New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-22
WHAT CHICAGO TALKS OF.
DRAINAGE CANAL NOT AN ENTIRE sue
CESS-HOW TAXPAYERS WERE
DELUDED.

drainage canal headed for the Gulf OF Mexico and
the inhabitants Of this city are trying 10 believe
that they have pure water TO drink and that the
pestiential features Of the Chicago River gone
to return no more. II takes much Imagination.
however. and even those who gifted IN this
respect have been severely Jared by the latest
ports from the Health Commissioners Office From
every station IN the city the warning Wednes-
day night Boil the water before drinking" and
citizens began to ask each other II the city had
spent over Ss3,Oo0o0O for a huge gold brick
The opening of the great ditch which mars the
face OF nature for mora than twenty-nine miles.
the most stupendous anti-climax in the history
Of public undertakings. Unable to carry out their
project TO poIUte the waters OF the Despaines and
Illinois rivers in dignihed and public manner, the
nine Sanitary District Trustees sneaked out OF the
city between two days d special train, for the
purpose OF lowering the beartrap Lockport and
sending the turgid food its long Journey. They
were bound to defeat St. Louiss legitimate en-
deavor TO have the courts pass upon their legal
right to befoul the waters OF the valley streams.
and determined TO carry out their purpose even to
the extent of becoming lawbreakers.
After the bill asking for relief IN St Louis's
name had been filed. the trustees provided them
selves with money TO for bail in case Of ener-
gency and with guns" in case OF the appearance
of United States marshals with Injunction writs.
and put their hands into the taxpayers pockets
for the money hire special train for nearly
twenty-four hours. IN the end their plea 10 the
Governor and the Special Commission bore fruit
and they were not compelled to become lawbreak-
ers. Worn with lack OF sleep and with excitement.
they accomplished the opening" without so much
citizen of Chicago IN attendance to say
The next day members Of the Board were eagerly
scanning the river in search OF pure water WnIcn
s sts5 had + pot been for the heavy rainfall
which has sent the accumulated Nth OF the city
opening and Conclusion Of great enterprise, but
the newspapers and the public are silent Iney 90
even call attention 70 the fact tnat we taS
creating the sanitary district IS being vloIatea c
on the point and yet the trustees admit that Il
tain Il il. The Channel was opened in haste, and
many believe that the trustees viii repent OF - at
leisure They know that in the end the sanitary
az tb vsIIev riers and meet It squareIy and that
the act OF the trustees in opening the channel as
they did will avail nothing, II the courts, decide
against them The members of the Board, now
ever, declare that there is no danger OF pollution
when tbs channel has been working two 49, -
They say that the river and the peg OF Ile an
have been accomplishing Chicago's NTH tor yeaTd
carry it away in a day or two
There is another danger, however. OF which the
trustees speak only in whispers What will the
United States Government do when it learns about
the current which 1t now seems certain Will De
created in the Chicago River2 With dow OF not
more than one hundred thousand cubic feet
minute a current has been created Of between
eighty one-hundredths OF mile and one and one
quarter miles according TO the varying width OF
the stream It is certain according to hydraulic en-
sand cubic feet Is sent through the gates OF the
controlling works a current exceeding three miles
an hour Will result. The maximum allowed oy law
is three miles and fraction beyond this will De
the signal FOR the Government TO call a halt The
dream Of the Sanitary Trustees OF being able 10 in
crease the flow to six hundred thousand cubic feet
when the population OF the district requires II has
gone for 1t would mean the total destruction or
shipping interests in the river Even now the trgs.
tees admit TO each other that this VII rnea9 me
spending Of millions IN widening the chicago River
population of the sanitary district? II seems likely
that the taxpayers have rsached tneir unit aad
sompleted in The chain that will ultimately bind
the frozen waters Of the North with the Gulf on
the South. Here again the taxpayer. in the tudg-
dGced to pay nearly $50 O00oGS on the theory that
he was building the rst stage OF me gTeatest snP
could have been dug FOR Chicago by the expenditure
600 so 900 coo and complete the enterprise
doing this there is grave doubt The fact is lost
sight OF that long ago the Government recognized
lions, Engineer Marshall has built a fine harbor
ests Of the city have recognized the inevitable.
idy reoHn to he Caue where ths Govern
ment has been spending g for every spent in the
Chicago harbor. TO those not blind this means
that the future deep waterway channel is not
by way OF the dralnage often, Inc Goyernment mas
is by way OF the old Calumet feeder leading direct
Illinois and Michigan canal and thence BY the way
Of the Hennepin Canal 10 the Mississippi. Other
wise, why would the Government be building the
Hennepin Canal?
The dilemma in which the Supreme Court has
placed the taxpayers OF this city and county by
deciding that Section 70 Of the new revenue law
is invalid is bordering the Iudicrous. The tax
payer finds that he has had biinkers put on him.
while he has been robbed after having been de-
luded and coddled The Civic Federation is
gagged in the hopeless task Of saving the poor tax
payer from the folly Of his creduIity. The decision
Of the court makes the taxpayer liable TO pay
rate between and u per cent, where he was
sured by the Legislature that he would not have
to pay to exceed per cent Acting on the slim
illus given in the assurance OF a reasonable rate.
the taxpayer has the majority OF cases refused
to pay tribute 10 the hxer and has fled toll
eraby honest schedule Of his personal property
has placed his real estate at something near its
real value. Now he has 10 suffer for his honesty.
and there is a pretty kettle Of fish
The Civic Federation is sending committees 10
nplore the various public bodies that are entitled
to revenue not 10 accept all that is coming
them. The Illinois Manufacturers Association
which is blessed with a bright press agent and
more property than Its members care TO pay big
taxes on. is begging the Governor 10 call special
session Of the Legislature 10 pass remedial legis-
fSrsi1s1e T7osrd 1vyo dsvs &C. 15sT bov bad de-
az & 5000 - S-i - oD1 aLC'I-
s. 00 coo less than the decision entities IL to- The
PARK ta 9oaTas Las S3Sl Bo5sq ana SJn nS
now the Civic Federation has appealed TO the pub
lie in meeting assembled Outside OF the
laughable spectacle OF the Federation trying get
the bankrupt city administration and the penlilsSs
county administration 10 abstain from putting
the thumbscrews. there are other things which
cause the people who do not have to pay taxes 10
smile. The pig represented BY the taxpayer. was
led blndly into the poke by the Chicago Real
Estate Board. which originated the revenue law
and fathered Il in successful Journey through the
Legislature. The real estate said the law
would relieve the taxpayer from paying tribute 10
dishonest assessors. and would bring the valuation
OF property in Cook County into the billions. There
would be revenue and 20 spare. they claimed, be-
cause the very rich man would pay his Just pro-