New-York tribune., 1900-01-03
CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL OPEN.
WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN TURNED INTO
CHANNEL. LEADING TO THE MISSISSIPPI

WATERS OF LAKE MICHIGAN TURNED INTO
CHANNEL LEADING TO THE MISSISSIPPI
Chicago. Jan 2-The .SSs0oo.0OO drainage canal at
present used for sewage disposal but ultimately 10
be a ship canal also is in use to-day, after seven
wears of hard work by the trustees OF the Sani-
tary District. which is the name of = corporation
including the larger part OF the city or 'nicaso
and many of its suburbs. At least the Chicago
end of it is in use, but the water has not vet
reached the other end at Lockport ILL.,. and will not
reach il until tomorrow
-F,robably-asxer r-hsfore has the completion of a
public work of such magnitude been marked VITA
such absolute lack of ceremony There were no
snAacbes no exercises and cheering. About \
A m the Sanitary District trustees and engineer
ga hered at the scene Beside the rev Workhieh
there were not a dozen other spectators present
There was no grand rush of water followed oy 'he
.baers of snectators Indeed the opening of the
canal resembled more the tiny stream OF water tnat
flowed through the Holland dixie and grew larger
and larger until it swept a great hole IN the "aH
of earth That is the the great canal was
onsned This method was used TO avoid the danger
Of sudden rush of waters. but 1t robbed the open
ing of all impressiveness.
What is called the collateral channel mad oeen
completed for some time from branch OF tle
Chicago River in the southwestern part OF the cty
10 within fifteen feet of the main canal On Mon
a.. night a steam dredge began TO cut away this
wall of earth but the work had not been hnished
when the Sanitary District trustees arrived on tne
.cana this morning Shortly before a m. little
straann of water was flowing through the hole IN
the l5-foot wall 1t backed up against slulce gate
and at 9 O'Clock the gate was opened by TINS
time the dredge had cut away some more earth
and more water came through. When this ran on
the ice-covered bed of the main channel the great
canal had been opened The men at work on the
earth dam tried a charge of dynamite 10 remove an
ice lam that interfering with the now OF water
hut the opening not enlarged
At last the dredge worked close up TO the dam
of earth and big hole in the dam A cohSiu-
era bIa stream Of water through. hut the
dredge continued for hours to cut away the wall OF
Garth Finally the cut in the dam was discharg-
ing cubic feet of water Tplnute. and the HOW
was strong down the canal The dredge continued
at work all day. as to make the dsCharSe 9OvO
cubic feet or more a minute. The canal has been
built TO carry 100000 cubic feet minute, but only
about $1,000 feet a minute will be admitted until
the channel Is full. IF the Chicago River had been
feet a minute the engineers would nave feared
for the safety of the numerous bridge piers IN the
canal and of the controlling works at Iockport and
of the city of Joliet, forty miles away There would
from a sudden fall OF water and consequent in
rushing from Lake Michigan.
On Wednesday about noon, the water is expect
ed reach LoCkpOrt. and about four days from
the the flow began, according to the estimate
of the chief engineer. the canal viii be fun and
the water will begin TO over the sls of the
from Chicago. There it will fail into the Des
PLANES River and flow into the Illinois and Mis-
sissippi rivers and finally Lake Michigan will flow
into the Gulf OF Mexico.
the effect the Chicago River of the opening Of
the canal This stream. which is objectionable
in its present condition. Is expected to be cOmpara
lively pure, and certainly 10 lose all its objection
able features from a sanitary point of view. when
the present stagnation gives way a full, strong
current from Lake Michigan.