New-York tribune., 1901-01-28
TOPICS IN CHICAGO,
THE DRAINAGE CANAL AND THE CITf'S
HEALTH-SMALLPOX AND PULMON-
AIRY DISEASES-THE FIGHT
AGAINST BILLBOARDS.

winter than ever before in the history of Chi
cseo and smallpox is more prevalent in the city
to-day than il has been al any time during the
last FIVE years. Local physicians attribute both
conditions 10 the unusually mild weather that
has OF recent winters taken the place of Chica-
go's usually severely cold climate. and specula-
ton is rife as 10 just what part the opening Of
the drainage canal plays as a of existing
conditions Prier to the opening of the channel
il was predicted that the resultant drawing Of
the waters OF the northern lakes through the
new channel would tend TO lower the local tenn
perature, both winter and summer, but the re-
suits have been just the. contrary. year has
now elapsed since tho water first began TO flow
from Lake Michigan 10 the Illinois River, and
the records Of the local Weather Bureau show
that last summer one Of the hottest ever
experienced here. And further TO upset the the
ories Of the prophets before mentioned. the pres
ent winter has been one Of the most remarkably
unreasonable ones ever recorded in this city.
Days when overcoat was a necessity have
been the exception. and the few cold days have
been widely scattered among periods Of the mild
humid. ohangeable weather that is so admirably
suited for the development of diseases Of the re-
spirstory organs. No less than one hundred
thousand cases of grip were reported here some
ten days ago. and the mortality among the suf-
ferers was unprecedented in the history Of the
local Health Department.
But il the drainage canal is really to blame
for these conditions. it is unquestionably re-
sponsihle for startling decrease in the number
~ deaths from intestinal and other diseases d.
rectly attributable 10 an impure water supply.
Since the cty's sewage is no longer emptied into
Lake Michigan. whence the city water supply is
drawn. The daily water bulletins the result of
daily analyses OF the water at the various pump
ing stations. have been but seldom of nature
that warranted the consumer in sterilizng the
article before using it i'm his household. and
announcement that the water is only 'usable''
is the rare exception. Local physicians also at
tribute TO the weather the startling prevalence
Of smallpox throughout the city. The disease is
scattered all the city and the capacity n
the local pesthouse is taxed to the limit Ply
siosns in ali parts Of the city are advising i'm
mediate and general vaccination. The author!-
ties are exercising all possible vigilance TO pre-
vent further spread of the disease, but new
are reported daily, and there is little hope
that the pest viii he exterminated for some
months 70 come
According to a local iurist of some prom
inenoe in the community. Chicago went on a big
drunk At the time Of the Worlds Fair. and has
heen on debauch ever since" The remark in
question made apropos of the selection of
candidate for the Mayoralty the RepubIi-
can ticket and Judge Lorin c. Collins and the
man who accused the Windy City of bibulous
habits, went on 10 say that what it needed
a chief executive who would administer the af-
fairs OF the municipality on a businessike basis.
Judge Collins is working hard TO try recon-
ciIe the various factions Of the Republican party
and his remarks made in the course Of an
interview in which he declared that the sole SAL
\ walton Of the city. which he thinks is slow TO
realize that is not sharing in the general pros
perity, lies in the unifcation Of the local Repub-
hcsn factions and their support Of some honest
candidate with nothing Of the demagogue about
him. His efforts far from untimely. for the
appearance OF a new aspirant for Mayoralty
honors at the hands Of the Republican Larty
has become almost daily occurrence. Graeme
stewart Republican National Committeeman
from Illinois, long talked of as the most prom
ising Of the available Republican timber. has
formally decided not permit his name 10 be
used as a candidate for the office, that the
final selection is made more difficult than ever
and predictions as to the personality of the uIti-
mate candidate are yet impossible.
Members Of the local Art Association have
scored q triumph in their fight against bill
boards. At the last Council meeting an ordi-
nance was passed which prohibits the erection
OF maintenance Of billboaTds within two hun
ored feet OF any park, park boulevard drive
way. The association has been working to
cure legislation Of the for the last year, and
"hhe ats victory Is only a partial one, ii Will
remove many an eyes9re in sections that would
otherwise be really attractive portions of the
city. The billboard nuisance has, perhaps
hourished in Chicago in other city in the
country, and il has been no uncommon sight to
see the palace Of some local millionaire situated
on fashionable boulevard. hanked either
Sloe bH huge announcements Of the WRIT of
some popular brand Of lard soap or cigar Many
II the more fashionable residence districts are
even Yet but sparsely settled and the bill post
ers werc not slow TO appreciate and take ad-
vantage Of the advertising possibilities of the
situation.
AS q direct result Of the local crusade against
vice no less than seventy saloons have thus far
closed their doors and il is confidently expected
lhat many more viii follow a like course if the
enforcement Of the midnight closing and other
local blue law ordinances continues. Saloon
men support this view, and openly threaten that
unless relief from the Objectionable measures
u afforded them they VIII close every saloon
that can he controlled by the local Liquor Deal
ers' Association The city's revenue from each
saloon is 5000 yearly, that the closing of those
that have already been driven out of business
means the loss of sd 600 per annum in munc-
ipal revenue and II the saloon mems organization
Feeps its threat il is estimated that this amount
viii be increased nearly a hundredfold And
as the looping off Of So 100000 of the city's al
ductive Of no triaing complications. local tax
payers are watching the outcome Of the fight
with no little interest
Ordinances looking TO the abatement Of the
local smoke nuisance to be introduced at to-
morrow nights meeting Of the CITY Council
For some time efforts have been made TO pro-
hibit the burning Of soft coal within the city
limits. but they have been so far unsuccessful
thst Ghleago is now no longer second to Pitts
ourg IN the matter Of sooty atmosphere. The
proposed measure will provide that all stokers
and hremen at work in the city be examined and
licensed When they get careless they are 10 be
suspended from duty, and when they allow great
clouds Of smoke and SCOT TO roll from the Chin
ney tops they are TO have their licenses revoked
ana without this license they are not to be per-
mitted TO work in Chicago. Legal experts have
pronounced the old smoke ordinances excep-