Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-03-17
WATERWAY IS MORE
ELABORATE THAN NO.
3 PLAN Of DUNES
FULL DETAILS FOR UTlCA-JOLlET
LINK ARE DISCLOSED WITH
RESERVATION OF LOWDEN'S
BILL IN LEGISLATURE.

PRESENTATION OF LOWDENs
BILL IN LEGISLATURE.
I Complete details of the new water
way. which, introduced in the House
and Senate have been revealed
The river route proposed ia the
law of 1910 is adhere to, but deos not
include as a fixed part Of the plan the
portion Of the Illinois and Michigan
canal from Joliet to the Illinois river,
il now being proposed to use the
river route entirely unless unforeseen
complications arise that absolutely
prevent this, in which event the state
IS authorized TO construct channels
outside the river to such extent as
may prove necessary.
Eliminating the canal plan reduces
ne number Of locks by four The
bill presented Tor action 10y the pres
cnI legislature cOutemplatea total
of only four locks the entire 90 miles
from Lockport to La Sale
The 1913 law provides for locfs
with minimum dimensions of IS to
50 feet in width, and a length OF 80
10 a0r feet which were not in accord
with federal government vieWk o.
adequate navigation The present
bill provides for locks 10 feet wide
with a usiblc length of t.0 feet. cap
able OF passing fleet carrying five
to seven thousand tons Of freight
an equivalent capacity to that pro
yided by two and half present day
troight trains.
Oppo-ition was met to the plans
of the waterway in the 1915 law from
cities along the route. resulting in u
lot of engineering details being put
into he bin with no opportunity for
surveys and field work in advance
It has been found the bin provides
for engineering at some points m
possible OF economical accomplish
mcnt and at other points prohibits
engineering deemed essential to
proper protection Of communities
and people, requiring unnecessary cx-
paHditme OF millions OF dollars.
Dimensions are General.
The present bill eliminates all en-
geenmg details authorize the con
structiou Of the waterway fixing only
general dimensions and water levels
at two points only, joliet and Ottawa.
whore the greatest change in this
particular will be made
The general Dimensions of the wa
tcrway are TO be IT," feet bottom
width, which will mean top width of
from 2G0 to 300 feet The minimum
depth in earth sections will lie eight
feet, the same as the 1913 bill. The
latter did not give minimum depth
for depth in rock sections or for
inter sills of locks to which federal
engineers raised objections. To
avoid future objections and minimum
depth through rock sections is fixed
AT 100 feet and over inter silis of
meet federal approval and are in ac-
cord with the general plan of nayi
cation Improvements for the Ohio
AID Mississippi rivers It permits OF
making a continuous navigable depth
OF II feet without great expense at
some time in the future should the
channel OF like depth be provided by
the government in the Ohio and Mis-,
sissippi or Illinois rivers. where the
nayieahle depth does not now exceed
the cities and villages for approval,
In the case objections are raised. the
bill contains a section provided for
arbitration and settlement of all dis
pu.ed question: Arising in connec-
ton with the plans. The cities and
a navigation of six to nine feet
The present bill provides when
plans have been developed that will
change physician conditions in any
city along tie route of the waterway
before any work is begun. the plans
shall be submitted TO the officials of
villages along the route are enabled
to pass upon plans after actual field
work and surveys and with full know.
ledge OF results of any changes This
Ensures protection to the COmmuni,
ties along the route. and avoids cum
gineering provisions in advance Of
knowledge of what is actually re-
The bill prCidos for WatprpoWpr