The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-05-13
CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL.
ing Permission for the Opening
of the New Channel.

Washington, May 9.-The following
is the order of the secretary of war
opening the drainage canal at Chi
cago:
Whereas, By section 10 of an act of on
sress, approved March 3, 1899. entitled
An act making appropriations for the
construction. repair and preservation OF
certain public works on rivers and har-
bors, and for other purposes II Is pro-
vided that it shall not be lawful to alter
or modify the course. location, condition
igable water of the United States unless
the work has been recommended by the
CHER of engineers and authorized by the
secretary OF wal prior to the beginning
OF the same; and
Whereas, The sanitary district of Chi
cago. a municipal corporation organized
under the laws of the state of Illinois.
has constructed an artificial channel from
Robey street. Chicago, to Lockport, and
has been heretofore granted permission
By the secretary of war to make certain
improvements in the Chicago rive for
the purpose of correcting and regulating
the cross section of the river so as TO
secure a flOwage of 100000 cubic feet per
minute with a velocity of one and one
quarter miles an hour, 1t being intended
10 connect the same artificial channel
with the west fork of the south branch
said city Of Chicago; and
Whereas, The said sanitary district Of
Chicago has now applied to the secretary
OF war for permission to divert the wa
tiers of the said Chicago river and cause
them to flow into said artificial channel
at Robey street as aforesaid; and,
Whereas, The aforesaid district of Chi
cago represents that such movable dams
and sluice gates as are necessary to, at
al! times, secure absolute and complete
control Of the volume and velocity of Now
through the Chicago river have been con-
Structed:
Now. therefore. the chief of engineers
having consented thereto, this is TO GER
THY that the secretary of war hereby
GiVe s permission TO said sanitary district
of Chicago to open the channe con.
structed and cause the waters of Chicago
river to flow into the same, subject to
the following conditions:
l. That it be distinctively understood
that It is the intention of the secretary of
with the work of the sanitary district
o, Chicago, to congress for consideration
ana final action, and that this permit
shall be subject to such action as may
Re taken by congress.
.. That If at any time IL becomes ap-
parent that the current created by such
drainage works in the south and main
branches of Chicago river be unreason-
ably obstructive to navigation or injurious
II property, the secretary of war re-
serves the right to close such discharge
through said channel or to modify it to
such extent as may be demanded by navi-
cation and property interests along said
Chicago river and its south branch.
. That the sanitary district of Chicago
must assume all responsibility for dam
age to property and navigation interests
by reason of the introduction of a current
In Chicago river.
Witness my hand this eighth day of
May, 1888.
ISIgned.l r. A. ALGER.
Secretary OF War.
JOHN NJ. WILSON. Brigadier General,
Chief of Engineers, L.. S. a.