84 



provements and advantages on a much greater scale than the continued 

 support of a single harbor. 



The village of 1830 at the mouth of Chicago River has become the 

 second city of importance in the United States. 



Its traffic by rail and water has become so great that relief and en- 

 largement are most pressing, and these must be provided along the 

 Indiana lalie front. 



The shore line along the lake is made up of loam and sand, which, 

 although not the best material for harbor building, are of comparatively 

 easy manipulation. 



With other sites for a new harbor I ask attention anew to the mouth 

 of the Calumet River, and particularly to the feasibility of using the 

 strip of low land or lakelet east of the river and extending possibly into 

 Porter County. 



Between the sand hills or ridges, which are shown on the government 

 survey, and the nearest railway line there is a strip of marsh land called, 

 on the old maps. Long Lake. 



If on examination it should be found practicable to dredge out this 

 lake to the proper depth and connect it with the mouth of the Calumet 

 the desired harbor would be easily constructed. 



This site is specially commended on account of the protection afforded 

 by the sand ridges on the north, thereby making it a haven as well as a 

 harbor, and because it would interfere least with the railways along the 

 lake shore. 



The commercial advantages to the State are of the greatest import- 

 ance. 



All the railways running southeast and east from Chicago would use 

 this new port for transfers between rail and water — and possibly also 

 between railways west and north of Chicago on account of less expensive 

 terminal facilities— so that the co-operation and suppoi-t of the great rail- 

 way interests would be secured. 



Here would be the point of minimum cost between the Lake Superior 

 iron ores and the block coal of central Indiana and the greatest stimulus 

 offered to the development of all kinds of manufacturing industries. 



The cheapening of transportation for oolitic limestone would be no 

 small factor In favor of this new outlet. 



