The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-12-27
EXPERTS ND0RSE| CHICAGO PROJECT
Approve Withdrawal Of 10000 Cubic Feet A Sec
 Ond From Michigan
(By Associated Press.

CHICAGO, Dec. 26. Withdrawal from Lake Michigan of 10000 cubic feet of water a second to dilute the city's sewage was approved today by a commission of 2S nationally known en- gineering experts who assembled from all parts of the United States to make an investigation of the soundness of the Chicago sanitary districts plans for a $125 100000 disposal project, including the water withdrawal.
 Several states and numerous cities on the great lakes have made determined fight against Chicagos withdrawal of 10000 cubic feet of water a second from the lake, maintaining the lowering of the lake level is harmful to commerce.
 The Chicago drainage canal which reversed the flow of the Chicago river and diverted the city's sewage from Lake Michigan with dilution of the sewage as the method of disposal, was approved by the board of prominent engineers, but it was stated that the citys growth has exceeded the limits considered when the canal was built and the program of the sanitary dis trict, providing for additions to the san itary equipment to care for an increased population of 100000 each year was approved.
 Lowered Five Inches
 The Chicago water diversion, the board of reviews found, has lowered the great lakes about five inches, while di- versions elsewhere and climatic changes have lowered the lakes two or three feet. Reduced lake levels, the board said, have damaged navigation and har- bor works. Lake fluctuations can be largely eliminated, and the lakes held near the highest desirable levels, the beard said, by works constructed near their outlets, these works being neces sary regardless of the Chicago diversion. The diversion of water here, the board said, is necessary for sewage disposal because it prevents pollution of the lake, improves navigation down the Hi nois and Mississippi and make avail able hydro electric energy where needed. With lake and river regulation 1t will confer these benefits without damage to great lakes navigation and without affecting navigation conditions in the St. Lawrence river, and for years with out reducing power at Niagara Falls and along the St. Lawrence, the board said.
 Cities Object
 The control of the lake levels has been under the Jurisdiction of the war de partment and it is cOntended by some cities that the sanitary district never was authorized to withdraw more than 4,167 cubic feet of water a second.
 The report was formally adopted by the sanitary district trustees and 1t was announced that the voluminous findings will be used as the principal argument in favor of new legislation taking control of the lake levels from the war department and enabling Chi cago and other cities to proceed with sewage disposal projects. No attempt, it was stated, will be made to utilize the commissions report in the oral arguments before the United States su- preme court next week, upon the appeal of the sanitary district from the injunc- tion ordered by Federal Judge George A. Carpenter, which if upheld, would restrain the district from taking more than 4,167 feet of water a second from the lake.