The Ottawa free trader., 1880-04-24
THE SHIP CANAL,
Some Interesting Facts and Figures the
subject by ChLef EngIneer y. G. Jenne.

Some Interesting Facts and Figures the
subject by chef Engineer ID. G. Jenne.
To the Editor of the Inter- ocean:
STERLING, ILL.,, ,Apr1O.-.I have already discus.
,scd the subject OF the improvement of the llh.
nois river, and made "A statement of what had
been accomplished toward tho completion of
that work, and of what yet remained to he done
and estimated the cost. Since January %,
when considered the subject, the question of
an enlarged ship canal through this state has
been agitatcd and conventions held in the in
tcrest OF this project. 1t may be of interest to
the public, or those not posted, to know what
belongs to this proposed new water route, and
| desire, through your widely circulated paper
to give this information.
1t Is contemplated to make through water
route from the great lakes at Chicago to the
Mississippi river and through this river con
meet with the 5000 miles of river navigation
on the same and its tributaries, and with all
the important cities located on said river,
HOW THE PROJECT is DIVIDED
This project Is naturally divided into three
divisions
The first division consists in the enlarge.
ment of the Illinois IL Michigan canal from
Chicago to Joliet. The present canal vas
built As feet wide on the bottom, with side
slopes / to in earth, making 60 feet surface
width at O feet deep, or below the low water
OF Lake Michigan, with descent on the bot
of 10 foot per mile across the summit level,
toward Joliet. 1t is proposed to make the en-
largcd canal IA feet wide on the bottom, side
slopes to |, protected by slope wall in earth,
and 1850 feet wide at surface and feet deep,
or below low water of Lake Michigan, with a
descent of 30 foot per mile. This will pass
ll2,32l cubic feet of water per minute, and
give a current of | 06 miles per hour. The NV.
,f ia I Inly i,hi for tha
last eight years has been about two feet hi CHER,
which would make the water 10 feet deep, aud
would pass 15S533 cubic feet per minute, with
a current OF l.l0 miles per hour. The canal
enters the Desplaines river a6eut one mile and
Il half north of the main street at Joliet, or
nearly opposite the state pcneentlary, and VIII
he about 33 miles long. The work of enlarge
ment consists of about 100000 cubic yards
of excavation including The removal Of spoil
banks made from the excavation of the present
canal, of which there will be about 100000
cubic Yards of solid magnetism limestone TO
be excavatcd. Three lift.locks will be required
at the southern end, one grand lochat Brigdc-
port or north end, six public road and street
drawbridgcs, aud one double railroad draw.
brige, and a large water weir at Lockport The
locks are to he $50 feet long between the gates,
and seventy-fi feet wide, to correspond with
those now built on the Illinois river
The second division extends from one and
one.half miles above Joliet TO La Sale, about
sixty.seven miles, and will consist OF the i'm.
provement of the Desplaines and Illinois riv.
ers by locks and dams, and an Independent
short piece of canal around the rapids at Mar
seilles IL will require the construction of
eleven locks, nine dams, the raising of two
dams, nine drawbridges, the independent piece
of canal above referred TO, and other incident
al work
The third division consists of the improve
ment of the Illinois river from La Sale toI
Grafton on the Mississippi river, and was des-