The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-19
PROF. WOODWARD
ON DRAINAGE CANAL
Tells Why Mississippi Water Is
More Foul Now Than
Before.
SEWAGE VOLUME IS GREATER.
Illustrates the Different Effects
Canal Had on the Illinois and
Mississippi Rivers and
Suggests Remedy.
SEWAGE VOLUME is GREATER.

How can you maintain that the degree
OF pollution in the Mississippi at st. Louis
is greater since the opening Of the drainage
canal, and at the same time admit, as you
must. that in consequence Of the large vol
ume of lake water mixed with the sewage
Of Chicago. the discharge OF the Illinois
River is much less impure than formerly.
when only q part of the Chicago sewage
was pumped undiluted into the Illinois
River?"
The above question, which would seem to
The Republic to Professor c. NJ. Woodward
recently and received substantially the fol-
lowing reply:
nal, whereby a large flow of water Is pos
sible, was necessary in order to partially
remedy the intolerable nuisance Of the open
Chicago to Joliet, and then, with small dilu-
ton. from Joliet to Grafton on the Missis-
sippi, The stencil of that open sewer and
ac-os the State. Moreover. the river bed
from Joliet to Grafton was foul with a
noisome deposit. rendering the river un-
clean and unapproaehable.
INCREASED SEWAGE DISCHARGE.
when Chicago proposed to increase the
sewage discharge to three or four times the
former amount. It was necessary to dilute
It enormously in order to escape condemna-
property on the banks Of the illinois River
Undoubtedly the condition of the Illinois
River is less Objectionable now than 1t was
While the sewage is three or four times
as great, the average volume Of the Illinois
RiSer Is perhaps six times as great; hence
the the, sewage !, se. mixture is not 50 strong. the
less foul. Another gain Is found in the in
creased navigability Of the kiver. Hence
Sns se on tbs s
are reconciled to the drainage canal. That
river is not as bad as it was
least, drink and cook with Mississippi wa
ter. Now let me show that while the I'LL
nois River is less foul than before. the
sippi Is much more foul. The volume Of
the Illinois was increased in a greater ra-
S t Sam the .; ,bs # the while
creased in a much smaller ratio than the
volume of sewage. Let me illustrate this
by more familiar matters.
TWO CISTERNS AS ILLUSTRATION.
Ing 100 barrels Of clean water. Into one
l put mixture Of a quart Of poison and
a quart Of clean water: into the second l
Fnons If Of clean gallon Of PssOn and
added to the second cistern is much less
strong than the mixture added to the first:
shaa shs Poison In the
strong as in the other. The cases are ex-
act!y parallel; the amount OF disease germs
ana normal sewage in the Mississippi River
formerly, while the volume of the water
holding It is not perceptibly increased"
suppose the flow Of lake water into the
drainage canal were to be increased?"
If the amount were doubled. the effect In
81. Louis would be practically nothing. On
the other hand. If the city Of Chicago were
to be doubled In population and its entire
sewage sent our way, the poison delivered
to US would be twice as rank as now
REMEDY THAT HE SUGGESTS.
What remedy is. then, possible. or, rath-.
er, practicable. for st. Louis?'
u.s. bs ts: raes ass % ID int
Missouri River away from all Chicago sew
age. and bring the water by a new conduit
to the pumps at the Chain Of Rocks"
How about the drainage Of the city OF st.
Carry 1t BY an. intercepting sewer to the
bottom lands below that city. and either
pump Il over the fields or discharge It into
the Mississippi"
PROCEEDINGS AT THE HEARING.
City Chemist Teichmann was again the
principal witness before Commissioner Bright
case Of Missouri against the State Of ILL
nois and the SANITARY District OF Chicago,
sitting at the Southern Hotel yesterday. The
evidence OF Mr.. Teichmann Is scientific and
the waters Of the Mississippi and illinois
rivers. Lake Michigan and the Drainage
Canal.
Testimony yesterday dealt specifically
with ANALYSIS made In 1900 and 1901; Sam
Gus points from Lake Michigan to the water
tap Mt the Chain of Rocks. The testimony
was illustrated with graphic tables and
charts; All the evidence given by Mr.. Teich-
mann has been direct. It Is thought he will
finish TODAY.