LITTLE CALUMET RIVER, ILL. AND IND. LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF LITTLE CALUMET RIVER, ILL. AND IND., FROM THE JUNCTION UP TO BLUE ISLAND. SEPTEMBER 5, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed. 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 from Lieut. Col. Geo. A. Zinn, Corps of Engineers, dated May 2, 1913, on a preliminary examination of Little Calumet River, Ill. and Ind. 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 Little Calumet River, Ill. and Ind. 1. There is submitted herewith for transmission to Congress report dated May 2, 1913, by Lieut. Col. George A. Zinn, Corps of Engi neers, on preliminary examination of Little Calumet River, Ill. and Ind., from the junction up to Blue Island, called for by the river and harbor act approved March 4, 1913. 2. The Little Calumet River has its source in northern Indiana and empties into the Grand Calumet River in the State of Illinois 1.65 miles above the "Forks" and 7.80 miles from the mouth of the Calumet. The improvement of this stream was considered in the general report on Chicago Harbor, printed in House Document No. 710 (62d Cong., 2d sess.), and the district officer states that there have been no material changes since that time. He therefore renews the conclusions and recommendations made therein that when the proposed Calumet-Sag Channel is constructed by the State of Illinois of a satisfactory depth and width for barge navigation joining the Little Calumet River and the main Sanitary Ship Canal, the improvement of the Little Calumet River be undertaken by the United States Government from the "Junction" to the controlling works of the Calumet-Sag Channel for a channel 150 feet at surface, 100 feet wide at bottom, and 12 feet deep below hydraulic grade, at an estimated cost of $369,300; provided that the Sanitary District of Chicago shall pay for the excavation required by the change of the present water surface to a new hydraulic grade, and shall furthermore transfer the Sag and main canals to the United States for the use of navigation, and shall agree to maintain the channel thus transferred. The division engineer concurs in general with the views of the district officer. 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. Under date of July 30, 1913, the board submitted its final report upon Chicago Harbor and adjacent waterways, called for by the act approved March 3, 1909, and it quotes therefrom the following opinion which it states is applicable to the Little Calumet River: While the board believes that the additional improvement outlined by the district officer for the various branches of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers would generally be desirable from a commercial point of view and may well be included in a comprehensive scheme for a system of interior waterways in this locality, it does not consider these additional works proper objects for Government expenditure. *** It. would seem inadvisable to extend the existing projects for these interior waterways at least until such time as one or more of them shall form a part of a through system of waterways, freed as far as possible from the obstructions to navigation caused by municipal requirements. If undertaken at this time these extensions should be developed and maintained at local expense. 4. After due consideration of the above-mentioned reports, I concur in general with the views of 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 Little Calumet River, Ill. and Ind., from the junction up to Blue Island, 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. Little Calumet River is a tributary of the Grand Calumet River, into which it empties at the "Junction," which is 1.65 miles above the "Forks" of the Calumet and about 7.8 miles from the mouth of the Calumet. The section under consideration is about 7 miles in length. It varies in depth from 3 to 12 feet. 2. The Calumet River is under improvement from its mouth to the "Forks," the project depth being 21 feet. The section between the "Forks" and the "Junction," 1.65 miles, has an available depth of about 5 feet at mean low water. The Sanitary District of Chicago has under construction the Calumet Sag Channel, which connects the Little Calumet River at the mouth of Stony Creek with the main drainage channel of the sanitary district. 3. There is at present practically no traffic on the Little Calumet River, both on account of lack of depth and the absence of industries on its banks. This section of the Little Calumet was reported upon in connection with the general report on Chicago Harbor printed in House Document No. 710, Sixty-second Congress, second session, and the district officer states that there are no material changes since that time. His conclusions now are the same as then expressed, namely, that the improvement of the Little Calumet River is desirable when. a waterway is constructed by the State of Illinois of a satisfactory depth and width for barge navigation, joining the Little Calumet River and the Illinois River, provided that the Sanitary District of Chicago shall pay for the excavation required by the change of the present water surface to a new hydraulic grade, and shall furthermore transfer the Sag and main canals to the United States for the use of navigation and shall agree to maintain the channels thus transferred. The division engineer concurs generally in the views of the district officer. 4. The board has submitted its final report on the subject of Chicago Harbor and adjacent waterways, called for by the act of March 3, 1909, in which it expresses the following opinion, which applies to the Little Calumet River: While the board believes that the additional improvement outlined by the district officer for the various branches of the Chicago and Calumet Rivers would generally be desirable from a commercial point of view and may well be included in a comprehensive scheme for a system of interior waterways in this locality, it does not consider these additional works proper objects for Government expenditure. * * It would seem inadvisable to extend the existing projects for these interior waterways, at least until such time as one or more of them shall form a part of a through system of waterways, freed as far as possible from the obstructions to navigation caused by municipal requirements. If undertaken at this time, these extensions should be developed and maintained at local expense. 5. The board is therefore of opinion that at this time it is not advisable for the United States to undertake the improvement of Little Calumet River, Ill. and Ind., from the "Junction" up to Blue Island. 6. In compliance with law, the board reports that there are no questions of terminal facilities, waterpower, or other related subjects HD-63-1-vol 109 |