The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-29

enough and deep enough to accommodate
ocean steamers drawing twenty three feet
OF water. These facts have converted the
| valley people, or at least a majority OF
them. into friends of the drainage channel.
In addition, certain towns along the river
will be benfted in the matter Of water
power
Joliet, for example, VIII have, owing to
the dam and tail race constructed by the
sanitary district in the Desplaines River,
water power which will represent capl-
| talization of nearly 81. 600 600. Ottawa and
| other cities will have a volume of water
which win make possible the development
Of valuable water power. which will act as
\ a stimulus to manufacturing enterprises.
| Already Ottawa is considering a plan for
| the development of valuable water power
| and her citizens believe that the opening
of the channel will ultimately result in
her great advantage commercially.
Overflow on Valuable Lands.
Recognizing all the possible benefits
that the channel may bring, hundreds OF
| residents OF the valley are opposed to the
enterprise because they believe it will
destroy a vast amount OF valuable land
along the Illinois River. During flood
times in the Desplaines River many thou
sends OF acres along the banks OF the llli-
nois are under water. and there are great
plantations the owners of which spend
thousands OF dollars yearly in pumping
water from their lands.
rise of two or three feet in the level
of the Illinois River undoubtedly means
the destroying of untold acres of land
which are now corn bearing. Accordingly.
hundreds Of property owners are bitterly
opposed to the drainage channel and stand
ready to the district for damages the
moment their lands become flooded. The
interest represented by this class has all
along insisted that before the water was
turned into the channel the State dams at
Henry and Copperas Greek should be re-
moved. In order TO appease this clement
clause was placed in the law creating
the sanitary district which made IL i'm
perative that these dams should be re-
moved before the water was turned in.
When II came time for the removal of
the dams the Illinois and Michigan
Canal Commissioners, in the name of the
State. filed bill seeking to enioin their
removal, upon the theory that it would
destroy navigation. Back of them stood
thousands OF spectators who had pur-
chased almost worthless lands for a song.
with view TO catching the tide coming or
going. II their speculative purchases were
flooded by the channel they stood in po
sition to mulct the sanitary district for |
damages. II 1t acted the other way the |
lands would become infinitely more val
liable.
With such stand the river men. who be-
lieve that the blowing out Of the dams |
will lower the river to point where navi- |
cation will be destroyed. AS the case is
now, the trustees are enjoined from re-
moving the dams which the law impera- |
lively declares must be, removed. The !
water has been turned in and the dams |
will remain unless the Supreme Court
says they shall be taken out The same |
conflicting interests have had trouble over
the Government dams at Kampsville and
Lagrange. and an attempt was made to
get them removed.
This gives some idea OF the adverse and
conflicting interests that have been
brought into play by Chicago's s33. O00. 900
ditch Just how the VARIOUS towns will be
affected by it remains to be seen.