New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-28
HASTE IN CHICAGO ENTERPRISES.
CANAL BEFORE CONGRESS CAN ACT
NEW ELEVATED RAILROAD TO BE
OPERATED BEFORE YEAR CLOSES


Chicago. Dec. 81 (speciaD. D.-Capital and labor in
two instances each of great public import to Chi
cago are engaged in struggle against time in the
closing days Of the year
After years Of waiting, Chicago nearing COM
petion the great drainage canal. that will carry
her sewage away from Lake Michigan and cause
It to flow down through the State, into the Missis
sipp River. just above ST. Louis. The first signh-
of this project is to insure pure water
supply TO Chicago. AS 1t has developed into the
largest artificial canal In the world on which more
than $50 900 900 has already been spent, the people
are looking forward TO giving the enterprise a more
dtgnihed mission. in the way Of eventually making
IT link In a channel the from the Great
Lakes
The canal has aroused antagonlsm all through
that part OF Illinois where ii will dump its fetid
waters into the Des PLANES River, and thence into
the Illinois and so down to the Mississippi. The
people along the valleys of these streams dread the
contamination from the dirt and filth of a great
city, and further than that they decidedly un-
settled to what the effect may be Of the body
Of water that will be turned from Lake Michigan
In their direction
The canal authorities admit that the canal Will
keep the valleys In question at perpetual flood
area. and this IN addition the sanitary ques-
ton is the subject that has caused the great fight
against the opening Of the canal ST. Louis has
lent her aid the fight against Chicago to prevent
the opening, and If she succeeds in getting Con-
gress 10 take action on the matter before the Com
mssoners ready TO turn the water into their
ditch a halt will be called in the proceedings that
may make great trouble for Chicago Hence the
Commissioners are bending every effort in these
the closing days OF the year. to get the canal into
condition to open In the first days OF January. II
they succeed Chicago will hail the occasion as a
gala day. but if the opposition manages to arouse
Government interference before the opening there
will be another long period Of litigation over the
project.
A similar case OF a struggle against time is that
of the Northwestern elevated road. This project
has been under way a number Of years. with the
promoters never hurrying much. because of the
unsettled state Of municipal railway business in
Chicago. They nave had extension after extension,
the last 10 expire on December 81 at midnight.
The project Is controlled by the Yerkes interest,
and little a month ago II developed that the
Union elevated loop. controlled by the same men.
city because the city authorities forbade the con-
struction OF private entrances to elevated aons
from all buildings that desire the accommodation
I'm the immediate vicinity. The city resented this
ing the promoters that they could not have
tension Of the Northwestern franchise, and. more
over. # the road not finished within the time
limit the city would declare forfeited the 100000
deposited by the company. Three shifts OF men
were Immediately put TO work and while the
superstructure was only partially constructed AT
tho time the question arose last night saw the last
great steel girder swung into place. and another
forty-elght hours Will all the ties and rails
ready receive a train. The officials absolutely
OF the line. out In Lake View. on Sunday next at
noon and make the opening trip. though II VIII be
some weeks II not months. before the road Is
thrown open 10 traffic.