Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1902-08-02

Taxpayers Of Chicago are intensely
interested in the fight now in progress
for control Of the water power of the
Drainage Canal and the important Is
sues and possibilities therein involved.
The Board Of Drainage Trustees rep
resent the interests of the public. and
every public-spirited citizen devoutly
hopes that the contest will end in IA
vor of the board. To put the situation
In n nutshell. victory for the Drainage
Board means municipal light, power
and heat for the people of Chicago:
defeat means that the supplying OF
these necessities will be made source
of revenue for a private concern at the
expense Of the taxpayers of the dis
trict to the tune of about $4O,OOOUOO.
In the proceedings I'm the courts up to
date there have been two preliminary
contests, one in Judge Tuley's court,
the other In the court presided over
by Judge Elbridge Hanecy.
OF course these two discussions
have had Numerically opposite re.
suit. rs any one acquainted with the
two jurists In question. their views
and records on public matters might
suppose.
Judge Tuley's attitude In the phase
Of the case which came up In his court
was favorable to the peoples side of
the question.
Regarding the discussion before
Judge Hanecy. the Record. Herald had
the following editorial comment
which, in the opinion Of the Eagle puts
the situation In language terse and
and very much to the point:
There was nothing In the presenta.
tiOn OF the case Of the people by AttOr.
ney Robbins before Judge Hanecy yes
terday protesting against the stOppage
Of the work Of the Drainage Commits
sioners on the dam Mt Joliet to occasion
the court to lose its temper and refer
to the argument Of the attorney as q
sidewalk speech The stOppage Of the
work Is sought by parties who are try
Ing to seize through legal assistance
and court proceedings water power
which the taxpayers Of Chicago have
created by the expenditure OF som,
&4O.OOO,OOO.
"That Is the long and the short Of 1t
Without the drainage canal there II M
continuous water power Mt Joliet wOrtl
ex.Judge MOran's fee In this case
Without the drainage canal the Des
PLANES River Mt Joliet would be {
parched ditch through the summer
months and an inconsiderable strean
the rest OF the year. except during tn,
spring freshet. All that ex-Judg'
MOran's clients are after IL the prop
erty Of the taxpayers. As laymen WI
are surprised that Judge Hanec!
should hav" granted what Judge Tule!
In substance denied.
"Mr. Robbins II engaged In n figh
by and for the taxpayers, and 1t III he
comes any Judge to curtail his freedom
Of speech or bid him take the griev
ances Of the taxpayers to the newspa
pers."
The development OF the water power
between the controlling works ant
dam No. ] involves the construction Of
a long and deep tail race that will ex
tend from near the Elgin, Joliet ant
Eastern bridge, just north OF the STATE
penitentiary, to 10th street In Lock
port, where the new dam and power
mouse will be constructed. 1t Is pro
posed to install a plant at that poin
that will develop 24OOO-horse powe
when the full flow Of 100000 cubi
feet per minute is sent down the chan
mel.
The plans for the development hav,
been In the hands of the engineering
department Of the sanitary district 70
many months and the trustees hav
only been awaiting the time when tn
sentiment OF the taxpayers Of Chicag
would warrant their going ahead wit
the expenditure necessary for the do
velOpment Of the power. The entir
cost Of putting in the dam and power
house, constructing the tail race an
Installing the necessary machinery
estimated at close to S3.0OO,O 600, but i
return for this the district will have
constant water power that, 1t Is est
mated, viii net an annual income O
SGOO.OOO, or the interest on S12,OOO,OGl
As soon as the cofferdam Is construct
ed work on the permanent structur
viii begin.
%e~
These facts are sufficient argumen
in themselves why the Drainage Tru'
toes shnnll hAYe the united SUPPORT Q