Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-30
CHICAGO'S CANAL.
More About Its Effect on the
Great Lake Levels.
VAR OFFICE TO MAKE A SURVEY

To Determine the Probable Result ut the
Opening Of the Canal-Opinions Of Drain
age Channel Trustees-An the Matters ut
Issue Thoroughly Csnvassed Before Be-
ginning Operations on the Big Ditch
Actual Experience the Only Test.
WASHINGTON, Aug. D.-As result OF
the recommendation of the Chicago drain
age canal board the engineer corps Of the
war department will make observations
and take measurements SO as to deter
mine the probable effect of the operation
of the proposed canal upon the level of the
great lakes. No further steps can be taken
until this Is accomplished and it is an
nouncsd thnt the observations will be
started as soon as practicable.
No Delay ON the Canal.
CHICAGO, Aug. 3O.-"None whatever"
was the reply which Drainage Trustee
Richard J. Prcndcrgast made with great
positiveness when asked what effect the
report of the government commission ap-
pointed to ascertain the influence of the
Chicago drainage canal on lake levels
would have on the prosecution Of the
work 1.-THE work will go right ahead, "
he continued, lust as if the commission q
report had never been presented. 1t will
not be delayed a day on account of it. The
completion of the work and the turning of
the lake waters into the canal will not
lower the lake levels to any apprcciablc ex-
tent, and the report of the commissioners
does not say that it will. The shipping
interests have become unnecessarily
alarmed. We have had u series of un.
usually dry seasons during which the rain
fall has been away below the normal. In
consequence the waters in the lakes are
lower than usual, and that has filled some
of those interested in lake shipping with
alarm.
Wet Seasons VIII Make It Good.
1.-THE deficiency, however, will undoutt-
edly be made good In subsequent wet sea.
sons and then their fears will vanish.
Meantime we will go on building the
drainage canal. Any restraining order of
the government or the courts to prevent
us turning the waters into the canal as
soon as IL is ready to receive them is diff
ficulty which will have to be overcome
when we reach 1t. We are not borrowing
trouble by planning to meet difficulties
which in all probability will never arise.
This question Of interfering with naviga-
ton by lowering the waters in the lake
harbcrs is "A very simple one.
No Trouble for Navigation.
'In the first place the great big boats
which draw a great depth of water do not
ply between little ports which have shall.
low harbors. They run between large
terminals which have deep harbors, and
the interests Of the little craft which sail
to the small intermediate points will al.
ways find water enough to float them. It
will be n very simple matter to take care
of the deep water craft vessels. They are
sure Of enough water i'm any case up to
within forty feet of the shore line, except
where few shadows occur. 1t will he q
very simple matter to scoop those shadows
out n few feet and drcdgc the harbors
within forty fee. of the shore line. Nc
great work like the Chicago drainage
canal is going to be intcrfcred with on
that account.
1t Il the Unexpected That Happens.
"As the law stands at present know Of
nothing to prevent the drainage trustees
turning the waters of Lake Michigan into
the canal rs soon Us it is ready to receive
them. We would do so today If ii were
ready without consulting anybody or ask.
ing anybody's permission. We will do SO
as soon as the canal is ready unless things
change very materially in q way VIC do
not expect to prevent us. !"