eources ihe Mining Journal, Marquette, Mi pe + Co ¢
Saturday, March 15, 1890
PWPL Micro Film Reel No. 16

Collided With the Harbor Line

The DSS&A Ry., in its efforts to provide for the rapidly
increasing ore trade of this port has met with an
obstruction, which though not extremely serious, is at
least annoying. The extension of Dock No. 3 will have to be
stopped for the present 215 feet short of the point
intended. Hence theproposed .addition of 100 pockets to that
dock must be reduced to 64 pockets, a loss of 36 pockets
and a consequent diminuation in the docks capacity of about
5,500 tons. The new No. 4 dock will also be slightly
affected. The causes of this are the harbor lines
recommended by the Board of the United States Engineers in
its report of January 12, 1889, and subsequently approved by
the Secretary of War, Endicott.

For several days the report has been current that the
government would not allow the South Shore to extend its ore
docks to the points desired but no action was taken until
last evening, when Captain Foster, the United States engineer
in charge, notified Engineer Payne that the construction
of No. 3 dock must stop where it now is and that no more
piles could be driven. Notice was also given that the No. 4
‘dock would extend some 40' over the harbor line and must be
reduced accordingly. The extension of No. 3 dock has
advanced 385 feet and now reaches the harbor line. It would
not seem that the extension of the full amount of 600 feet
could not interefere with shipping in that quarter of the bay
snd that a revision of the harbor lines now in force might
advantageously be made. Mr. Payne was seen last Thrusday by
a Mining Journal reporter.

"Yes, we have been ordered to stop the extension of No. 5
dock", he said. "It will also be necessary to change the
plans of No. 4 slightly: I ran the harbor lines as laid
down in the report of the Chief engineer's as nearly as could
be done last fall when.there was ice on the bay. I believed
that we could just get Noe 4 in. I thought the extension of
No. 3 might run over the line a little bit though not nearly
as much as Captain Foster says, but if it did I can see no
harm as there is plenty of reom there. The end of No. 3 dock is
totally unprotected and if the South Shore was willing to take
the risk I do rot see why the government should object. I
cannot now see how the extension of No. 3 dock to the full
length intended would interefere with shipping. I shall
have to move No. 4 dock in about 40 feet. The number of
pockets will have to be reduced but there will be a little
less room between the first pocket and the shore.

DSS&A Ry.
* - Ore Docks

 
pe

Collided with Harbor Line, March 15, 1890

The harbor lines as laid down in the chief engineer's report
are described as follows: Beginning at a point on the west face
of the United States government break water, 260 feet from the
Shore end thereof, thence due west 75 feet; thence ina
southwesterly direct parallel to the east face of the break water,
535 feet; thence west 14° north, 1,667 feet; thence due south
2,293 feet, thence south 19° west, to the east and west
subdivision quarter line produced of Sec 26-48-25,"

Unfortunately the report does not contain a map of the harbor,
but 2s near as could be learned from the date accessible last
night the line of 2,293 feet due south terminates at the
big rock at the end of No. 2 dock. Hence it would seem that
the westward bend of the harbor line of 1,660 feet, beginning
at that point, is that which cuts off the extension of No. 3 dock.
Why this westward bend was made does not appear from the
report of the board of engineers. In fact there seems to be no
reason for it whatever. Had it not been made it would seem
that there would be enough room to extend No. 3 dock to the
full amount of 600 feet as proposed.

One thing is very apparent from the foregoing and thet is
if the commerce of Marquette is not to be hampered in its
future growth that there must be more room for future docks
provided, When those under construction by the South Shore
are completed principally all of the dock space in the
present harbor will be taken up. Hence the needs of the
future become a matter of serious consideration. In only
,two quarters can additions to the harbor be made. One is by

“extending the break water southward or by building southward

another from a point near the mouth of the Carp River. The
other alternative is to secure an appropriation for building
a break water out from the south point of Presque Isle to
protect Dead River bay. By most residents here probably
the latter plan would be favored because of the ample space
for manufacturing plants obtainable in the Dead River flats.
The general government in the past has dealt stingily with
Marquette harbor. The last fairly decent appropriation of
$100,000 was in the river and harbor bill vetoed by
President Cleveland. The result is that vessels are
unable to lie at the ore docks in stormy weather but must
take shelter under the present inadequate break water, with
much loss of time and money. Congressman Stephenson can do
much to win and secure the support of Marquette by obtaining
for its harbor an adequate appropriation from the presnt
Congress.

DSS&A Ry.
" -\Docks