WITH A LETTER FROM THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS, REPORT ON PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF LORAIN HARBOR, OHIO, WITH A VIEW TO THE EXTENSION OF THE EAST BREAKWATER AND ENLARGING AND DEEPENING THE HARBOR AREA.

OCTOBER 1, 1919.-Referred to the Committee on Rivers and Harbors and ordered to be printed, with illustration.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 29, 1919.

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 26th instant, together with report of Lieut. Col. R. R. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, dated June 11, 1919, with map, on a preliminary examination of Lorain Harbor, Ohio, authorized by the river and harbor act approved March 2, 1919. Very respectfully,

NEWTON D. BAKER,
Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF ENGINEERS,
Washington, September 26, 1919.

From: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army.
To: The Secretary of War.
Subject: Preliminary examination of Lorain Harbor, Ohio.

1. There is submitted herewith, for transmission to Congress, report dated June 11, 1919, with map, by Lieut. Col. R. R. Raymond, Corps of Engineers, on preliminary examination authorized by the river and harbor act approved March 2, 1919, of Lorain Harbor, Ohio, 'with a view to the extension of the east breakwater and enlarging and deepening the harbor area."

2. Lorain Harbor is situated at the mouth of Black River, which flows into Lake Erie about 30 miles westerly from Cleveland, Ohio. The existing project provides for an outer harbor about 60 acres in area, formed by converging rubble mound breakwaters; for parallel piers at the mouth of the river, 300 feet apart; and for dredging the outer harbor and channel 250 feet wide between the piers and upstream to the Erie Avenue Highway Bridge, a distance of about 3,000 feet, to a depth of 20 feet at low-water datum for Lake Erie, which is taken at 570.8 feet above mean tide level at New York. To May 31, 1919, expenditures on the existing project amounted to $916,213.66, and on all projects $1,208,416.54. The existing project has been completed except the extension of the west breakwater to shore, and dredging in the outer harbor outside the entrance channel. As indicated by the law, the present investigation has in view the extension of the east breakwater and enlarging and deepening the harbor area. The extension of the east breakwater is desired by the city authorities to prevent the erosion of the shore and the consequent shoaling of the harbor area, it being claimed that this breakwater is the cause of the present erosion. The district engineer is of opinion that no extension of the east breakwater short of connecting it with the shore would prevent erosion, and that the cost of such full extension would be out of proportion to any possible benefits. With reference to enlarging and deepening the harbor area, the district engineer states that the project depth of 20 feet at low-water datum has been obtained in the entrance channel through the outer harbor and in the river up to the Erie Avenue Bridge by dredging recently completed, and it appears from correspondence accompanying the report on preliminary examination that this situation is now satisfactory to the city authorities. The existing depth compares favorably with depths at the lake ports where most of the cargoes of iron ore originate, and the district engineer believes that unless a general increase of depths at all ports is contemplated, an increased depth at Lorain Harbor is not warranted. He therefore expresses the opinion, in which the division engineer concurs, that this harbor is not worthy of improvement by the United States to a greater extent than is authorized by the existing project.

3. This report has been referred, as required by law, to the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and attention is invited to its report herewith, dated July 15, 1919, concurring in the views of the district and division engineers.

4. After due consideration of the above-mentioned reports, I concur in the views of the district engineer, the division engineer, and the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors, and therefore report that the improvement by the United States of Lorain Harbor, Ohio, with a view to the extension of the east breakwater and enlarging and deepening the harbor area is not deemed advisable at the present time.

W. M. BLACK, Major General.

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