Year: 1862

Il is conceded by all men that some
thing must be done Immediately toiuprove
the sanitary condition Of the Chicago River.
The good name Of our city, the
lives Of thousands Of our citizens,
and, its commerce, growth and prosperity
imperatvely demand immediate and ener-
Eetic action. The thing must be done at
once, or at least as fast as men and money |
can do it. In its present condition, q week
of hot weather will render q block or two |
on each side Of the river uninhabitable. |
And, besides, what is to become OF our
vast shipping interest-the men who
navigate our tugs and attend to the bridges,
and virtually sre forced 10 live during the
season amid the intolerable peshlencc-
breeding stencil Of the river, and the crews
OF our 7ropellers, canal boats and YES
sells that are obliged to live upon the river
from one to three days at time? a
week Of hot weather will drive them from
the river, and no man is 50 stupid as NOT 70
know that Chicago is nothing without her
commerce.


For the South Branch there is. remedy,
and the Board .of Public Works have as
su1ed us that, expensive though it be, 1t
shall be applied. The pumps at Bridgeport
can clear it on: and, aired By the process and
mingled with the waters Of the DesPlaines
twill pass South without Inconvenience
CT offence to any body. But it Is found,
what was well understood before, that the
pumping at Bridgeport does not affect
the water in the North Branch Several
distilleries are constantly running their
refuse and slops into the river IN large
quantities. The decaying corn and other
substances render the water in that branch
if possible, more offensive than that Of the
South Branch, whose filthy condition many
Of our citizens attribute almost it not en-:
tirclv to the sewers To render the water
clear and healthy in the North Branch is 8
problem that must be solved by some othe1
process than pumping at Bridgeport,


To meet this difficulty Ee suggest tht
following arrangement Plnce two or hal
) dozen pumps, il necessary, driven By
Wind mills on the Lake shore, at OF nea
HE north end Of the old cemetery, and le
the water be discharged in ditch running
due rest into the North Branch. Let tn
pumps be Of the largest size, and such q
are now used upon our railroads. The frs
cost Of the entire ditch, pumps and vim
mills, would not be, as we believe
3 very formidable sum, and whe
once in operation the cost {
attendance would be merely nom
nal. This mode Of 1emedying the evil
which are SO patent to all who 60 near th
North Branch, has suggested itself to man
of our citizens, and the matter is certainl
worthy of investigation, if not Of ado]
zion by the Board Of Pub1ic Work
It is plain that this or some oths
effective mode Of cleansing the N OFT
Branch must st once be adopted or Il
distilleries upon it, and whatever ell


tends to render its waters SO pcstientit


must be stopped. The lives Of O


ci,izens along its banks, and Of those who
= business forces them to navigate it, q


worth more than all the distilleries in Il


State. Will not our board Of publ


works look into this matter, 81


quiet the apprchcnsions Of our ci


zcns by giving US their views upon this


come other feasible method Of rendering


least tolerable the water in the MOI


Branch; the pumps will, Of course, cle


out the South Branch in very few da


# the weather continues clear and d


Let the subject receive prompt attention