, 1873-09-08

IL Was With roEfeE t1ht yoasafdQy We puouala4
tho grievous intelligence TINT the city IL about
to sustain temporary loss Of ita accustomed
supply Of water. Tho circumstances may bo
briefly stated: In sinking tho ehaft ut the crib
q long time unexplained, difficulty WIS e1pori~
eneed. When tho iron shaft had boon sunk, aud
tho clay oxcavated, the circular piece was cut
out to begin the excavation Tor tho tunnel
Though 1t was at point some thirty feet below
tho bottom Of tho !ako, nevertheless,
water began to percolate through tie
clay, and through the opening Into the
SHIFT. This fact was fully detailed in
this paper several weeks ago. Since that timo
every possible moans havo been tried to remedy
tlls, but In vain, and elowIy and very unwilling
1y the authorltieB hayo been forced to tho con-
olusion TINT tho old tunnel, which IL but 20 feet
north Of the now anaft, leaks, and that 1t Is tho
water from this leak which forces itself through
tho intervening clay and ontera tho new shaft.
The authorities seem to havo become satisfied
lake WAS pressed downward through the olay bed
to tho foot Of tho shaft, was q mistake, and
that, instead Of coming from above, tho
water roally comes on leyel from
tho old tunnel, Which, il true, shows
that tho Inter must loak vory badly.
Thoro is 8 hope that this may not prove to bo
the case, and that SONIC other explanation may
yet be furnished. In tho meantime there must
DO an examination. and tho propriety Of having
O second tunnel ia yindicated by the fact Tint to
e1amino first necessitatcs ita closing, Tho gatos
at tho crib must be closed, aud tue tunnel
pumped dry, In order that an examination can
| bo had, aud any damage that may exist ho re-
paired. In the meantime, what is tho city to do
for water? Tho only moans TINT Gun DO adopted
| is to go back to tho old method which prevailed
| before tho tunnel was made. Tho old basin
which then existed, and through which wator
! waa filtered into tho wolls, has filled up dur
! Ing tho sovon yoara It has been out
| Of use. This will hayo to be dredgod
out again, which operation will take several
woeks OF active labor. When 1t is prepared md
| tho connection made with tho wolla, thon tho
tunnel will DO closed. and examined. How long
this will last viii depend on tho oxtont OF tho
damage that may 10 found to hayo taken place.
II leak is found to oxist, then It may take
several weeks to repair II. In the meantime the
| city must roceiyo the water from tho surface OF
the lake, In the old way. II this could be done
before the close Of navigation on the canal, tbs
misfortune would DO greatly mitigated, because
thon there would bo none OF tho washinga ot
the river to escape into the lake. The groat evil
Of tho old System was TINT tho discharges Of tho
river into tho lake were carried by the
south winds In tho direction Of tho
pumps, II this damngo can bo repaired before
tho canal Is closod, tho city will escape all danger
OF return to that abomination. Tho public
autAoritios hnrdly need any urging to give thoi.
bost encrgioB to tue remedy Of this calamity al
tho earliest possible moment. Pure wator Ia as
essential to life and boalth in Chicago AZ iH the
air. No moro mattor Of expense should cause
auy delay In doing whatever is called for by the
great emergency.
It should DO remembered, however, that clos
Ing tho tunnel aud drawing tho water through
the basin wil not attect III any way the quantlt,
Of the supply. That will be limited, a now, onl,
by tho capacity Of tho machinery. Az muoh Watol