Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-14
CITY SAFEGUARDED
IN WATERWAY BILL
AGAINST FLOODS
GOVERNOR LoWDENs PLAN TO
MAKE SAME WATER LEVEL s
as ESTABLISHED BY GOVERNOR
DUNE LAW.

DUkNE LAW.
Fears that Ottawa would be subjec
to Hoods and excessively high waite
the year round were quieted down yes
terday with the presentation in bot
houses Of the legislature OF Governo
Lowdens revised plan for building ;
deep waterway The bill estatlishe
water levels at OuaWa similar Il
those embodied in the Dunno No.
plan. Through it a million dollars
worth Of sewer systems vii. be saveC
from destruction,
IT was intimated when the legisla
tive machinery was set to work OF
the bills, four in number, that ii haste
is used in getting them turned out
work on the waterway VIII be able
10 start next fall This would insure
employment OF hundreds Of men. The
bill, as proposed provides for a $50.
GH009o proposition, under the bono
issue already authorized by the state
1t provides use Of the river route
between the l=ockport power plant and
the head of navigation on the Illinois
River at La Sale, with long locks anc
at least an eight-foot channel. with .
fourteenfoot depth if necessary The
latter contingency is based unon what
the feedral government may do wher
it dredges a channel in the Missis
sippi River.
Must Get Federal Permit
Before anything can be done by tn,
legislature the federal government
through the war department, must
issue a required permit, covering the
Gowage from Lake Michigan.
Statements by Director Frank l.
Bennett and Of Superintendent of Wa
terways William L. Sackett. who re
Gently have returned from Washing
ton. indicate that such a permit may
reasonably be expected
"lf the legislature gives us quick
action on the bill We have prepared, "
said Mr.. Bennett, and federal officials
approve, as | think they will we can
start work on this great project early
this fall and give employment 10 hun,
dreds Of men.
"Isour bills will be required to carry
out our plans-one authorizing the
construction of the waterway; one
providing for the bond issue in pay
ment OF construction, one providing
for the appropriation, and one pro
yiding for a resuryey Of the Illinois
and Michigan Canal to establish its
definite limits, il being necessary al
points to merge the canal into the
larger channel proposed and at other
points to utilize it as a feeder to in
dustries, and to provide harbor and
terminal facilities for boats nayigat
ing the larger waterway.
Changes in New Bill.
William l.. iSackett. superintendent
of waterways, recitcd the previous ef
forts to start the canal, and said
In October. 1917, Governor Low
den again sought federal authority tC
start the work Engineers were EN-
ployed objections of federal engi
neers were considered, and it was
found a new bill was required The
bill now prepared presents pIar
which accords with the genera
scheme recommended by federal en-
eineers in connection with the i'm
proyement of the rivers of the mid
die west
THE river route proposed in tn,
law of 1915 is adhered TO, but doe.
not include as fixed part of the plar
the portion of the Illinois and Michi
gan Canal from Joliet to the Illinois
River. it now being proposed to ust
the river route entirely unless unfore
seen complications arise, in which
event the state is authorized to con
struct channels outside the river
Eliminating the canal plan reduce;
the number of locks by four, contem
plating but four locks the entire dis
tance of sixty miles from Lockpor
to La Sale
Locks to Be 1to Feet Wide.
The present bill provides for lock
10 feet wide with a useable lengtl
of 500 feet, capable of passing fleet
carrying five to seven thousand ton
of freight. The present bill eliminate
ali engineering detail, authorizes tn
construction of the waterway, fixin
only general dimensions and waite
levels at two points only, Joliet an,
lOttawa. where she greatest change il
'ahis particular will be made
The general dimensions of the wa