The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-02-13
SAN PEDRO AND CHICAGO
Water Route Connecting the West and
Middle West
Great Canal Enterprise Outlined by Its Chief
Promoter, Ossian Guthrie Of
Chicago
II. A. REID IN PASADENA STAR

Editor Star: We have now as a sojourn-
er in Pasadena Ossian Guthrie of Chicago,
who was chairman of the committee that
furnished the data and laid out the plan
of Chicago S outlet canal which is now in
course of construction. This canal and
an associated stormwater drainwav are
cut through an ancient glacial lake and
valley of glacial erosion. Mr.. Guthrie
had studied this particular branch of
geology in that local field very thoroughly,
and traced the lines of glacier movement
six or seven hundred miles north and
south. Professor Conant and myself had
an interview with him to learn some new
things about his discoveries there on that
subject, but incidentally we learned also
that the Chicago canal is an important
link in the way of waterway transport
that is now being pushed toward compile
ton to connection with the Nicaragua
Canal. And | thought our Pasadena
Board OF Trade, which is so wideawake
for every commercial enterprise affecting
Southern California, would be glad to
hear Mr.. Guthrie explain the nature and
relations of this Chicago canal to the
great transcontinental scheme.
1t seems that Chicago has already com
menced her storm water drain southwark,
to prevent the spring floods from swash-
ing out through her harbor and befouling
the lake water even to her great pumping
crib, two miles out from shore, where the
city's water supply is obtained. And the
navigation canal is about half completed,
with the work still going vigorously for
ward. This canal is being cut twenty
two feet below low water mark in Lake
Michigan, and of sufficient width for the
passage of whaleback steamers or any
ha la h
self undertakes to build it thirty-six
miles, to point where the natural flow
age Of the Illinois river takes the water
freely. From this point which is near
Joliet, there need to be five or six dams
and locks constructed for slackwater navi-
the Mississippi near Alton, Ill. And
this part of the work is expected to be
done by the Government; and when done
Chicago agrees to give the entire control
OF the canal for navigation purposes to
the United States Government. The canal
will furnish constant flow twenty-five
feet deep from Lake Michigan, and thus
provide water for the Illinois river por-
ton of the line all the year round, instead
of being dried up during the summer
season. When this and the Nicaragua
canal are completed, sailing vessels or
steamers can load at Chicago or any
other port on the lakes and come direct to
San Pedro without breaking bulk, in three
to six weeks.
Mr.. Guthrie has maps and drawings
which show every detail of the great
work, and while the geology and glaci-
ology involved in it were of Special inter
est to us, we saw at once that the com
mercial aspects of the case would be of
very deep interest to leading members Of
the Board OF Trade, and upon our sugges-
ton Mr.. Guthrie said he would be willing
to meet the board and explain and illus
trate the matter to them if they so de-
sired. l could not spend time now to see
members of the board personally about
it, and therefore take this method of call
ing attention to so important and inter-
esting a seance freely within their reach.