, 1879-05-25


CHICAGO MAY 24-Permit me through TEE
TRIBUNE to call the attention OF those whom It
concerns to the horribly filthy condition Of the
North Branch Of the Chicago RIVER. The malaria
that already thus early In the season IS created By
that lazy black and rotten creek is enough to kill
whole community.
As the hot season has not quito arrived ret the
merciful winds Of heaven hare been equal in their
capacity to scatter fast as the river to breed,
the poison, but the hot will set the whole
river boiling with putretaction and the winds will
be less emphatic than they have been during the
spr1ng; consequently the miasma will settle down
on the unfortunate neighborhoods along the river,
creating sickness, pestilence, and death.
1t Is certain that il that North Branch is left
alone and no steps taken to prevent the emptylng
into it OF the vlainous that now goes in from the
sts ned It's e tha It VII
to Chicago than the great fire nine years ago
At the request OF several neiehbors and citizens
forenoon from Chicago avenue bridge to u: Brands
brewery, short distance north Of Fullerton
avenue. The stink and nastiness Of that stream
can only be appropriately told by d Dennis Kear-
ney. In the vicinity OF both the Phoenix and the
Nicholson distfleries the river literally boils with
Which GO On their mission ef creating long doctor
'Ff Eat the dsfilleries, with their stables full of
swilf CATTLE are responsible to the greatest ex
tent for this villanoas condition OF the river is
evident; for, although they make pretense Of
hauling of the manure by wagons and boats, every
bay and shallow In the river where the water mas
receGed is covered with manure the depth OF one
foot or more which lays there fostering and rott1ng
in the sun, being alternately soaked and baked as
the water rises and falls.
A short distance north Of Brands brewery the
wafer begins to have its normal condition. Here
large number OF dead fish, large and small, are
found floating in the river which have ventured too
far down in the poisonous current, and paid with
their life for their boldness in entering channel
thar is consecrated to death and damnation; and it
nothns s done 500 soon to cleanse @ that river ths
the same fate as the fishes that lived in it.
found halt dozen men on Fnletton avenue
d large expense. How long before those pumps
are built that are supposed TO be able to clean out
the river when once in operation!
Before 1 close this letter, Mr.. Editor, I will
take this opportunity to invite Mrs Swisshelm, 1t
she Ia In the city, to 4 ooatride over the merry
waters OF the Nor.h Branch. II she will accept.
and name some date next week, Twill be on hand
with the boat. am oarsman enough tor such an
occasion, and BY laying in q proper. supply Of
will show her such villany on that river as will
kindle her indignation, and draw forth from her
pen auch rebuke and condemnation as will ma
teraly help to eradicate the evil am in earnest.
Yours truly. l. P. NELSON.
How to Protect Dwellings from Sewer-Gas.
To the Editor Of 1hs Tribune.
CHICAGO, May 24.-The OBJECT Of this letter is
-.t.t sat..,s, n.~I -. 49, 10 a1ue' VI
"nhs uaatetlal useo, or now the drainage from
honses should be constructed to carry away from
dwellings all liquid refuse waste water and ex-
cretfon hnt tn ca1l attcn+fon to Inn
lst,na a.asa ~ 1ue 'etsi@
latnk loauno'e eo'ess no" oelns p!aceo over our
sewers on every prominent street In the city.
There are is, 500 manholes already attached to our
severn in Chicaro the months. o- onan;ng. -,
vh,ch .re ahoH+ +~o 49, ~, d4ss."a psn1.' ~ ~
Will Will ate aoout LMo !eet N mameter. Ihese
opeata1n1s are capaoie o. dlsenars1nE with these
~ ,. ~ s1e1ss @ III sae esmet-sases toEmed IN
So - " Jnl oa!y MY 1eet from our
ac ~ anI ~ manhu""s, ~ .nts lhMense quantitT OF
st,set ssfana 'nG h .t ~ me !e'el OF cur