The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-09
H DRAINAGE CANAL
CHICAGO's GREAT SCHEME FOR Hi
DISPOSAL OF Il SEWAGE.
How other Cities May he Affected by
the Entcrprise-SOme Interesting
Facts and Figures.

Few people seem to be aware of the mag
nitude or of the far-reaching consequences
of the enterprise upon which Chicago has
embarked for the disposition of it's sewer
filth. During the last three years the city
has already spent more than $40. 10000 in
the construction of a canal which is to turn
a portion of the water of the great lakes
along an old glacial outlet into the Missis-
sippi valley. and carry the sewage with it
SO diluted that it will not be a menace to
the health of the Illinois valley, through
which it is to flow. Ten million more dol
lars will have to be spent before the canal
is in active operation; but the work is
prosecuted with such energy that its COM
pie ;on is looked for within the next two
years.
This is not to be a canal with locks to
regulate the flow of water, but an open
channel 160 feet wide at the bottom, and
eighteen feet deep. with plans for deepen
ing it still more in the future. When first
opeped it is 10 discharge ten thousand cubic
feet Of water per second, which is about )
per cent. of the amount now flowing
through Niagara river. The quantity of
water to be discharged is fixed by the Leg
lslature of the State with a view to pro-
tecting the valley of the Illinois from con-
tamination. When the population of the city
shall exceed three million. the quantity of
AZ ulSIildlS t II " " lllcTtdSeQ III DTODDF-
ton to the excess. The amount of the origi-
nal discharge Is. so great. that the engi-
water mark of the Mississippi one foot. at
| ST. Louis.
The accomplishing of such an enormous
enterprise is rendered possible by the pc
culiar physical geography of the great
lake,. Lakes Michigan and Huron are. prac-
tically, on the same water level, about $50
| feet above the sea, while Lake Erie is only
eight feet lower. Lake Superior is in an in
dependent basin twenty feet higher. The
haoin Of tho 1nUnr of these fhrQo lakoc -
so delicately poised that only four feet of
rock and two Of gravel at Chicago prevent
sippi valley at high water. The rock bot
tom of the Niagara, where 1t leaves Lake
rock Ekk shelf -" Which forms the bbarr nnTh v tne
of Chicago. An elevation of fifty feet at
Buffalo. or a depression of the same amount
| at Chicago. would reverse the drainage and
make the four upper lakes tributary 10 the
Mississippi. What nature could do so easily,
by the expenditure of the vast sums nupp par n,
their service by the city.
THE CITIES NOT CONSULTED.
This plan for the disposal of Chicago's
sewage has been devised by the city and
! the State without formal consultation with
the other parties whose interests NAV be
affected by it. 1t seems 10 be assumed that.
since the canal is wholly within the terri
tory OF Illinois. IL is not necessary to consid-
err the other interests involved. But the
ltlt dlonS Tic iOWtI lanes are 1ISt DfS1n-
ming to be aroused to a consideration of the
possible effect of this scheme upon the level
of the lakes. and upon the depth of the
water in their harbors and in the channels
which have been deepened at great expense
10 lacind s commerce TO their ports. The
petltioned the Secretary OF War 10 inyesti-
gate the matter at once. and ascertain what
proper measures may be Instituted Tor the
protection of all the interests at stake. In
response TO this action OF the Cleveland
| Chamber of m other cities on tne
lakes have joined in the request. so that
public attention will be occupied with tne
question to a large extent for some years
reference to the elements involved will not
be amiss.
The total drainage area Of the four un,er
lakes is go COO square miles. with a rainfall
OF about thirty-one inches. IL we reckon
that from 80 to 40 per cent. of this is now
| discharged through Niagara river (Which
is a liberal estimate), it would make the
amount to be about 2OO.O 900 cubic feet per
second. This accords very closely with the
estimate made by Major Ruffneu. the
United States engineer. in charge of the
survey of the lower part of Lake Erie. In
Rock. near the head of Niagara river. AS
a result of this investigation he concluded
a little over 10000 cubic feet per second
1t is not. however. an easy matter TO de-
termine how much the diversion of 10000
cubic feet. or ) per cent. will reduce the
level of the discharging stream. ard So of
the lake. AS the channel at Black Rock is
only about 1000 feet wide and twenty feet
deep. Major Ruffner estimated that the
diversion of 5 Per cent. OF the water flow
ing into Lake Erie will probably reduce
its level nine inches. The Chicago enyinsers
basing their calculations on earlier and
less perfect data, have been reckoning on
a lowering of the level OF from three "a
five inches only. But in view of the shall.
lowness of all the harbors on L.ake E-ie
and of the fact that the United States bas
but just completed its work of deenenane
the navigable channel two feet at a cos,
of S2.000,0c, even the lesser estimate is ~
no means an insignificant item. fSsnecia ~
does this appear in view OF the future in,
crease of the amount OF the DISCHARGE ,,non
the growth OF the city to its possible ex-
! tent.
Furthermore. IL should be kept In mind
that while the tax levy upon Chicaeo Is
made upon the substantial ground az nro'
noting the sanitary interests OF the citv
the interior object of insuring q shin canal
through which the largest ocean stea nere
snail reach the port OF the CITY IL nromis
nently kept In view. The complefiop ~ The
drainage canal will mark the pracficsi aro
compliehment OF that long-cherfshe draan,
The ensineers n charge freely talk OF
dtvertinE IS or % per cent Of the water
OF the great lakes into the illinois. N A
TO give such continuous volume 10 both thar