Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-01-09
MORE WATER, DITTO.
FILTH, IS PROMISED
I'LL, VALLEY CITIES.
SANITARY DISTRICT REACHES
AGREEMENT OVER FLOW AS
PAClFIER TO U, S,-VOTE LARGE
SUM TO GOVERNMENT WORKS.

More water. and the glowing pros.
pect of more filth, is promised Ottawa
aud other cities OF the Illinois River
valley as a result Of action taken by
the Chicago Sanitary District board
n reaching a compromise on all the
ifferences that have raiscn over the
mount of water that may be drawn
rom Lake Michigan between the
Inited States government, the sani.
AIRY district, and the lake carriers.
nd to end pending litigation
The board passed an ordinance
nd by unanimous vote. which is
omcwhat significant in itself tend
,ring to the United States $4,000.
This sum would be spent by the fed.
,ral government to build compensat.
ug or contracting works in the st.
lair and Niagara rivers. The offer Is
,ased upon a report made to the war
apartment by federal engineers. that
uch works will preserve the lake
eyels OF Lake Michigan. Lake Huron,
nd Lake Erie. furnish perpetual
aleguard against the lowering OF
ueh lake levels to point where II
would be detrimental to lake uaviga.
ion, and remove the only objection
hat the government makes to the use
4 as much Michigan water by the
anltary district as Is necessary TO
'rotect the health Of Chicago
Asks Increase Of Flow.
III return for its cash the sanitary
istrict expects TO get an unqualified
,ermit, by act of congress, for the i'm.
1ediatc use of $4,000 cubic feet of
gater minute through the main
hannel, with provision that addition.
| water may be withdrawn. NJ to
2o,ooo cubic feet, as The population
Increases. the latter figure being the
1aXlmum that can be handled by the
'hannol and works as at present con.
'ructed. L you'd care for a popula.
ion Of approximately thrco and three.
'uariers millions aud satisfies Chca.
70 health necessities, il Is estimated.
Until 1892
To close the deal prompt congress.
'ional action ~ necessary Tho HI.
lois delegation in congress will be
'skcd this week by the sanitary board
unite IN o movement 10 have con.
yress approve of the proposition by
including an amendment in the pend
'ng national water power bill.
The failure Of congress to grant
Chicagos request may mean the
wreckiug of the recent sanitary dis
rict system limitation Of the How
70 a5000O cubic feet. os now sought
by the injunction suit Of tho federal
government that has been argued and
which awaits q decision from Judge
lands. and the construction then Of
All auxiliary sewage disposal system
at a cost estimated as high as $780,
100000 by The sanitary district en-
gineers and officials.
To Make Permit Law.
The compromise rendered by the or
iinance adopted contemplatos the
abrupt termination of the govern
ment's s suit before Judge Lands and
congressional legislation that will
convert into an actual statue the per.
nit OF the secretary Of war, under
which the sanitary district has been
acting since it reversed the current
of the Chicago river and turned In
the lake waters in 1901.
The ordinance does not admit the
contention Of the government that tho
lake levels have bean reduced by
the sanitary districts withdrawal Of
water. It does admit that the drain.
age canal is now drawing 100000
cubic feet per minute, IN compliance
with The requirement Of the Illinois
statute creating the district, and con.
tends that such quantity Is absolutely
necessary TO dilute Chicago's sewage