The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-11
RIVER AT 8 A. M.
.TRE ENTERING wEDsE.v

A large slice in that enormous steal,
the river and harbor bill, was the ap-
preparation for the so-called Chicago
"harbor." Seven hundred thousand
dollars were appropriated, not to
improve the harbor, for all has
been done to that that was demanded
and the several million dollars used
could do, but to deepen and widen the
river in the city and past the limits
hitherto kept by the general govern
ment for its harbors. That policy has
been to provide for commerce a refuge
in case of storm by widening and deep
ening the outlets of rivers, extending
piers into the lakes or ocean and con-
structing out breakwaters. Until the
precedent was established in the last
bill of carrying federal improvements
up the Chicago creek the shore line
has been the limit Of governmental
work. But now a precedent has been
established that bids fair to make
hundred-million-do river and har-
Dor bills common thing.
The constant trend of lake shipping
has been towards larger and larger
freighters. This necessitated wider in
terror accommodations for them and
deeper channels, inner and outer. The
demand is for twenty-foot channels at
least. The government met this want
at the 800" in constructing its canal
and is meeting it on the St. Clair flats.
Cities on the lakes are dredging their
inner harbors to meet the new demand
where they desire to increase their
commerce. But Chicago was placed
in a dilemma by this new demand of
commerce and also by the narrow har-
Dor lines fixed before that city had its
greatness thrust upon it. The creek is
not only too narrow to admit easy han
ding of the great freighters, but years
ago Chicago built and later gave to
Mr.. Yerkes several tunnels connecting
streets on opposite sides of the creek.
The tops Of these tunnels are but six
teen feet below the surface of the water.
Inc deepening Of the river requires
either the abandonment or sinking of
the tunnels. So far the matter has been
discussed as If the city or the railway
companies will have to sink them; lat
.-er we may expect that the general gov
is Chicago's way.
When the widening of the creek was
proposed the engineer officer reported
that it could not be done except al
great cost, as land would have to be
condemned, buildings destroyed, a new
harbor line fixed, and the tunnels low.
cred, and recommended the enlarge.
ment and Improvement of the South
Chicago harbor. His recommendation
was set aside and 100000 appropriated
for improving the creek. A Chica &c
paper, commenting on it, said that
this sum was "only the enterine
wedge" So it is, and how wide a sn1i1
it will make in the federal treasury on
of which will pour how much tax-taker
III
Sellers can compass. The Chronicle
now says the appropriation is sufficien
to pay for the land taken, but. O
course, there will be damages to nav
and congress will be asked to appro
pirate this additional sum when i
shall be ascertained." And all this
not for the commerce that makes it
but for the private interests Of Chi
cago and Of some of it's citizens.
Another complication will set in t,
be relieved by the federal treasury
Chicago is constructing drainag,
canal to carry off it's sewage, nov
thrown into the creek and carried on
to the lake to mix with the pure waite
and be returned, diluted more or less
to the water mains. The canal ha.
depth Of some twelve or fourteen feet
When the creek is dredged to twent,
feet it's greater depth will furnish ,
nice resting place for the sewage, i'm
parting to the creek it's present ricl
doors and seeping out into the lake t,