The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-25

Many difficulties have been encountered
il the work, the most pronounce beng
stretch 81 ten miles Of solid limestone
bedrock. although BY the use OF Steam
chanueiIing machines this vas cut
through. Another difficulty to he over
come was the DezpIaines river. an eeecn-
trio stream which crossed the path OF the
canal several times. but this vas over
,soFaf. s.r cutting ? new channel for the
river for the length Of thirteen miles ana
turning tire Desplgines into H. THIS nm
provenent cost s.. 80. 80 but II saved lot
OF trouble.
While the river diversion was being con-
stracted the food waters of the river were
taken care Of by a huge spsilway. BUTT az
the head OF the diversion. this being dam
81 feet IN length and sixteen feet hign.
made OF concrete. capped with stone and
fanked with wings OF stone When the
Deepiaines Is high. as II usually is az the
time Of the spring frsshets. the excess
over GO - cubic feet per infinite finds Its
way over this dam into the Ogden ditch
ard thence through the Chicago river into
Lake Michigan.
Naturally enough. this also sends the
alth OF the river into the lake 10 mingle
with chicagos drinking water. but then
something had 20 be done 20 protect the
drainage canal, and this appeared 10 be
the best and easiest thing to do. Chicago
did not demur at this. because of the pro-
lection 10 the canal. and II trusted TO
Providence to allow as little of the river
filth to get into the drinking water as pos
sible.
Below joliet there is quite fall. and the
general government, In order 10 provide a
navigable channel between Chicago and
the Mississippi would he compelled 10
build succession of locks that would be
somewhat expensive. Just at present the
sewage question. and not the problem OF
ship canal. II bothering the people here.
IL is 2s5 miles from Lockport. the southern
end Of the drainage canal. TO the junction
OF the Illinois with the Mississippi river.
and although with the completion OF the
Chicago canal one-haIf OF the work neces-
sary for tho creation OF a ship canal TO
the Father Of Waters is done. in is not an
ticipated that the government will he in
hurry 20 spend sl5.o00.00 or so In this op-
Grafton No one anticipates the speedy re-
alizstion OF the ship canal project IL is
true that the Chicago members OF congress
more than a year ago succeeded In secur-
ing recommendation for a $500 appro-
pTistion 20 widen and deepen the Chicago
river. but being merely recommendation
the appropriation is not an actuality.
These enthusiastic men are contemplate
INK this big ditch from every possible
point ~ view. The advantages OF a ship
canal are set forth "a glowing colors and
n y suggested 10 the government that any
Investment made 10 this end would be- a
psyinc one through the medium % tho
tolls 10 b collected a. both ends TO say
nothing Of the cheapening OF freights both
east and west The sanitary district owns
nearly 700 acres % lard along the line Of
me canal. which within the next twenty
years VIII be worth. according 20 the esii-
mate OF competent judges. more than the
entire expenditure on the canal. in add
ton 20 which IL Is expected 20 bring In n
large revenue from its docksge privileges
nF lie
drainage commission obtained this land at
very cheap figure. and In addition 10 this
tho completion of the canal will be the
means OF retaining many thousand acres
or land that have been lying useless. This
means an addition OF many millions Of dol
lars 10 tho taxable land OF this region
Among other things Engieer Cooley esti-
mates that II will cost 5000 600 TO deepen
IN" Illinois river. making the depth four
teen feet between la Sale and Grafton.
the latter being >ihe head OF navigation
for large craft. while the cost to make
the same depth OF water between Ia
Sale and Joliet will be 5000. OO0-a total
OF si2.0oo.0d1. This expense is TO be borne
by tho government, while the drainage
commission is perfectly willing to spend
between 100000 and 81. 900. 900 TO develop
the water power between Joliet and Lock-
port the southern end OF the drainage
canal. II Ia estimated. also. that about
100000 acres OF bottom land could be re-
claimed through these improvements. thus
adding some So. 600 600 to the wealth OF the
state. All these things. however. are in
the future, and matter Of years for the
government has not shown any feverish
anxiety TO spend It's money In the devel-
opment of this waterway II Is proposed
to work in connection with the Hennepin
canal enterprise. which has as bitter foes
and earnest friends as any measure that
ever came before congress
Among the annoyances TO which the pro-
motors of the canal enterprise are sub
jected Is the matter OF railroad crossings
and this means almost endless litigation
In the first twelve miles of the canal pro-
vision Is N be made for nearly twenty
railroad crossings. and while these will
not interfere with the channel when used
Tor drainage purposes. they will harass
the ship canal proposition. However as
pointed out previously. the ship canal
idea cannot he carried out for many years
Yet. So far as the railroads are con-
cerned. as some OF them will be subjected
TO much inconvenience, they cannot he
blamed for lighting what thew deem to be
their rights. For instance. the Santa Fe
road crosses tho canal three times and
VIII be forced 70 seek a new route alto
gether. These are mere things In the way
OF canal building. and do not interfere
with the main enterprise, as the courts
will he appealed 20 10 protect the inter
ests OF both parties. In the meantime the
city or Chicago is anxiously awaiting the
solution or the sewage problem. which is
such q constant menace to the health of
its population.