The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-06
CHECK CHICAGO
CANAL FLOW IN
FLOOD CONTROL
pownstate IIIinoisiaHs Line Up
Against Lake Drainage; View
Indiana Primary.
Washington News Bureau.
Rock Island Argus.

NJ excess water from Lake M1cn1-
can through the Illinois drainage
canal at Chicago, Illinois congress-
men have launched a campaign
here in which they expect to array
every downstate Illinois member
and ultimately a majority of the
house in favor OF congressional ac-
ion checking the flow of Chicago
lake waters through the heart of
Illinois to the Mississippi.
Representative Guy L. Shaw,
Beardstown, announced here today
that he has requested Chairman
Dempsey of the house committee
on rivers and harbors to call hear
ings at once for the consideration
of several measures introduced by
Shaw, dealing with this subject.
Attorney Hiram Todd, Peoria, re-
turned this week to Illinois after
a three-day conference with Wash
ington officials in congress and the
war department. Todd has been re-
tanned by the Illinois River Valley
Protective association and is now
preparing to bring suit to check
the present flow of water by in
Washington, in company with Illi-
noisans from every section of the
Illinois river valley, to urge the
adoption of the bills introduced by
Representative Shaw.
The districts of Representatives
Fuller, Ireland, Shaw and Roden-
berg are the ones most interested
in the drainage matter, but Repre-
sentative Shaw declared here today
that he has conferred with a ma
jority of the Illinois members and
that outside of the Chicago con-
gresham, will receive the support
Of all of them.
Representative William j. Ora
ham, Aledo, whose district borders
the Mississippi, has cooperated
with Representative Shaw thus far
and will aid the other DOWNSTAIRS
in their fight to control the sani-
tary district commission in its dis
posal of sewage from Lake Mich
igan.
Unexpected aid has come to the
downstasters from Wisconsin with
in the past few days. Mayor Hoan
Of Milwaukee came to Washington
last week and conferred with Rep
resentative Shaw and Attorney
Todd. asserting that the removal of
water from Lake Michigan has low
cred the lake level in Milwaukee
harbor seven inches. to the detri-
ment of lake shipping.
Representative Shaw gave out a
statement here today in which he
outlined the history of the contro-
versy between downstate counties
and the Chicago drainage commits
sion.
Lake Michigan waters first be-
gan to be emptied into the Illinois
under a permit granted by the war
department. in 1899" Mr.. Shaw
said.
Exceeding Quota
ct was stated in this permit that
the amount of water removed
should not exceed 4,167 cubic feet
a second. Almost from the begin
ming this quota was very greatly
exceeded. 1 have it on the author
ity of competent engineers that
with a favorable wind blowing, the
drainage commission often throws
open the gates and allows upwards
of $4,000 cubic feet to flow from
the lake. In normal times, the
flow is estimated at $500 feet. or
about twice the quota authorized
under the government permit.
THE result of this unwarranted
action by the Chicago authorities
has been disastrous to the rest of
the state. The Illinois river has
not absorbed this enormous inflow
OF unnatural flood water. Valua
bic timber lands have been de-
stroyed. plant and fish life has
been checked to point down the
river near Beardstown, and farm
lands have been inundated"
Representative Shaw declared
mat his colleagues have no desire
10 work hardship on Chicago and
VIII not ask for the immediate ces-
sation of the present practice. He
indicated that the Illinois congress-
men will seek progressive check
ing OF the flow, to be attended by
Ne installation of sewage disposal
plants in Chicago, which will ulti-
mately remove the necessity for
emptying the sewage waters into
the Illinois river. Shaw's bill linn
lung the flow to the terms OF the
permit is now in committee.
The defeat of Senator Harry
New in Indiana this week was
mixed with the recent reverse suf-
Tered by Representatives Copley
aud Ireland in Illinois, by Demo-
Gratis and anti-administration Re
paollcans in Washington who
Calm that 1922 will prove another
1910 for the administration in
power.
Senator Medill Mccormick, Illi-
hols, late this week strongly dis
scented from the view that the In
aiana primary resulted in a blow
70 the Harding administration. He
r'ted the fact that former Senator
5eVeridge declared he would sup
port President Harding if elected
70 the senate.
Inc Illinois senator is chairman
Vi the Republican senatorial cam
palsn committee and in that capac-
" look up the task this week OF
,aonching campaigns in behalf of
republican senators who will be
sanoldates in the fall elections.
senator Mccormick has arranged
.or weekly conferences with the
news correspondents in Washing
.on and from now forward will re-
poft at regular intervals on the
progress of the Republican sena-
,oIiai campaigns. as quickly as the
plimarles are held in each state,
se.ermining the Republican candi-
Yates. Senator Mccormick made 1t
pam that his committee would
saAe no hand in the factional fights