The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-06-07


nying profile of the canal, still it will be
seen that very large proportion of the
cemented clay yet remains 10 be excava-
ted; by elevaling the summit level 8 feet,
the necessity for removing this very diff,
cult aud expensive material will no longer
exist.
1t is stated in a previous part of this re
port, why lake Michigan was constituted
the principal feeder in the original plan,
and it seems unnecessary in this place to
enter further upon the history Of the leg
lslation upon the subject, than to say that
the law required thorough cut from the
lake to the Illinois river. that the water oil
the lake might not only feed the canal,
hut that in addition it might furnish an
ample supply of water for manufacturing
purposes upon the line of the same. In
1898, tho question Of raising the summe>
level, and reSorling to other sources than
lake Michigan for supply of water was
discussed by the legislature, and by the
decision of that body, an examination was
made by an eminent engineer (Mr.
Wright TO ascertain the practicablity OF
the measure, his report was adverse to
any change in the original plan, and the
work, from that period forward, was con-
tinued as it had been projected with a
thorough cut.
When the embarrassments of the state
became so great, that the means necessa-
ny Tor prosecuting the canal could not be
procured. it was again determined TO as
certain whether some means could not be
devised by which the plan hitherto pur-
sued could he changed, and the work be
completed at less cost than the original
estimate; further examinations were made
by the present engineer, and they resulted
in the discovery that supply OF water
could he provided for the canal without
resoring to the Lake Michigan; that is
to say, that there were streams which
could be conducted to the summit level
capable of furnishing water in sufficient
quantity for the purposes of the canal
without recourse to the lake. In conSe-
quence Of this opinion, the law relating
to the canal was revised and authority
was given 10y a subsequent law TO change
the plan of the work in such manner as
might be found expedent and proper, pro-
vided the same could be effected without
departing from certain prlnci pies embra-
ced within the same law.
The modification then which it is pro-
posed to make IN the plan of the canal,
consists in eleva,ing the summit level,
and rcsortlng to certain rivers To feed the
same, in,'ed of drawing a supply of wa
ter for lha, purpose from lake Michigan,
This will require the Introduction OF
two additional locks; one upon each end
of the summit level together with the
construction of such number of feeders for
the supply of water for the same, as may
he required for the purposes of naviga-
ZION. One lock of eight feet lift to be
placed at Chicago creek, and the other OF
ten feet ditto at section 63, 26a miles dis
tan, from the first the difference in the
lifts of these two locks is occasioned by
the declivity Of two feet, which is given
to the canal upon that portion of the line,
The important feature in the proposed
change is that which ,he feeders presen,
in the original plan with the bottom Of the
canal six feet below the lowest water oil
lake Michigan, an abundant and uniaiing
supply of water would at all times be a,
command, almost without The possibility
Of interruption, while in the other CASE
reliance must be placed upon the perma.
nency of the dams and other structures
connected with the feeders.
SUPPLY OF WATER FOR THE
CANAL.
In the original plan with thorough
cut from lake Michigan, to the end of The
summit level, and with the large section
of the canal, and the decliylty of one-tenu
Of foo, per mile, which was given to
that level, no question could arise in re-
ference to the adequacy of the supply OF
water which might be drawn from the
lake, except such as might be occasloned
by the fear that the surface of the water
in lake Michigan, nigh, one day fall be-
low the level which the experience of ten
years had established as the maximum
depression.
The law required that such a depth
should be given to the canal, as should a,
all times I" insure navigation of four
feet" the ordinary depth of the canal be-
ing six feet; this allowed Tor a nuc,ua,on
Of two feet upon the summit level at such
times as the water in the lake might fall
below its usual stage.