Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1899-08-26
The POWER BELONGS TO THE
PEOPLE.

to private parties of the water
power at the Lockport end of the SAM
tary canal in a report made to the
civic Federation by the special COM
mittee appointed to Investigate the
matter. This committee. composed of
VIM. a. Giles. Chairman; Franklin II.
Head. =. =. Greeley, Vim. W. Case and |
Il. II. Baldwin. states that 1t has inves-
tigated the utilization of the power |
and has come to the conclusion that 1t |
would be detrimental to the interests
of Chicago to allow other than public
development and control of the 10000
horsepower possible with the mini
mum flow of water contemplated and
required by law. The report says in the
outset. From the information secured
your committee Is unanimously of the
opinion that 1t would be great and
irretrievable mistake for the Drainage
Board ut the present time to lease the
water power ut its disposal to any pri-
yatc person or corporation whatever
for a long period of years" After re-
viewing the organization and history
of the sanitary district, the committee
concludes that the city and sanitary
district are practically one. and that
there should be no conflict of authority
or interests between the two. Regard
ing the bids for developing the power
received Aug. 90 the report says:
"Bidders are invited to make single
proposal for the creation Of water
power at both sites and to submit de.
tailed plan Of development. Separate
bids are also invited for the water
power delivered to the wheel In case
the Board should decide to construct
the dams and race itself. While II
seems we'll enough to obtain rs much
light as possible in this way. your com.
mit,ee Is Of the opinion that 1t would
be very unwise TO accept any private
bid until far more time has been allow
ed for the investigation of the real val
tie of the water power. and especially
of It's availability for municipal pur-
poses In the city Of Chicago" In dis
cussing the value Of the water power
to the city the committee finds rs fol-
| lows:
"The net horse power Of the falls
means the power remaining for actual
work after enough has been used tn
turn the water wheels. The Drainage
Board has about 10000 horsepower
net at Its disposal even when the chan
mel carries only the minimum quantity
of water continuously night and day.
Converted into electricity and conduct.
ed tn centers OF distribution In Chicago,
this would yield over 10000 horse
power to the sub-statiOns, which Is
more than enough to light the entire
city of Chicago by maintaining nm cleo.
tric lamp at every street corner In the
improved portions OF the city. For that
purpose about 10000 lamps would be
required, consuming not over 14.W
horse power. From practical tests that
have been made 1t Is concluded that the
actual cost Of producing this power by
steam during the hours Of night could
not he reduced below $50 per horse
power.
"The cost at which the water power
of the canal would be delivered In Chi
cago il much less. The dams and races
could he built for 81, 100000, and fur
Their outlay Of S1,5OO,OOO would he re-
auIred for the construction OF the
works necessary to convert the power
into electricity, conduct II TO Chicago
and distribute 1t to consumers. These
items give total capitalization of ~,
100000. upon which interest must b'
computed ut 4 per cent. rs fxet
charge. Making n proper allowance
for depreciation and repairs and addln'
the expenses of operation, we find, M
Is more fully shown In the appendix
that S15 would cover the cost per horse
power delivered at the substatiOns, an,
that the city could save money even 4
1t had to pay out of its own treasur!
: the total cost Of development ana /
rental Of $40 per horsepower net he
, sides. This item Of So correspond
: substantially 10 the offer of 81 pc
horsepower which was recently befor
the Drainage Board for consideration.
ON the subject of the city's right 4
sell or rent power from the works pro
. posed the committee expresses III
. opinion that legal objections could ID
avoided by the city's obtaining from
the sanitary district lease of tn
whole water power, In which case
would have the right to dispose O
whatever part of II could not be use,
for lighting streets and other municipal
! needs. In case of extreme measure
D being necessary to secure this power I
the city the committee Is of the Opinio
t that the Legislature could he appeale
I to successfully. The simplest and mos
= direct method, It Is held, would be fo
the sanitary district TO construct tn
Y dams and races necessary. As to III
legal authority to do this the committe
+ thinks there can be little doubt, and tn
e opinion Is expressed that the distric
= can transmit the power to Chicago owe
, IT, own right of way beyond dispute
= Til. city Of Chicago could also lcgit
matoly engage in the work of develop
Ing and transmitting the power, 1t
claimed.
The committee states that anOthe
y reason for not Immediately develOpn
: the power Is the fact that new invel
p tiOns and discoveries are constant
g being made that cheaper the cost G
o development. So rapid has been tn
i advance, it IL said, that since the II
r port was drawn IL has been learne
e thar AT the Snoqualmle falls, near 81