5. Copy of letter from Lake Superior Transit Company, dated August 23, 1884. 6. Copy of letter from Lake Michigan and Lake Superior Transportation Company, dated August 22, 1884. 7. Copy of letter from Lake Superior Ship-Canal Company, dated August 26, 1884. 8. Plan of piers at Lac la Belle.* 9. Printed petition to Congress.* Respectfully submitted. GENERAL: In compliance with the requirements of the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884, and the instructions contained in your letter of September 4, 1884, I have the honor to present the following report of a preliminary examination at Ashland Harbor, Wisconsin, made, as required by the act, for the purpose of ascertaining if this harbor is worthy of improvement by the United States. A similar examination was made under the river and harbor act of 1879, on which occasion the officer did not report in favor of an improvement. Since the date of that report Ashland has changed materially. that time there was hardly any business, no commerce, and the village was but a straggling hamlet of a few houses. The accompanying report of the Business Men's Association of Ashland, the facts of which were verified by me at a recent visit to the place, shows that Ashland now has a population of over 4,000 people, and a large and rapidly increasing business. This is in a great measure due to the development of the iron and lumber resources of the adjoining country. Following is a brief statement of the several industries now carried on at this place: Five saw-mills, cutting annually 55,000,000 feet of lumber, the product val ued at $550,000 One sash, door, and blind factory, doing an annual business of.. 35,000 One planing, with capacity per day of 100,000 feet. Four hardware stores, doing an annual business of 170,000 Seven dry goods and general-merchandise stores, annual business.. 280,000 Five clothing stores, annual business 125,000 + Omitted; printed in House Ex. Doc. No. 89, Forty-eighth Congress second session. Among the exports are reported from 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 feet of lumber, and 4,200 tons of general merchandise, in transit to Lake Superior ports. There are imported annually 4,500 tons of coal, besides salt, cement, hardware, and general merchandise. Ashland has four different lines of railroad, viz: (1) The Northern Pacific; this point being its probable eastern terminus. (2) The Wisconsin Central; two lines. (3) The Chicago, Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha. (4) The Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western. The latter is not yet completed, but soon will be, and has contracted for the construction of extensive ore docks at this place. These facts, I think, are sufficient, from a business and commercial point of view, to justify the Government in providing a reasonable and necessary protection for the commerce of the harbor. Chequamegon Bay, on the east shore of which the town is located, being separated from Lake Superior by Chequamegon Point, would seem to require but little artificial aid to render it, under all conditions of weather, a thoroughly protected harbor. The length of the bay northeast and southwest is 12 miles, and its average width is 5 miles. It is stated by the residents of the place that a troublesome sea in northeast storms seriously interferes with the security of vessels while lying at the wharves. This sea probably originates within the bay, but may be somewhat augmented by the swell which passes around the point from Lake Superior. The construction of a jetty northeast of the town, extending from the shore 4,000 feet or more into the bay, is desired by those interested as a means of preventing this disturbance. In my opinion such a jetty would have a beneficial effect; and as it would never be subject to very severe wave action, the cheap method of construction suggested by the citizens should answer the purpose. The opening through Chequamegon Point has at present but little effect upon the wave disturbance in the bay; but a considerable enlargement, however, might result in a current which would carry material in the direction of Ashland, and possibly reduce the depth of water in the vicinity of the wharves. When this contingency becomes imminent, means of protection should be adopted. It is stated that a break through this point has occurred and refilled by natural causes, on several different occasions, within the remembrance of persons living in the neighborhood, and that at no time has the opening reached serious proportions. Another source of annoyance to the shipping interests is a long, narrow shoal, having over it about 11 feet depth of water, and extending in a direction parallel to the shore. It lies about opposite the middle of the town, and is in the track of vessels approaching the principal wharves. Whether this shoal was there originally or has formed within a recent period is uncertain, as statements on this point are conflicting. A map showing the present limits of Ashland and its wharfage is sent herewith. A chart of Chequamegon Bay is also sent, which gives the location of Ashland and two positions suggested for a break water. The blue line indicates the location desired by the citizens. That shown in the red would, in my opinion, afford the most protection, with an equal length of structure. 弊 * Omitted. From the foregoing facts I have respectfully to state that, in my judg ment, the harbor of Ashland is worthy of improvement, and that to ascertain the exact nature and cost of the improvements required a survey should be made. For this purpose an allotment of $400 is necessary. Respectfully submitted. Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers, U. S. A. J. W. BARLOW, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. PROJECT FOR IMPROVEMENT OF ASHLAND HARBOR, WISCONSIN. ENGINEER OFFICE, U. S. ARMY, GENERAL: In compliance with instructions contained in your letter of November 21, I have the honor to submit the following report upon a project for the improvement of Ashland Harbor, in Ashland Bay, Lake Superior, Wisconsin, an examination or survey of which was provided for in the river and harbor act of July 5, 1884. As required by the act a preliminary examination was made and a report thereon submitted, dated October 21, 1884, a copy of which is transmitted herewith, as it contains nearly all the information relating to the harbor that I have been able to obtain. Since the receipt of authority to make a more thorough survey than was possible at the first examination, the weather has prevented, and will continue to prevent until spring, the necessary hydrographic operations to give satisfactory results within any reasonable expense. And as sufficient facts are now on hand for the purpose, I have made, and present herewith, approximate estimates of the cost of the desired improvements: These improvements are (1) a breakwater to be located northeast of the wharfage, extending at right angles to the shore, and designed to protect the wharves of the city from the action of north and northeast storms; (2) the removal of a shoal lying in front of the principal wharves, and which now obstructs free access to them. The proposed break water can never be subjected to very severe wave action, as the heavy seas from Lake Superior are arrested by Chequamegon Point, only about 8 miles distant. The disturbance against which protection is desired is caused by north to northeast winds, which create, inside the bay, a short, chopping sea, at times seriously interfering with the use of the wharves by vessels. A structure, therefore, of moderate width and cheap construction, will have sufficient stability and durability; and if extended out about 8,000 feet will serve the purposes for which it is desired. The exact location of the breakwater should be determined after a further examination of the bottom has been made, for the purpose of ascertaining the nature of the material to be penetrated by the piles, and also the most desirable line for protecting the present and prospective wharfage. But as the approximate location of the desired breakwater has been determined and no special difficulties in the method of construction are anticipated, there seems to be no necessity for delaying action upon the project until the surveys recommended as preliminary to beginning the work have been made, the results of which, in this case, have no bearing upon the expediency of providing for the improvement of the harbor. The design of the proposed break water presented herewith, and which is believed to be amply strong, consists of two parallel rows of piles, driven 3 feet from center to center, strengthened by wales and cross-ties at the water-surface, and finished at the top with two courses of 12 by 12 feet timber on each row, also connected by timber cross-ties. The width of the breakwater will be at first, 12 feet; increasing as more depth is attained to 14 feet, 16 feet, 18 feet, and 20 feet, and its total length will be 7,900 feet. The filling will be of the cheapest material attainable; brush and logs; or slabs and edgings from the saw-mills, except a top covering about 2 feet in thickness, which will be of stone. A plank walk 2 feet wide will extend the entire length. The first section of 1,700 linear feet, 12 feet wide, will cost $8.70 per linear foot The third section of 1,500 linear feet, 16 feet wide, will cost $14.58 per linear foot The second section, of 1, 400 linear feet, 14 feet wide, will cost $11.93 per linear foot $14,790 16,702 The fifth section of 1,800 linear feet, 20 feet wide, will cost $19.65 per linear foot The fourth section of 1,500 linear feet, 18 feet wide, will cost $16.82 per linear foot 21,870 25, 230 35, 370 Superintendence and contingencies Total..... 113,962 11, 038 125,000 ESTIMATE OF MATERIALS, AND COST OF BUILDING 7,900 LINEAR FEET OF BREAKWATER AS ABOVE DESIGNED. Timber, 12 by 12 inches=56,830 linear feet, at 30 cents per foot.. Iron, 148,484 pounds, at 5 cents per pound Filling, brush, slabs, &c., 14,500 cords, at $3 per cord $17,049 00 6,265 20 1, 166 00 24, 141 60 7,424 20 43,500 00 13, 816 00 REMOVAL OF SHOAL. 113,962 00 The quantity of material necessary to be removed from the 11-foot shoal in front of the city wharves, or to make a channel through it of sufficient depth and width to meet the present demands of commerce, would not probably exceed 40,000 cubic yards. The cost of this dredging would be as follows: 40,000 cubic yards, estimated, at 25 cents per cubic yard.. Superintendence and contingencies, 10 per cent Total $10,000 1,000 11,000 SUMMARY. Cost of breakwater, 7,900 feet in length.. Total.... $113,962 10,000 12,038 136,000 Ashland is located on the south side of Chequamegon Bay, Lake Superior, about 60 miles east of Duluth, Minn. It is in the collection district of Superior, Marquette, Mich., being the port of entry. The nearest light-house is La Pointe, on Chequamegon Point, at the entrance to Chequamegon Bay. *1. Plan of break water. LIST OF ACCOMPANYING PAPERS. 2. Copy of report on preliminary examination containing3. Map of Ashland. *4. Map of Chequamegon Bay and vicinity. Respectfully submitted. J. W. BARLOW, Lieut. Col. of Engineers. Brig. Gen. JOHN NEWTON, Chief of Engineers, Ú. S. A. * Omitted. |