Daily camera., 1900-03-12
THE CHICAGO CANAL.
Opening Of the Great Drain to the
= Illinois Metropolis
IAtosest Of the Surrounding COaRtry
In the Mammoth URdertaktaG-A
Dhipway to the Gulf
In View.

On the second day of January there
was practically completed a work
which, in its magnitude and possible re-
suits, is worthy of more than passing
notice. On that day canal was opened
by which it is intended to drain the
city of Chicago by carrying its sewage
into the Illinois and Mississippi rivers
instead of Lake Michigan.
Although Chicago is admirably stu
ated for the purpose Of railway COM
munication between the, east and west,
the site of the city is one of the poorest
imaginable. The ground is fiat and
marshy, in many places being overrun
by the lake waters. and it possesses no
river of any consequence. the so-called
Chicago river being little stream,
hardly worthy of being called creek
elsewhere. AS consequence, a great
portion of the built-up area 10 on
made" ground, that is, filled in above
its original level, and the underlying
soil is moisture-soaked to such an eN
tent that buildings Of any size require
TO be built on caissons something like
bridge piers.
That Chicago has overcome these
natural difficulties is to the credit OF its
enterprising people, but there was an
other difficulty which was not fore
seen. An absolute necessity for large
city is an ample supply of water, and
at first it seemed as if Chicago was par
ticularly favored in this respect. having
all Lake Michigan at its disposal. So it
would have proved had it not been for
the sewage which had to be disposed of
in some way.
The only feasible plan seemed to be
to run. the sewage into the lake. This
disposed nf ii very eNpeditiously, but as
the city drew its drinking water out of
the same lake. it was soon found that
the people were drinking their own
sewage. which was not only disagree
able. but disease breeding. II was
sought TO overcome this difficulty by ex-
tending the intakes further out into the
lake, and they were successfully extend
ed to a distance of four miles from
shore, but the water kept growing
worse and worse
Finally, it was recognized that the
only way TO secure water was to keep
all sewage out of the lake. and empty it
elsewhere, and for that purpose
drainage canal was conceived. The
work was begun in September. 1892,
but as it progressed the original idea
was expanded. and the canal was wild
ened and deepened with the ultimate
intention of making it a ship canal.
from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi
river.
At present it is simply a drainage
canal. Into it all the sewage of Chi
cago will rnn or be pumped. and it will
be diluted by water drawn from Lake
Michigan at the rate of 1000 cubic
feet minute. The filthy Chicago river.
instead of flowing into the lake. will
flow the other way. and the entire mass
will be carried to the Desplaines river.
thence into the Illinois river and final
ly into the Mississippi.
Of the value to Chicago of this canal
there can be no doubt, but other local.
lies have entered protests against the
work. The first opposition came from
The ports along the great lakes. be-
cause those towns feared that the di-
version Of so much lake water might
lower the Detroit river and interfere
with lake navigation. Civil engineers
maintain that the amaunt taken, al
though it seems large, will produce no
appreciable effect on the water level.
The other and strongest objection
comes from the people who live along
the Illinois river and the residents of
ST. Louis. Naturally. they object to
drinking Chicago sewage, no matter
how much ii may benefit Chicago. To
this Chicago replies that considerable
portion of its sewage has always gone
into the Illinois river. and now that il is
diluted with lake water it will be COM
paratively pure and wholly innocuous.
In effect, however. Chicago's reply is
that St. Louis may look out for itself.
Outside of these cities. the country
is chiefly interested in the ship cana!
feature. With a minimum of 20 feet,
vessels of considerable size may 20 from
Lake Michigan to the Gulf Of Mexico,
and the south and southwest will thus
be placed in cheap communication with
all the lake region from Buffalo to Du-
luth. To secure these advantages,
congress is to be asked TO deepen the
Desplaines and Illinois rivers. It will
not be done this year. or the next, butt
will be done. to the great benefit Of all
the country.-Golden Days.
Hard Bet to Win.