The Dolores star., 1923-10-26

inter sills. The minimum depth of the pools
formed by the dams will be nine feet which is
the available depth for navigation in the Msss-
sipp. from Cairo to New Orleans.
The Lockport ock-the picture gives an Idea
OF Its size as reckoned in skyscrapers-will have
the highest lift of any lock of its size IN the world
al feet. This will enable boats 10 get from the
Desplaines river into the Chicago Sanitary district
channel which affords navigable channel of q
feet Into Chcago-an important link In the i'm
provement by the state of the 65-mile stretch Of
the Desplaines and Illinois rivers from Lockport to
ouca ana considered the most valuable potential
artery of transportation for its length In the world.
These locks will permit transportation In fleets,
without breaking bulk, from New Orleans to Chi
cago, OF 5000 tons cargo capacity, which is equal
TO IL average trainloads in 1920. The waterway,
when completed will have annual tonnage ca
piclty of more than sixty million The cost of
haul by water Is about one-third the railroad
freight rate of 1921.
The fall from Chicago to Utica Is 40 feet This
Will afford power development at each of the
dams totnlnS 10000 horsepower. This. 1t is esti-
mated, should net the state annual income of
81, 100000
With the completion of the Illinois Waterway
Chicago will be 400 miles New Orleans
than Is Pittsburgh and there will be five locks on
the lillnols waterway route as against hfty-four
on the Ohio river route Chicago will have
7,OOOmile all-water to San Francisco with
one barge-to-ship transfer at New Orleans-a saw
ing of 81 900 per car between Chicago and
Pacific coast ports
In 1922 ii was planned to proceed with the con.
struction Of the Starved rock lock and dam for
which plans were ready The site for the lock
mad to be acquired. Because of complications In
title the attorney generals Office held It would be
necessary to acquire this land by condemnatio
proceedings. The decision of the county court of
LuSalle county In this case was adverse to the
state That work may not be entirely suspended
pehdinS the decision Of the state supreme court
where the LaSalle county case Is on aDpeaI Cow
ernor Small has authorized the construction ct the
Lockport lock.
Several questions have been raised in the Io
Sale county case which threaten years of DELAY in
actual construction, If it would be possible 70 ron
struct the waterway at all. 1t is contended:
That complete detailed plans. only for con.
struchon OF the waterway but for all water power
plants and appurenances must be prepared and
submitted to the court
That the court must pass on the suaicianc, -.
these plans and determine If the waterway and
power plants can be built according to the plans
for $20OOO,0OO
Ihat detailed plans must be submitted TO all the
cities and villages along the route of the waterwav
and must be approved by them
That all this must be done before the sta,e hos
any night TO bring condemnation suits 10 acquire
land for any part of the construction of the woter
way al any point.
that 1t Is physically impossible to prepare detailed
plans FOR the waterway and water power and sn
purtenances in advance Of any construction Tho
waterway construction for navigation must first
proceed-ihe locks and dams. Following that ,ilI
come details Of water power and other appurtenant
construction The rights of the cities contends
the state, Is limited to cases where public nr.n
erty Is affected by construction
Another complication Is this: The stote or WI,
consin. In an original injunction suit filed IN rho
United Stntes Supreme court, contends the t,hi.
Gag" Sanitary district Is unlawfully dyerting ,yn
ter from Lake Michigan to facilitate sewage die
posal ard that this diversion has lowered the ,uLo
level six inches. lmparing navigation facilities ana
tniicting an annual loss to lake commerce of Yrn,
S750,OOO 10 S1,OO0OOO ~
The sanitary district officials. challenging tbss.
allegations ms matters of fact but granting them
Tor the sake Of prompt action, offer to meet tho
objections upon which they are based by buIId,na
at cost of s2,50O,OoO and at the expense OF mi,
cago, compensnting works or floating dams in IN.
ST. Clair, the Niagara, and the St Lawrence r,
ers. The sanitary district represents the Invas,-
nent Of $12OOOO.OO0. 1t was created in 1880 On,
the Drainage and ship canal connecting the t,h,
cago ana Desplalnes rivers was finished In ,oon
In the meantime Illinois and Indiana aided ana
abetted by the War department, are yettIn, re,1r
for the completion of the Illinois Waterway Ein,.
crate plans are well under wny for borbors an
Lake Michigan ht the state line alrordinp resbIn
ping facilities for Grent Lakes TO Gulf trooic