LS&I Ore Dock Centennial

by Ted Bays Wed, December 05 2012 09:24

 

The first reinforced concrete ore dock on the Great Lakes, it sits on a base of 9809 pilings of Oregon fir driven 20 feet into the lake bottom. A 9 foot thick cap of reinforced concrete tops the pilings, making a foundation that has endured 100 years of vibration from train engines and ore cars.

Longer ore docks (2300 ft.) in Duluth, MN, were built after the LS&I dock; an earlier (1909) steel dock in Two Harbors, MN, ended its working life 30 years ago. Over the past 100 years, the LS&I dock has loaded well over 400 million tons of ore for shipment. The pockets--200 of them, 100 each side--hold 250 tons of ore each. Thus 50,000 tons of ore await loading into lake carriers.

The next issue of Upper Country will include a photo essay on the 1911-12 construction.

(photos:b&w: Superior View Studio; above, Tom Buchkoe.)

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12/6/2012 9:41:55 PM #

Steve-O

Given that there was so much timber in the U.P., Why would they have pilings of Oregon Fir for pilings?

When will we see the next issue of Upper Country with the photo essay?

Steve-O United States |

1/8/2013 8:45:43 AM #

editor

Steve-O:  Good question.  We don't know what species of "Oregon fir" was used.  True fir is, like our fir (and Martin Luther's first Christmas tree), Balsam Fir; many varieties in Oregon.  The pilings may have been Douglas Fir (pseudotsuga menziesii)--the state tree of Oregon and, as its taxonomic name suggests, a critter difficult to categorize (tsuga is the taxonomic name for Hemlock).  As for importing:  By 1910 most of the best white and red pine in the U. P. had been cut.  Also, despite its majestic proportions, White Pine (Michigan's state tree) does not have the shear strength of other conifers (although Red Pine DOES, nor decay resistance.
   Next issue of Upper Country at least 6 months away, more likely 10.  
    Thanks for inquiry.

editor |

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