The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-24
County Gossip.

A new candidate appears in the Streaior
| Free PreSss "Among the most useful young
men in the party the past few years has been
Ed. Nattnger, of the Ottawa Times He is
good worker in campaign, is popular, especi-
ally with the old soldier element, and would
make a good run for the office OF circuit
clerk if he should receive the nomination. SO
long as we remember no newspaper publish
err has had paying office in La Sale county
and that they are depended upon to keep up
party organization when everybody else is
unmindful of politics and are called upon to
support the nominees without fee or reward,
it is not too much to speak for the circuit
clerkship." Wonder what the Free Press has
against Ed.
B. B. Parks, of Aurora, H., in the BeacOn
this week, presents plea for the improve
ment nf Fox river. The source of the Fox
is a cluster of lakes near the Wisconsin line.
"By erecting DAM" says Mr. Parks, "at the
point where the river receives its supply of
water from those lakes, six feet high, large
reservoir of water can be made five feet thick,
Ten IIlllts WluC anu tNCHty hilitS ioHSi liohb
which reservoir constant supply of water
can be had to fill the river at all times, and
keep it a trimming river with full banks.
No accurate survey or estimate of the cost
has been made, but it is said by those entirely
capable of Judging that the cost of construct
ing the dam would not exceed twenty-five
thousand dollars. The main item of expense
would be from the back-fowing of the water
in the lake, say not to exceed one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars. 1t is believed that
the total expense, including engineering and
everything, would not exceed two hundred
thousand dollars. That it is feasible and
practicable is believed by the ablest engineers
of the country, and that eminent and dstn.
guished engineer, the Hon. John Van Mort
wick, of Batavia, in this county, has given
it much thought and reflection. He is large
owner of water power on the river, and being
financially interested in the matter, has gath.
cred up mass Of information on the subject
of great value to the people. At one time he
contemplated undertaking it as private en-.
terprise. He is an elderly man with great
wealth, and has reached that time when pru-
dent men shun new cares and responsibilities.
His large experience and eminent success
upon the great public works of New York
and in Illinois, gives his judgment great
weight and authority" Such an improve.
ment would create forty good water-powers
in its course. In early days the river was
broad clear and beautiful, running full of
pure lake and spring water. Now the water
powers are gone and the river dirty-almost a
marsh and filed with the sewerage Of numer-
Gus cities. Judge Parks says: "Action is de.
manded to restore the impaired water power
and also to restore il to clear running stream,
by full volume of water, cleansing 1t of all
impurities for sanitary reasons. The question
of preserving the public health and removing
pestlence- breeding pools makes it an abso.
lutte necessity, in which all the people living
along the line of the river have common in
terest, in addition to the special interest of
those owning and holding the water power.
4 constant flow of water filling the banks of
the river full at all times, would largely add
to the health, beauty and commercial value
of the river"
So
An effort will be made before the city coun-
ell, We understand, TO have the city Of Ottawa
lighted hereafter by electric light. 1t will be