Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-03-03
CON CON IS ASKED
TO END POLLUTION
OF ILLINOIS RIVER
VALLEY CITIES SEND DELEGATES
TO SPRINGFIELD TO SECURE
FAVORABLE ACTION AGAINST
MiSNAMEO CHICAGO SANITARY
DISTRICT.

Far into the rather hay future, il
the drift of public opinion straWs cen
ne relied upon to point the way 10 II
highly desired end Ottawa may find
itself eventually rid Of Illinois river
stencil caused by Chicago's innate de
sire to spread itself all over the hi.
noiS map. keeping for itself the good
and giving to the "rurali,es Of down
state all its NTH and corruption Il.
the form OF sewage, corruption and
all their cohorts, to smte the noses
and destroy the health of a few huu.
drcd thousand residents Of he great
and pOpulous valley
The constitutional convention now
in session at Springfield has been
asked by an organization Of river mt
inequalities to take steps that will end
Immediately and for all time the
dumping OF raw ana untreatcd iilth
into Illinois river IA practiced by the
so.called sanitary district" with Us
very apparent misnomer
Oscar Hewitt, special writer for
the Chicago Tribune. says OF the at
tempt 70 bar further polIuation Ct tn"
Illinois;
Guy L. SHAW. Bcardstown. pro
poses hat the constitutional conVcn.
ton shall put the Chicago sanitary
district out of commission. Otier del
egates have the same view
The proposal has been sen to the
committee on the distinction between
legislative and constitutional matter
and an informal tentative agreement
has been reached that it shall be re-
forred for consideration 20 the com
miltce on public improS ements. o.
which Cicero l.. Lindley is chairman.
The district trustees became cX.
cited over bill presented to the last
legislature. In its preamble this ad-
mitted that Chicago was polluting the
Illinois river and nulified litigation o.
the district which it had won
The Shaw proposal is much NOR.
serious. It is reported that il has the
backing Of a large doWnstate contir-
gent, all counties bordering on the
Illinois river, and others.
These have asked for a public
hearing before all Of the delegates il
a committee of The whole, Mr..
Indy said today They want to ap-
pear within the next two or three
weeks, aud | assume that they will be
given every opportun ~ to present
their facts and opinion
IT has been suggested the maChin-
cry tor operating the sanitary district
be eliminated as Il usclarS expense,
hut Delega G Sha" anas at more
vital spot
He urges that no city. village, III
corporated town or other munlcipd!
ity within The state, or any person.
firm, corporation or association shall
pollutc or cause to be polluted any Of
the rivers, streams, lake, or ether
waters within the state by the drain
age into such waters of raw sewage,
the effect of which may be to endan
ger public health or destroy or iniurc
the fish, animal and plant life in such
waters
There is no doubt that he sew
age of the Chicago canal Is deStrOt ling
fish in the Illinois river The stat
has data to prove that 70 sharpen
the point still more there is Il pro
vision permitting drainage of sewage
which has been treated in or sep -,
rated by efficient sewage disposal
plants so rs 10 render the cttlucnt in
nOCi0uS,
Chicago has started in that dircc
ton. but it has not gotten very far
too much time in ak and not enough
in action The federal government
has complained of the delay The