The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-30
CHICAGO'S CANAL.

II. S. Evans in Golfers Weekly.1
The Chicago drainage canal ranks
among the greatest engineering features
during the nineteenth century. AS an
artificial waterway its cross section is
larger than the Suez canal. Inc pro-
jected Panama canal will have but two
thirds the volume of water. The Mica
ragua channel will be no larger The
North Sea channel which provides a
short route for the commerce of Ger
many, alone of the modern waterways
constructed by man has a greater ca
pacity than that of the drainage outlet
of Chicago. Dredged to the same depth
as that of the German canal, the vol
ume OF water passing through this Hi
nOis outlet would be much more
Constructed for the drainage of Chi
Cages turgid and muddiest and hlthiest
of all streams-the open sewer of the
city-the channel was made large
enough to float the biggest of vessels
that sail or steam over the Great Lakes.
1t combines the functions of a ship
canal with a drainage duct.
The problem which confronted the
city ever since the municipality passed
its half million in population was the
disposal of sewage Chicago is built
upon ledge of the earth but ten feet
above the level of Lake Michigan. The
Chicago river and it's two branches
were originally sluggish lagoons wind
ing in and about sand Dunes They
were dredged and widened by early set
tiers, and were extended as the citv
grew to accommodate the growth of the
increasing commerce of the lakes. After
heavy rain the current of the river
was outward; at other times fiuctuating
with the rise and fall of the lake Chi
Cages water supply was and is drawn
from the lake.
The law creating the district requires
that for one part of sewage six parts
of lake water must be sent through the
canal. The minimum flow is fixed at
30U,OOO cubic feet per minute. That is
upon the estimatet4that Chicago now
contains 1900, 600 people When this
figure is exceeded by 100, 600, the flow
must be increased 10000 cubic feet every
minute. When the system of intercept
ing sewers and conduits, now in pro-
gress, is finished, turning the sewage
into the river, which now flows directly
into the lake, the population draining
into the channel will reach if not ex-
ceed,- 100000 souls, which will increase
the flow of Water-that is if the law is
obeyed-about 10000 feet eevry sixty
seconds. The dilution of the sewage
by the current that will flow in from
Lake Michigan is expected to make the
water of the Chicago river as clear as
that of the Hudson at Albany, and to
reduplicate on the wharfs of the river
the throngs of anglers that crowd into
all the open space on the banks of the
Seine near Paris.
The sanitary district was incorporated
in 1889; the first board of trustees and
directors was elected in December, and
in the following month there was or
ganization. The first spade of dirt was
turned at Joliet, September T. 1892. The
right of way has cost So, 163, 6S5. and the
construction to date is S22 O00. 900. The
other expenses, such as interest, salaries
losses. etc. make a granu total of $751;
100000. By the time all the work is done
the estimated cost is $33. ovv. 5000. OF the
amount already expended, S17,6O0.000
was secured by taxation, and s14, 600, 900
from the sale of bonds.
When the channel was originally
planned depth of fourteen feet was
deemed sufficient. But the trustees,
looking forward to ultimate connection
with the Gulf of Mexico. decided to
make the depth eight feet more, thus
securing twenty-five feet, and forming
the first link in the proposed outlet to
all the seas 1t would cost the govern
ment less than S25. 100000 to complete
the enterprise, and thereby make a way
for deep draught vessels from Liverpool
to Chicago.
The immediate effect OF the ship canal
is to extend the wharfage front of this
city ffty-six miles, giving to Chicago
five times the mileage now possessed by
New York city.