Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-10-29
Ottawa, Ill. Oct. 90, 1920.

Regular meeting or Councll OF III
City of Ottawa, Illinois.
Present: Mayor Geo. " b. Week.
Commissioners Vim. Bradley, Edwd
Dougherty, Dana NJ. Palmer, Chas. J
Sticklen.
Absent: None.
Minutes of last meeting read.
Moved by Commissioner Doughert.
that the minutes be approved as read
Ayes: Bradley, Dougherty, Palmer
Sticklen, Weeks.
Nays; None.
Motion carried
Mayor Weeks presented all the com
munications received from the STATE
Department of Public Works an'
Buildings up to tn present time rela
tive TO the construction OF the dcel
waterway, as follows:
State of Illinois. Department Of Pub
lie Works and Buildings, Spring
field
Chicago Office, Room 1904, p Eas'
Jackson Boulevard.
September %, 1920.
Hon George V B. Weeks, Mayor,
Ottawa, Ill.
Dear Sir:
A section of the Illinois Waterway
Law of 1919 provides that before WORK
is done on the Starved Rock lock and
dam plans shall be submitted to the
officials Of the City OF Ottawa for theI
approval.
In accordance with this provision
am handing you herewith one map, on
a scale of 100 feet to an inch. show
ing general layout of the lock, dam
power house and dyke on the north
side OF the river; also one plan on 4
smaller scale showing a longer reach
of the river and cross sections of the
lock and dam.
1t is our understanding that what
you desire to know in this connection
is that the dam has ample spillWay t.
provide against food waters damaging
the City of Ottawa, and that this dam
can be readily removed in case Of
floods.
Plans for the dam call for 10 open
sngs. 50 feet long with Il feet Of water
over the fixed crest Of the dam at low
water stage; also one span CD feet
long with ) feet of water at low water
stage, This latter span is for use in
discharging small fluctuations OF the
river, ice, drift, etc.
The dam is of the balanced Taintol
type and will be operated from Il
mechanism placed on the bridge span
ming from pier to pier, This type Of
dam is in common use in northern
climates, having been originated in
Wisconsin, and is extensively used
70 WISCONSIN,
nesOta and has been adopted in all the
work on the New York state canals
where ice conditions are more serious
than along the Illinois river. Their
use has proven very satisfactory.
They can be removed quickly, surely,
and returned to original position with
out the use of electrical or steam
power. thus making their operation in
dependent of breakdowns incident TO
both means Of propulsion.
1t Is the desire of the depar ment to
have the contract advertised at the
earliest date possible, probably with
in ten days or two weeks. To that
end 1t Is requested that you give this
as early consideration as you can, and
If any question arises on which you
desire further information, or if you
would like conference with engi
neers of this department. we will hold
ourselves in readiness to meet you at
any time
AS you probably know, we have II
division office in your city in charge
of J. b. Bassett, division engineer
Any arrangements you make with him
for a conference will be attended to
promptly Mr.. Bassett has recently
been in government service and was
employed by the City OF Ottawa seven
or eight years ago to report on this
waterway situation for you. Recon-
mendatonS made by him at that time
have been incorporated in plans to be
followed
Very truly yours.
(Signed) FRANK BENNETT
Director
(Signed) VIM. SACKETT,
superintendent of Waterways
tSigned) NJ. G. BARNES,
Chief Engineer.
state Of Illinois, Department of Pub
lie Works and Buildings, Spring
field
Chicago Office, Room li0i, % Eas
Jackson boulevard.
October II, 1920,
Hon. George v b. Weeks,
Ottawa, Ill.
Dear Sir,
On September 22d a letter was ao
dressed to you by this department
submitting plans for dam and lock a
Starved Rock in the Illinois river u
connection with construction work 0
the Illinois waterway
1t develops that these plans ind
Gated construction Of a completed dan
and that officials of the City OF O
tawa, as well as a number OF its cit
zens, have become apprchensive tina
damage will result to the City OF q
tawa and that the Department OF Pu'
lie Works and Buildings Of the stat