of isolated Shoals ---------------------------|------------|------------ 75,000 150,000 Total Via east route ------------------------------------------------------ 3,741,300 | 10,519, 500 Plus 10 per cent for engineering and contingencies - - - - - - - - - - - - - -............. 374,130 1,051,950 Total cost ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4, 115,430 11, 571,450 Total Via West route ----------------------------------------------------- 4,919,800 | 12,123,900 Plus 10 per cent for engineering and contingencies ....................... ---. 491,980 1,212,390 Total cost--------------------------------------------------------------->| 5,411,780 | 13,836,290 PLAN A Quantity. COSt. Locality. 22-foot. 25-foot, 22-foot. 25-foot. Erom Grosse Isle south channel range to Detroit Cubic yds. | Cubic yds. - River light-house ----------------------------------- 6,294,000 || 9, 269,000 || $5,504,500 $8,093, 200 East route--------------------------------------------- 1, 120,000 | 2,640,000 1,056,000 Otal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6,064,500 9, 149, 200 Plus 10 per cent for engineering aſid Contingencies - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 606,450 914,920 Total cost ---------------------------------------------------------------- 6, 670,950 | 10,064, 120 PLAN ID * Quantity. COSt. Locality. 22-foot. 25-foot. 22-foot. 25-foot. Cubic yds, Cubic yds. Course 1----------------------------------------------- 2,678,000 || 3, 166,000 || $2,671,000 || $3,329,000 Course 2----------------------------------------------- 7, 588,000 || 10, 206,000 5,237, 700 7,964,400 Bast route--------------------------------------------- 1, 120,000 || 2,640,000 560,000 | 1,056,000 Otal- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,468,700 | 12, 349, 400 Plus 10 per cent for engineering and contingencies ... ----. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 846,870 1,234,940 Total cost ----------------------- .… --------- 9,315, 570 | 13, 584,340 |SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. PLAN C. 11 Estimate of quantities and cost of 22 and 25 foot channel—Continued. Quantity. COSt. Locality. 22-foot. 25-foot. 22-foot. 25-foot. - Cubic yas. | Cubic yds. Course 1----------------------------------------------- 1, 162,000 1,432,000 $154, 280 $189,770 Courses 2 and 3 --------------------------------------- 220,000 400,000 9, 500 103, 500 Course 4----------------, ------------------------------ 42, 520 130,720 13, (Jö0 49,830 Course 5----------------------------------------------- 760,000 | 1, 103,400 906, 750 1,616, 260 Course 6----------------------------------------------- 1,018,000 | 1,288,800 | 1,754,600 2, 201, 950 Course 7----------------------------------------------- 311,900 415,600 389,050 586,950 Course 8----------------------------------------------- 5,693, 500 7,714,000 || 3,072,860 4,339, 340 East route--------------------------------------------- 1, 120,000 2,640,000 560,000 1,056,000 otal.--------------------------------------------------------------------- 6,900, 100 10,143,600 Plus 10 per cent for engineering and contingencies............... ** - - - - - - - - - - - 690,010 1,014, 360 Total cost ---------------------------------------------------------------- 7, 590, 110 || 11,157,960 27. Careful soundings taken in Lake Erie to the southward of the Detroit River light-house revealed the fact that the 22-foot and 25- foot contours made a detour up to the northward and eastward, thus considerably shortening the distance to those depths and in conse- Quence the estimates have been made on the shorter route, as well as in continuation of the present channel through the Bar Point shoals, and these two routes have been designated on the chart and in the tables as east route and west route. 28. For the past thirty years there have been dredging operations going on at the mouth of the Detroit River, and although the nomi- rial width has been ample for the purposes of navigation, one-half of this width has been taken up for a considerable distance by the dredges and drilling plants, and particularly has this been the case at the Limekiln Crossing, where the channel is crooked and the bottom rocky. It has therefore seemed best to me to let the work on plan A be completed on the lines of the present project and then turn it over to commerce, when for the first time since improvement started this channel will be available for its entire width. If the new channel, plan B, east route, be excavated to a depth of 22 feet and a width of 300 feet out to Bar Point and a width of 800 feet thence to deep water in Lake Erie, the cost will be $6,670,950, or $2,555,520 more than deepening plan A, east route, to 22 feet, and it will have the very eat advantage that it can be excavated as a whole and completed the full width with no interruption from passing vessels and turned over to the use of navigation in from four to five years and then be used for down-bound vessels only, the A channel to be used for up- bound craft, thus lessening very materially the dangers of a blockade resulting from a collision, while in the event of a collision in either channel the other may be used temporarily by vessels going in both directions during the removal of the obstruction in the blockaded channel. 29. Channel B is preferred to channel D because it has no turn at the upper end, and is $2,644,620 cheaper. Channel C is entirely in American waters and would no doubt be very acceptable to local in- terests, but as an examination of the chart will show, it has many 12 SHIP CHANNEL connecTING WATERS of THE GREAT LAKES. turns and will require numerous range lights and besides has the great disadvantage of being crossed by a railroad drawbridge between Slocums Island and Grosse Isle. BETWEEN LARES HURON AND MICHIGAN. 30. The only part of Lake Michigan which would have to be im- proved to give a clear depth of 22 and 25 feet is the channel between Waugoshance light-house and the Grays reef light vessel called the “Grays reef passage.” This passage is used by vessels plying between lower Lake Michigan and Lakes Huron and Superior. There are some scattered shoals in this passage with a least depth of 20.8 feet at a Lake Michigan stage of 578.8 feet. On account of heavy seas during storms these shoals should be removed to a depth of 24 feet for the 22-foot channel and 27 feet for the 25-foot channel, with a width in each case of 2,000 feet. - 31. The material to be removed consists mainly of clay, gravel, and bowlders. The approximate quantities and cost for removal are as follows: 22-foot channel : 25,740 cubic yards, at $3 25-foot channel : 170,600 cubic yards, at $2.50 $77,220 426, 500 IMPORTANCE OF THE SHIP CHANNEL. 32. The tonnage through the Sault Canal this year reached a total of 44,270,680, or an increase over last year of 40 per cent. The maximum tonnage previously reported was 35,961,146 in 1902. The increase in the ore traffic is very large, 60 per cent more ore being car- ried down the lakes from Lake Superior than last year. The wheat traffic also showed an increase of 37 per cent. 33. The chief items for this year were: Passages, 21,679; passen- gers, 54,204; hard coal, 984,701 tons; soft coal, 5,524,355 tons; flour, 5,772,719 barrels; wheat, 68,321,288 bushels; other grain, 39,299,553 bushels; iron ore, 31,332,637 tons; lumber, 966,806,000 feet. 34. The total amount of tonnage at the Sault Canal is about 77 per cent of the Detroit River tonnage. This would make the total tonnage passing through the river in round numbers 58,000,000, and, using last year's figure of $10.60 per ton, the value of freight pass- ing through the canal, we have for the total valuation of the Detroit River commercé $614,800,000. 35. RECAPITULATION. Locality. 22 feet. 25 feet. St. Marys River......... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $2,465,600 || $11,606,237 Lake Huron to Detroit River -----------------------------------------...------ 1,080,720 2,334, 180 Detroit River, plan A, east route........... * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4, 115,430 11,571,450 Grays reef passage------------------------------------------------------------- 77,220 426,500 Total--------------------------------------------------------------------- 7,738,970 25,938,367 36. To the above totals must be added the cost of deepening the harbors mentioned in the act, viz, Chicago, Duluth, and Buffalo, where the present available depth is only about 20 feet, while the following table of iron ore receipts in gross tons at Lake Erie ports T o lo 20 - R sº O ſº l- /* sº º - \ .##" .” CHART OF THE N. #" rº A. \ o NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN LAKES. O 'N - © O To accompany report of Colonel Chas.E.L.B DAVIS dated º, January 12, 1906, fora Ship Channel connecting waters * & of the Great Lakes between Chicago, Duluth and Buffalo, <- C with a view to obtaining depth of 22and 25ft.respectively. and sufficient width. | O * >< * O AWOTE `-- The genero/ course used by vessels is shown ſhus------- `ss, * Mapsw:234and 5the location of which are indicated `----, by heavy outlines, show that part of the Ship Channe/ º ~ CŞ which would have ſo be improved to give a cleardepth 'N \, , ºf of 22 and 25 feef. 'N M. x{ O 'N, % &Map Nº. 2 o \\ Yº Aſ ſ \\ T A --- § *º- R Y .*.*. \, \. \ I s C O N S I N / l > / \ / ! R / : f y s: /* 5 s Chicago tº i | Scale of Sfafufe Miles | I N D I A. N A O 30 40 50 60 zo 80 30 ão |M|| L.E.S. | O i H I | TH.E. MoRRIs PETERs co., wash ingron, D. C \ \ºp | \}į©3 Qį | }} |? | d©§ Į į Ķ ķ| | 2\ ! |} } } &-ZS< į į "№ į8 .*¿¿.; �3-Á{ \' !{C} ><%{ { { { {·țī£ | ` ſ . į į{ <ſ'ſ,|...º i Șiș%\ į__-^ |-(§§)\į...º (/) H E P H ANN Š \ \ M -3%–\. * C A N A D A * C SAILORS J O S S M I C H I G A. N. PROVINCE OF ON TARIO, CANADA O R. G. E.' Ø ź G. E. I * º % Z. A AC R 30000 Feet. Nine Mile Point. 2O Scale in Feet. fo where cºredºyèzºg wozz/o. 7, ave to 2.5 fº contour shown thus ~~~~~~~~~~~ Note AS/aded areas trºoſtcote locations he done wrºder this report. Map of ST MARYS RIVER, MICH. 7.o accompany report of Colonel CHA.S. E. L. B. DAVIS dated January 12, 1906, on surveys for channels of 22 and 25 ft.depths. C-L-E.-------> © 8 & | ± ğ Ëſë § \A º|× NNNN* �¿?Zſae! Uſì¿№ E ºſ 4\\}\\<\a}\\\?<% ſiiſļºšNN44 º „ļºſ, º «Y? '&', ~~~~. <7|$_ ~~~~^~~~) „−” |įšº_°\,-\,\,‘N, !_!” №.*. O}^ {<}©} | || $pº !İş\, �| _{\}°S. |SÇP,~~~ ;S.N. |* J *** { |�Ä |% |�~, |\K\,ſ} |~. . THE Norris PETERs co., washington, D. c. LA KE ". \ MARYSVILLE / /* 3º- THE Norris PETERs co., WA;sh IncTorv, D. c. 2. “ ** - * ** * ** * * .*" n - 4 * * * - “**** -...--... --" ... ..... **** - * " - “ -...-...--------- * * * -- * * * ** * •º. - *-ºs.--> * > * ~ * * * * *** * a s " *** = *** * * * ** * • * a... -- & ..~ ºs- ... → * --> º,” .*. * ~! T Tº' ,-2 t • ſº l Af º - COURTRIGHT ° 2 r ..' .2 ... • - • **-*** P---~~~~~...---" 24 * -- sº...”--- --~~"-" -...-... ) 2 ess -º .--" "“.....× ... ". .* ... • ** ~ sºlº ----...-" •2. - - **. re º A //a/o of AO07 OF /A/(E //UFOW, S7. C/A/F /?/VEF AWD /A/{E S7. C/A/F 7o accompany report of Co/one/ CHAS E/.B. DAV/S, d'afed Jan. /2, /906, on surveys for channeſs of 22 and 25 foof depfhs. Mofe." Shao'ed' areas ſoo/cafe /ocaſions where o/-edging wow/o/Aove ſo be aſome under #his reporſ. 25 f} confour – ... -...--------------------- 27 ft confour ... … … … -- ~~~~~~~ ! Sca/e in Peef. […I.T.T i º º i I LTI Hºl. I I t I Illi II. I r Lº º E-T H t H I I-T-I Tº I Tº ſº #000 0 1 2 3 4 5 & 7 8 S to 15 2O 25 3C 35 4oooo Feef! c-‘’. ...~ * ..” ---> . PORT LAMBTON-2.2"...º- * * - “.../~~~ - “ - - - - - ... ... …~" * ...→ • ****** ~. .-Z - ROBERTS LANDING Dickirls on NEw BALTIMORE / { \ a , , , º º } - Map N ap No.4. 3 - - a * * * J Map of | - - - | - - t - - r ~------------, NM H .* g - - { * --~~ T AIR * . - - - ** p B R A L JG ISL. — A G. I. HUMBU CS * — *~~ - - sº * * * - * * * - ,” GQ.-- - * 2 z * iš --~~ > t sº - * A * * * sº - * Alyº' * <----- Y ~~ * * wº & ... " * * *>< * * * f *~~ * - z A § { } - Y ~ - & 2^ O `------- - ‘ss 22' & `---- • * A * - - - `ss - “-º {- t *~s * - ~~ .. } - * º : º - * / : 2. .* : R / % r; /* º: z’ ; H Z’ . 2’ '. - A 2’ - Tº'R TROIT/P/V. - /, OWER /OF is dated - + S date - - A./..B. DAVIS rt of Colonel CHAS. depths. 27-y - v report of Co Tº 25 ft. ſp I To º, 7. º for channels of 22and O + - - January/?, 1. : y TRENTON G Sºo. =#EEEEE <1 7 - Øy IS [] azz - LAND T * ** -- - - - 2% N %2 wº * S.--_2 * T * ~~~- * - CALF IsI, SCS Ż *…* S % -- - 2 * * ~~~. & * . * ; s *= TANDOTTE .” § triºs T---- § º `s ſ - 22ft contour----- 25ft contour ------ * - * - - | | | To R O gº *- [...] tiſſiſ][][][][][][][[lſ] Sis - %23, 3oz., G *2 ~~ %. - % % % % `, - Defroit River Light >= ". * * * see ~ * Y---- * Yeº slº Ž * . .” lsłe $gu *~~~~ • ...:...: '.. 4- *:-", sº-sºº º 2 - T Grosse, slºgg *:::::::. ** . *-**- .** *** **. ... ... “ “... 'S', -- :: *-ºs-i::….* *S*...*~..... ... • *- ::.:**** -:::::::::::"..:”::::::::s. - - - • * ''': “..."...i. ...r.º. "... "... -** ...as ~. • * **-*...a..”.:-- Nº ... ." -** %2 2:... " 3% • * X...…......” º ::::::::: %2 -i. - ...) .** ** **, * - *\, *** :".” “... “. ... • * Kº: - * * 2 *ºgº. * * S., SXS '. *. º M amaju da Ra ng- ...:--Jº - f * ...…” Ž *sº ..:” %zgºs, º &47; % Z * 2° - * Ż : : _--T s • * -ºšek; --- º gºgº * - ~. 7- % %%% = < *-*. ”. W, º O fe* *** `s "Sº º “... * N. - r º ". º º f N . .” .** ... < ..." ..~. 2. “ .* ... •,• ...'" ... < : ... “...” ... ." -::::-- ... - 4. ~ * ./* e * a ... ** •". . ...” “. “...s. **. **, ..~...~" ...t:..:::..:” *w “....... * .. * ... "..."-- - - a • • ºl... ** - * , -:: - ***.*.*. /* *S. -*.*...****** ... ...” “:s º:-- “.. - - - T.:: S-...----'T. * ...”. GE ; : ... — ...T. ... • * * S. \ A ‘S... H º... * * * " * - a gº 24/Vä sºſº 3. ºrs. * * * * anºe % Fº Li --~~~ #Tº fºr Malden Rang .* Bar Point, Rang Pº H 3. - AMHER STEURG *s. ‘. - - Scale in Feet I - - * ſ - I Feef. - - - I !SOOO t * . L |4. ar- º 13 - I !? - 8 º 6 Îl 5 | 4. - - FTLºu Lºº Li : 2 3. - © (OGO 590 ‘. Lº T“-...s. %. - - S. |O 11 7 | - “S. ‘S. Map No.5 l *— *C. cº M%ife Jhoa/ ºr * Light Ship 7o Lake Huron * == * * * == * - - * == *-* == * * = * * * = * = - * == -º-º: * * - - - - ** =. * sº: * = a- º * * = * * •S. sº _-- G 2. eº. tº. sº te * .***") S’ ſ Gas B. ºff-> *...* &sº Gas Buoy *** tº *se %. - £-----~~~2 sº *- º º j -- \. & # # -- Q’º-ºp tº r-s: |X `--~ QS A *...** ...?" * g. * - * ~ * * * . . 6. - /* -- *~s * * * ; Rºß- *- .. rays 'eef ~55 & f 2--~~~~~ f'; ~, "Tºº? *S. * \º ºf . § 2" r Waugoshoneer-hº ~.3% *sº º !. s.r.º. )'s.” * sº & -4 | § kº, Tº..., - *. A/ Nº. - º: “-ºr 3.~ &:?” *ge ; TNase •º. :^. *—cs f U-si” --------, & Sº--e.” *--> \"\;\, *** 6as 5. ~. tº, I º: ** St.-- ~~. C2 tºº lºs Y& *-...--- --~~~~~. Y. *T*-----. **-** t * ~. \s”---- L-3 f t" ºn Ž--> & ****, * t_f vºy M / C H / G 4 A/ ſ S Map of - Grays Reef Passage, - Lake Michigan. /* f f SJ; F Qy F Qo f § F # §) 2. S *.*.* | * à tº 2.2% A § &T, Black areas indicafe locations .." 2* / / / iTºº--- 2-9 where dredging would have fo be 2 - , ; ; * * <-SS done under this report. Y 2’ Af / I ^*~~2 A \. ,” / * f ..) * / * l 2^ /* Aſ I A f f Z / f Z F f Z * a” /* Af ! sea- a y / { * j,” / | Jºcaſe in fee? ,--" .# M ! wº-F#5 Tºooer. § rns noRris PErsrs.co., wasnınaron, p. c. wº- SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 13 in 1905 shows that other harbors besides Buffalo will require deepen- ing in case the ship channel depth is increased. PortS. TOns. POrtS. TOns. Toledo -------------------------------- 1,006,855 || Ashtabula ---------------------------- 6,963,005 Sandusky ----------------------------- 51,202 || Conneaut----------------------------- 5,327, 552 Huron -------------------------------- 825,278 || Erie ---------------------------------- 2, 112,476 Lorain -------------------------------- 1,605,823 || Buffalo ------------------------------- 3,312, 725 Cleveland ---------------------------- 5,854, 745 * Fairport ------------------------------ 2,008, 621 Total --------------------------- 29,068,282 RECOMIMENDATIONS. 37. After carefully considering the situation and the estimates, I have come to the conclusion not to recommend the deepening of the main channels to either 22 feet or 25 feet at present, but to leave the question of deepening this main waterway and the harbors tributary thereto for future consideration. In reaching this conclusion I have also been influenced by the fact that in 1895 the levels of the lower lakes reached an unprecedently low stage, but since then have shown a decided tendency to resume their normal stages and it looks as though for some years satisfactory depths will be maintained. 38. I do, however, strongly recommend the making of the new channel of 22 feet, plan B, east route, as in my opinion a second channel is now needed at the mouth of the Detroit River and will be very much needed before it can be completed if anything like the rate of increase of traffic of late years is maintained. 39. The depth of 22 feet is recommended for this channel because the future growth of commerce may warrant the expenditure neces- sary to secure an extra foot over the present depth, while the cost of securing 25 feet in these channels and tributary harbors will probably be prohibitive, at least for many years to come. 40. The estimated cost of a channel 21 feet deep on plan B is $5,528,523, or $1,142,427 less than for a channel of 22 feet, while the cost of securing the extra foot after the 21-foot channel is opened to commerce will much exceed this figure, owing to the smallness of the “face ’’ of the excavation and the necessity of dredging with- out interruption to passing vessels. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHAs. E. L. B. DAVIs, Colonel, Corps of Engineers. Brig. Gen. A. MACKENZIE, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. (Through the Division Engineer.) [First indorsement.] ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, CENTRAL DIVISION, Detroit, Mich., January 25, 1906. Respectfully forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, concurring in the conclusion of the district engineer that it is not advisable at this time to modify the present project of the ship channel with a view to obtaining depths of either 22 or 25 feet. It is 14 SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. possible that the requirements of lake commerce may be well satisfied when this channel is completed so as to provide a minimum navigable depth of 20 feet at all points and such width or widths as will make navigation reasonably safe and convenient. In order to obtain a 20-foot channel that will meet the conditions above indicated it will be necessary to deepen some portions that have heretofore been dredged, especially between Lake Huron and Lake Erie, and, from the best information now available, such deep- ening should be made to conform with the planes of reference indi- cated in paragraphs 20 and 21 of the within report. The depth in open-lake Sections of the channel should be not less than 23 feet for Safe navigation during storm periods. Where navigation in both directions is confined to a single channel a clear width of not less than 800 feet is required in order that vessels may meet and pass with a reasonable degree of safety or without great risk of collision that may cause a complete blockade of naviga- tion. But a single channel of such width can not be conveniently provided in certain localities, and the alternative for safety in such cases must be separate channels for up and down bound commerce. This condition exists in the lower Detroit River, and for this reason it is highly important that the work of making a second channel there that will pass to the westward of Bois Blanc Island should be commenced without delay, Substantially as recommended in para- graph 38 of the within report. It is suggested, however, that further investigation may show that it is advisable to make some slight changes in the location and limiting lines referred to in that recom- mendation and shown on the map as plan B. - - The foregoing considerations lead to the opinion that any modifi- cation of the existing project for the 20-foot ship channel, with a view to increasing the depth to 22 or 25 feet, should be deferred until it be plainly shown that a safe and reliable 20-foot channel is not equal to the necessities of lake commerce, and that, in the meantime, the best interests of the existing commerce requires the speediest pos- sible completion of the 20-foot channel in the manner above indi- cated. It is therefore recommended that Congress approve and pro- vide for only such modification of the present project of improvement as will secure this result. - - G. J. LYDECKER, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Division Engineer, Central Division. [Third indorsement.] BoARD OF ENGINEERs For Rivers AND HARBORs, Washington, D. C., November 5, 1906. Respectfully returned to the Chief of Engineers, United States Armv. F ºm the within report on a survey of the channels connecting the Great Lakes it appears that channels 22 and 25 feet in depth can be obtained for $7,738,970 and $25,938,367, respectively, though not, in the opinion of the Board, of suitable widths at all localities. In order that the full benefit of channels of greater depth than provided by the existing project may be realized, the harbors of the SHIP CHANNEL CONNECTING WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES. 15 several lake ports where deep-draft vessels ply will have to be deep- ened correspondingly, which will require a large additional expendi- ture, the amount of which has not been estimated, but it is clear that this sum will amount to several million dollars, and it is not im- probable that increased width of entrance will also be required in some instances. - The district officer and the division engineer are of the opinion that it is not advisable at this time to undertake the deepening of these channels to 22 or 25 feet, but they believe that material advan- tage to mavigation would result from an increased width in existing channels at certain localities, particularly in the lower Detroit River, and that the best way to provide the additional width is by the con- struction of an auxiliary channel which they recommend. The esti- mated cost of an additional channel as shown by plan B between the present channel A. from Grosse Isle, south channel range, to its junc- tion with the same channel at Detroit River light-house, 22 feet deep, is $6,054,950, and including a new outlet into Lake Erie by way of the east route is $6,670,950, which exceeds by $2,555,520 the cost of deep- ening the existing channel to 22 feet. - The commerce of this water route has in recent years attained enormous proportions. The present tonnage through the Sault Canal is about 44,000,000 tons and that of the Detroit River is about 58,000,000 tons, valued at $614,800,000. This commerce exceeds that of the Suez, Manchester, Kiel, and Amsterdam canals combined. It is manifestly to the interest of the United States to meet all reason- able demands of this commerce. The present project for this waterway provides for channels 20 and 21 feet in depth, with a minimum width of 300 feet. It appears that the full depth and width have never been available, owing either to shoals re-forming or to the presence of the drilling and dredging plant used in the operation of the work. The full capacity of the proposed channels has therefore not been tested. The Board concurs with the district officer and the division engi- neer in the opinion that the obtaining of either 22 or 25 feet naviga- tion in the Great Lakes should be deferred until it is plainly shown that a safe and reliable 20-foot channel is not equal to the necessities of lake commerce. The Board also considers the present authorized channel in lower Detroit River inadequate in width, and is of the opinion that the auxiliary channel recommended in the lower Detroit River is warranted by the existing navigation and is preferable to a widening of the existing channel notwithstanding the increased cost of the former, and for the reasons stated within agrees with the district officer that the depth should be 22 feet. The Board therefore recommends the adoption of a project for an auxiliary channel in the Detroit River 22 feet deep, conforming approximately to the general outlines shown as plan B, east route, the cost of which is estimated by the district officer at $6,670,950. For the Board: - R. L. HoxIE, Lieut. Col., Corps of Engineers, Senior Member Present. O |||| 3 9015 02101 7.333 •--~~~- ---- --◄-►|- ----+---- ••••••• --~~~ -…-- ► ► -- ---- •---- » • ►--- §šķł ... : «¿º? (?; ** ***** ģº ſae;&& +&& zºº? + :::::::::::::::::::::::: §§§§)ăți; ≡ ≈≠≤ , ! *(&##2 £ ¿¿.* ¿ }; ##§ ff.) §§§ ſ.£