, 1879-02-19

hAcH coMlhAtnta were NrAt 1nnue iGW
W oks ago by tho joliet people, mud others
living OIL tho line Of Tho canal and river,
about the bad smells which tloy charged 10
the Chicago sawors, THE Tn1nuxE explained
that tho condition of tho canal this wintor Is
entirely exceptional, and that thcro is no
permanent evil for which tho peoplo nro
justified In demanding m artificial remedy
at tho public exponso, but only transient
annoyance which will bo cured shortly by
natural rofnety and may not reour for yoars.
The investigation 1nade by Chief Engineer
CuEsnnouou md Col. Mason, also an expert,
from this city, has fully confirmed tho theory
We advanced at tho ti,no. These gentlemen
find, upon examination, TINT tho Burfnce Of
tho leo in tho oanal is II inches below the
ilaelf IL IS inches thick. Tho ordinary
depth Of tho water In the canal when tho
bottom is c1ear is nbout il feet; from this
Must now bo deducted tho sand and aodi-
mont Mt tho bottom accumulated during tho
wintor, which probnb!y nmounta In places to
III or II; inches; also. tho thickness OF tho
leo (18 inohas) nnl the fnl1 of the
surface III inohes); so, in tho aggregate
there arc tlrce md llnlf fcet less of wator
in tho canal now thnn ordinarily, or ouly
about two foot Of FREQ water altogether. 1t
is not strange, therefore, TINT tho ongincorB
should havo found from tho velocity of wator
passing through tho gatcs at Lookport tint
water lias been coming into the canal only
at tho rato Of 800 cubic feet per minute,
when tho calculated volume is $1,000 feet
per minute. That Is to say, there is Just
now not more than one-thtrtteM as much
wator passing through tho canal rs ust,ol,
and tic collection Of sediment, garbage, aisd
excrement Of all kinds is inevitable for tho
time being
Now, III to tho romoly which Committee
OF Joliet mon arc to discuss here to-tluy.
There is just ono that is practicable, and will
bo efficient. viz; THO spring flood, wl,icl,
may reasonably bo expected within thrco or
four woeks, and which will sweep out the
rivor and canal into tic hike, wasl, them
cloar of nll offensive 1naterial, and prepare
tho wny for tho usnnl flow Of water into tho
qaual. This spring flood ,nny 10 depended
upon as surely as tho change Of saasons 1t
cleanses tho Chicago sewora, washes out tho
North and South BranoLes rovcrsos tho cur
rent Of tho river back into tho
lnke for tho timo being, md chr.
ries OF nil tho accntnulations Of tho
winter months. This natural purifier will 10
at work before the Committoes having tho
matter under discussion can mature md
astempt my plan for artificial interference,
nnd, having douo It's work, it will leave
nothing to offend tho uostrils Of tue Joliet
peoplo for another year Mt 1east. Indeed
ttero will not again DO reasonable cause for
complaint until wo shall lnye nnotl,or win.
tor equally severe. During tho ordinary
wintors tho flow Of water through tho canal
Inns forcs enough to carry of aud purify by
dilution tho outpourlugs OF tic Chicago
River, md 1t will only bo aftor long asrotcl.
Of exceptionally cold weathor, such III tho
present wintor nt1ortletl, tint tho stouch
nuisance will be removed for briof period,
to DO removed again by tho process We havo
described. Hence the circumstances of tho
caso do not warrant tho serious considera.
ton Of any scheme for cleaning out tho
canal which involves tho outlny OF public
1nnuavA