tag:digital.library.illinois.edu,2005:/items/ec8162c0-1a05-0134-1d6d-0050569601ca-1Chicago harbor2023-11-30T16:47:54Ztag:digital.library.illinois.edu,2005:Item/393142016-08-11T15:00:06Z2023-11-30T16:47:54ZChicago harborFrom text: "In 1833 Congress made the first appropriation of $30,000 to improve the harbor. The north pier was run out a short distance and a light-house erected. An embankment was made to cut off the river from her old channel, which had previously emptied into the lake near the foot of Madison street. This work was commenced in the summer of 1833, and vigorously pushed forward. In the following spring came a great freshet, which cleaned out the sand from the mouth, and did more work than all the dredges. In successive years additional appropriations were made, amounting in the aggregate to $144,000. In 1839 the work was suspended, the money having been exhausted."University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library