1st Session. No. 221. PORT HURON HARBOR, MICH. LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR. TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF PORT HURON HARBOR, MICH., WITH A VIEW TO CONSTRUCTING SOME COMPENSATORY STRUCTURE IN THE ST. CLAIR RIVER FRONTING THE CITY OF PORT HURON, THAT THE CITY OF PORT HURON MAY HAVE A DEPTH OF WATER NOT LESS THAN 20 FEET FROM THE PRESENT DOCK LINE OUT TO THE THREAD OF THE STREAM. SEPTEMBER 5, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustration. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 3, 1913. The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a letter from the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, of even date, together with copy of a report, with map, from Lieut. Col. Mason M. Patrick, Corps of Engineers, dated June 30, 1913, on a preliminary examination of Port Huron Harbor, Mich., made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913. Very respectfully, HENRY BRECKINRIDGE, From: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army. To: The Secretary of War. Subject: Preliminary examination of Port Huron Harbor, Mich. 1. There is submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, report dated June 30, 1913, with map, by Lieut. Col. Mason M. Patrick, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination of Port Huron Harbor, Mich., with a view to constructing some compensatory structure in the St. Clair River fronting the city of Port Huron, between the foot of Lake Huron and a point below the Grand Trunk tunnel, that the city of Port Huron may have a depth of water not less than 20 feet from the present dock line out to the thread of the stream, called for by the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913. 2. The city of Port Huron lies on the right bank of the St. Clair River, just below the foot of Lake Huron. The district officer reports that a depth of 20 feet already exists along the water front except for a distance of about 4,500 feet across the Middle Ground Shoal in front of a portion of the dock line. He states that it is feasible to build in this river submerged weirs somewhere below this shoal which will compensate for its removal to any desired extent, and which will prevent the lowering of the water levels above; but he is of opinion that no such work is necessary in the interests of either through navigation or of that which is tributary to the city of Port Huron, and that the locality is not worthy of improvement in this manner. The division engineer concurs in this opinion. 3. This report has been referred, as required by law, to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to the board's accompanying report, dated August 12, 1913, concurring in the views of the district officer and the division engineer. 4. After due consideration of the above-mentioned reports, I concur in general with the views of the district officer, the division engineer, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and therefore, in carrying out the instructions of Congress, I report that the improvement by the United States of Port Huron Harbor, Mich., with a view to constructing some_compensatory structure in the St. Clair River fronting the city of Port Huron, between the foot of Lake Huron and a point below the Grand Trunk tunnel, that the city of Port Huron may have a depth of water not less than 20 feet from the present dock line out to the thread of the stream, in the manner apparently desired by the interests concerned, as described in the reports herewith, is not deemed advisable at the present time. WM. T. ROSSELL, Chief of Engineers, United States Army. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS. [Third indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, August 12, 1913. To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY: 1. This is an examination of Port Huron Harbor, Mich., with a view to constructing some compensatory structure in the St. Clair River fronting the city of Port Huron, between the foot of Lake Huron and a point below the Grand Trunk tunnel, that the city of Port Huron may have a depth of water not less than 20 feet from the present dock line out to the thread of the stream. Port Huron lies on the right bank of the St. Clair River just below the foot of Lake Huron. The city water front has a length of about 29,000 feet of which only about 4,500 feet across the middle ground or bar making out from the shore at and just below the mouth of Black River has now a depth of less than 20 feet. The middle ground has a least depth of about 15 feet and to secure a depth of 20 feet out to the thread of the stream would necessitate the removal of the entire shoal which covers an area of about 64 acres. The district officer states that the mere building of a compensatory structure will not accomplish this end. So far as through navigation is concerned, there is ample channel depth and width between the shoal and the Canadian shore. 2. Previous work done in this vicinity did not take into account the effect such work might have upon the lake levels above, but the district officer states that it may now be regarded as proven that any enlargement of the river cross section at this point will undoubtedly result in lowering the lakes above unless compensatory works are built in the river. The authorities both of the United States and of Canada now hold this view and have prohibited work by private parties which would result in enlarging the river cross section. 3. As to the necessity for an increased depth along this 4,500 feet of shore line, the district officer states that the port has ample water front of sufficient depth, that on this particular part of the water front there is little or no commerce, and that more than one-half of the frontage is occupied by the railroads. He believes it is feasible to construct compensatory works which would permit the removal of the shoal without lowering the waters above, but is of opinion that such work is not necessary in the interest of either through or local navigation. He regards the locality as unworthy of improvement in the manner indicated in the item of law calling for this investigation, and in this view the division engineer concurs. 4. The usual notice of unfavorable report was sent out by the district officer but no communications on the subject have been received by the board. 5. From the facts presented it appears that the larger part of the city water front has now a depth of 20 feet or more, that on the reach where the depth is less there is little or no commerce, and that there is no urgent demand for increased depth. The board therefore concurs with the district officer and the division engineer in the opinion that it is not advisable for the United States to undertake the improvement of Port Huron Harbor by the construction of a compensatory structure in the St. Clair River with a view to securing not less than 20 feet of water from the dock lines out to the thread of the stream. 6. In compliance with law the board reports that there are no questions of terminal facilities, water power, or other related subjects which could be coordinated with the suggested improvement in such manner as to render the work advisable in the interests of commerce and navigation. For the board: PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF PORT HURON HARBOR, MICH. UNITED STATES ENGINEER OFFICE, From: The District Engineer Officer. Detroit, Mich., June 30, 1913. To: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army (Through the Division Engineer). Subject: Preliminary examination of Port Huron Harbor, Mich. 1. In accordance with directions contained in letter dated Office of the Chief of Engineers, March 18, 1913, I submit below a report upon a preliminary examination of the St. Clair River near Port Huron, Mich., made in accordance with the following provision of the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913: Port Huron Harbor, Mich., with a view to constructing some compensatory structure in the Saint Clair River fronting the city of Port Huron, between the foot of Lake Huron and a point below the Grand Trunk tunnel, that the city of Port Huron may have a depth of water not less than twenty feet from the present dock line out to the thread of the stream. 2. The city of Port Huron lies on the right bank of the St. Clair River, just below where it debouches from Lake Huron. The city water front, measured from Fort Gratiot light to the southern city limit, has a length of about 29,000 feet. Its length from the same light to where the international tunnel crosses beneath the St. Clair River is about 18,000 feet. For the first 10,000 feet from the Fort Gratiot light south the 20-foot contour runs close along the shore, then for a distance of about 4,500 feet, across the middle ground at and below the mouth of Black River, the depth along the shore is only about 16 feet. For the remainder of the city water front the alongshore depth is about 20 feet and more. Harbor lines have been established along that portion of the city water front from the waterworks dock down to the mouth of Black River, a distance of about 5,500 feet. From the above it is apparent that if the whole extent of the city water front be considered there is already a depth of not less than 20 feet from very near shore to the thread of the stream for a distance of some 24,500 feet, or more than 84 per cent of its length. 3. Of course the mere building of a compensatory structure in the St. Clair River will not result in giving the city of Port Huron a depth of water of 20 feet or more from the present dock line to the thread of the stream. Such a depth exists already along the said water front except for the distance of about 4,500 feet above mentioned across the so-called Middle Ground Shoal, in front of a portion of the dock line. This shoal, below the mouth of Black River and inside the 20-foot contour, at a river stage of 577.6 above mean tide at New York, covers an area of about 64 acres, on which the least depth is about 15.5 feet, at its widest point, the distance from the dock line to this 20-foot contour is about 1,250 feet, and the river at this point is about 2,400 feet wide. In other words, in order that there may be no depth less than 20 feet between the city water front and the thread of the stream it will be necessary to remove this entire Middle Ground Shoal to a depth of at least 20 feet. 4. The St. Clair River is the outlet of Lake Huron, has a length of about 40 miles, and the fall in this distance from Lake Huron to Lake |