Abstract of some of the principal articles exported from Manitowoc, Wisconsin, during past year. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, August 31, 1867. SIR: I have the honor to submit the subjoined report upon the harbor improvements, present and prospective, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in conformity with your instructions contained in circular of July 20, 1867. This harbor is situated in the collection district of Milwaukee; the latter place being the nearest port of entry. Like the majority of the harbors upon Lake Michigan, this harbor consists of a portion of the mouth of the river of the same name, improved by artificial means. The method of improving this harbor is the ordinary one pursued in similar places upon Lake Michigan-that of building piers on each side of the river, extending from the shore to the deep water of the lake, and dredging out between these piers in such a manner as to secure sufficient depth of water to permit vessels to pass into the river. As to the vitality of the towns situated at, and the country tributary to, these commercial portals depends upon their efficiency, the maintenance of this egress in a serviceable condition is to them of the first importance; were, however, local interests alone benefited by the improvement of these harbor entrances, we might stop here and insist that private enterprise should make the necessary improvements; but when we turn our attention to the vast amount of shipping engaged in the commerce of Lake Michigan, and the severity of the gales upon this freshwater sea, it becomes of the gravest importance that points should exist upon its shores in which vessels can find refuge during unfavorable weather. gov Owing to the absence of any suitable bays on the coasts of this lake, the ernment is forced to improve the mouths of the largest rivers emptying into it; for when the bars generally formed at the mouths of these rivers are once passed sufficient depth and extent of water is found to answer all the requirements of a good harbor of refuge. As there is at present no harbor existing between Milwaukee and the Manitou islands to which vessels can flee in stormy weather, the interests of the community at large, as well as local interests, called attention to the necessity of improvements being made at this point; and the government, following the policy that the safety and welfare of the people must be provided for, caused an examination and survey to be made, and appropriated in 1865 $47,000, and in 1866 $8,000 more, to perfect the improvements already commenced at the harbor of Sheboygan. The plan of improvement proposed and approved was to extend the north pier one hundred and twenty feet, the south pier three hundred and twenty feet, and to dredge between the piers to a depth of twelve feet. Work was begun upon the harbor early in June of this year, and has progressed satisfactorily, under the circumstances up to the present time, and I apprehend, if no further accidents occur, the improvement will be completed by the close of the working season. The existence of a bed of quicksand, upon which the cribs were necessarily placed, has occasioned considerable unforeseen expense and difficulty to retain the cribs in place and keep them ballasted properly since they were sunk. I think $2,000 will repair all deficiencies, however. I caused a few lines of soundings to be taken in the prolongation of the new pier, and find that some few changes have occurred since the last survey, though not unexpected, there merely having been some slight accretion upon the bar off the entrance. As the original plan was, I believe, to extend the piers to the curve of twelve feet water, it will be necessary to do this to extend the pier across this bar lying in front of the entrance; this will require an additional four hundred and sixteen feet of piering, as the pier will project some distance into the lake. I think it advisable to increase the width of the cribs, of which it would be composed, to twenty-five feet, as such cribs are more stable, on account of their extended base and increased weight. To give a water way of twelve feet in depth between these piers, it will be necessary to remove, by dredging, fifteen hundred cubic yards of earth; this, added to the cost of piering and incidental expenses, gives $49,026 38 as the sum required to complete this extension. (See estimates) The completion of this extension will secure a safe and commodious harbor, with flattering prospects of remaining so for a number of years. I am informed that vessels passing through the straits on their way to Chicago and Milwaukee, after leaving the Manitou islands, steer direct for the Sheboygan light-house; the probabilities are, therefore, that vessels passing to and fro between points south and the Manitou islands would naturally sail close to this point, and, in the event of stormy weather, would seek shelter in it. During the past year 7,496 vessels passed the light-house. This light is situated on Sheboygan north-point, about one mile north of the harbor; it is a fixed white light of the fifth order. This light being situated north of the harbor, no account is kept of the number of vessels sailing between this port and points south, nor of the vessels passing in the night; so the number reported is rather incomplete. During the past year there cleared from this port 1,114 vessels, the tonnage of which I have been unable to ascertain. I append an abstract of some of the most important imports and exports, a comparison of which with that of preceding years will show a decided increase. These tables are interesting from the fact that, as the commerce of a place is the exponent of the thrift thereof, they will indicate with considerable accuracy the importance of this place, and, by comparison, the rapidly increasing producing qualities of the tributary country, which needs but the stimulus of a good harbor to ship from to make much more rapid strides in wealth and importance, and I therefore have no apprehension that any money that might be expended in the improvement of this harbor would not result in incalculable advantage to general as well as local interests. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES B. QUINN, Lieutenant United States Engineers. Brevet Colonel J. B. WHEELER, Major Corps of Engineers. Abstract of some of the most important imports and exports at the harbor of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for the year ending June 30, 1867. Abstract of materials received and used, labor performed, and amount paid to contractors, up to September 1, 1867, at harbor of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, September 1, 1867. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report on Milwaukee harbor: The harbor of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is one of the best, and next to Chicago harbor, the most important on the west shore of Lake Michigan. From the formation of the shore it is well protected from some of the severest winds, and is not liable to be soon obstructed by the formation of a bar at its mouth. The freshets in the spring are also of service in helping to keep open the mouth of the harbor. The harbor was sounded in April of this year immediately before, and in June immediately after, the freshets, and the soundings show that the bar was moved considerably out into the lake., The harbor is now in a good condition, the only work at present being done in the filling of the old cribs with stone; this work will be finished about the 15th of September. The harbor can be further improved by extending each pier three hundred and twenty feet; this will probably be the only improvement necessary for many years, except the repairs needed on the old pier, and perhaps occasionally a little dredging. This extension is necessary; for the bar, though forming slowly, will in course of time obstruct the entrance if nothing be done to prevent it, and if the work be delayed it will cost more when it is done, because the bar will have to be dredged away, thus incurring an expense not necessary now. As the extension will in many places be in fourteen or fifteen feet of water, the cribs composing it will have to be thirty-two feet long, twenty-five feet wide, and twenty feet high. The following is an estimate of the cost of one of such cribs, the prices taken are the same as the present contract prices at Racine, Wisconsin: 3,378 running feet of 12-inch square timber, at 24 cts... 288 feet of 3-inch plank, at $30 per M... 3,880 pounds of iron bolts, at 10 cts. 6 pounds of iron spikes, at 10 cts 90 cords of stone, at $12 80... 10 cords of brush, at $6.. 3,378 feet of framing, at 17 cts Add 10 per cent. for contingencies. 810 72 8 64 388 00 60 1,152 00 60 00 574 26 2,994 22 299 42 3,293 64 As the extension will consist of twenty cribs, the whole cost will be $65,872 80. The following information was obtained from Mr. C. L. Sholes, collector at this port: Customs collected during the year ending June 30, 1867, $83,815 19. Amount of exports during same time... Amount of imports during same time. Number of vessels cleared.. ... $750, 901 75, 990 3, 761 3,687 The business of this, as well as of all other ports in the district, is rapidly and uniformly on the increase. The amount collected in duties is no particular indication of the importance of a place or port, as many places of much less importance generally than Milwaukee collect much more duties. The light-house is located at the north point of Milwaukee bay, in latitude, north, 43° 02′ 24", longitude, west, 87° 54' 08." The light is fixed, varied by flashes at intervals of two minutes, and is visible fourteen nautical miles. The color of the tower is yellow, and its height is twenty-eight feet; height of light above sea level, one hundred and two feet; the lens is of the fourth order; the light-house was built in 1855. North-cut beacon is situated at the extreme end of North harbor pier, in latitude, north, 43° 01′ 37′′, longitude, west, 87° 53′ 59′′. The fog signal is a horn; the light is a fixed red one, and is visible eight nautical miles; the height of the tower is thirty-six feet, and height of light above sea level, forty-eight feet; the lens is of the sixth order. Annexed is a tabular statement of work done and material received; also, abstract of contracts and abstract of bids. Very respectfully, D. B. HEAP, Captain of Engineers. Major and Brevet Col. J. B. WHEELER, Corps of Engineers. |