63D CONGRESS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. (DOCUMENT 1st Session. SISKIWIT RIVER, WIS. LETTER FROM THE ACTING SECRETARY OF WAR, TRANSMITTING, WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION AND SURVEY OF SISKIWIT RIVER, WIS., ON LAKE SUPERIOR. SEPTEMBER 16, 1913.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustration. WAR DEPARTMENT, 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, dated September 12, instant, together with copies of reports, with map, from Capt. E. D. Peek, Corps of Engineers, dated October 31, 1912, and June 20, 1913, on a preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of the mouth of Siskiwit River, Wis., on Lake Superior, made by him in compliance with the provisions of the river and harbor act approved July 25, 1912. Very respectfully, HENRY BRECKINRIDGE, WAR DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, From: The Chief of Engineers, U. S. Army. Subject: Examination and survey of Siskiwit River, Wis. 1. There are submitted herewith for transmission to Congress reports dated October 31, 1912, and June 20, 1913, with map, by Capt. E. D. Peek, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination and survey, respectively, of mouth of the Siskiwit River, Wis., on Lake Superior, called for by the river and harbor act approved July 25, 1912. 2. Siskiwit River is a small stream emptying into Siskiwit Bay, Lake Superior, 48 miles from Duluth and 15 miles northeast from Port Wing. At the mouth of the river is situated the harbor of Cornucopia, an examination of which was made in 1911, the report thereon being published in House Document No. 415, Sixty-second Congress, second session. A lesser improvement than was then contemplated is now desired by local interests, and the district officer submits a plan providing for two parallel revetments extending into the lake and inclosing a dredged channel 150 feet wide, with a central depth of 15 feet, and an extension of the channel inside the shore line for a distance of 340 feet and width of 200 feet, forming a short main slip from which private slips can be constructed. The cost of this improvement is estimated at $41,090 for original work and $1,000 per annum for maintenance. The district officer expresses the opinion that under certain conditions of local cooperation the locality is worthy of improvement to this extent. The division engineer is of opinion that the improvement of this locality would involve an expenditure incommensurate with the probable benefits and is therefore not advisable. 3. These reports have been referred as required by law to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to its report of August 26, 1913, concurring with the unfavorable views of the division engineer. 4. After due consideration of the above mentioned reports I concur with the views of the division engineer and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors that the improvement by the United States of mouth of Siskiwit River, Wis., on Lake Superior, 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 Ármy. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS ON SURVEY. Third indorsement.] BOARD OF ENGINEERS FOR RIVERS AND HARBORS, August 26, 1913. To the CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, UNITED STATES ARMY: 1. Siskiwit River is a small stream flowing into Siskiwit Bay, 48 miles from Duluth and 15 miles from the improved harbor of Port Wing. The river is shallow and has a very small discharge. A wharf has been built into the bay by local interests and all commerce is handled over this wharf with the exception of some fishing business. 2. The commerce in recent years seems to have ranged from about 10,000 to 19,000 tons, the greater part being timber, which commodity is decreasing and is not expected to last many years more. |