Year: 1877

!


THE OGDEN DITCH.


The report of the Superintendent Of the


Illinois l. Michigan Canal should fasten thu


attention of the State and city authorities tc


the actual damage done, and the still greater


danger threatened, by the so-called Ogden


Ditch. This ditch was dug by Mcssrs. OGDEN


and WENTWORTH, or in their interests, with


the purpose of furnishing IN outlet for the


Dcsplaines River into the, west fork connect
| ing with the South Branch of the Chicago


River, and with the hope that the overflow


would make a permanent canal or slip,
which, thus connected with the Chicago


River, would become of great value for dock
age, warehouse, and manufacturing uses. It
| was apprehended ut once that this diversion
| of the Despiaines would carry large amount
| of alluyinl into both the Chicago River and
| the canal, aud the owners Of the land wero
authorities, under the direction of Mayor
GOWNS predecessor, assumed the RESPONSE
bility Of damning tho ditch at its junction
with the Desplaines; and, had this dam
been maintained, the subsequent injury
would have been averted. But the
dam Was removed by order Of the property
owners, and Mayor Co1yN was importuned
in vain to interfere with it. During his I'D
nlinistration the Ogden Ditch was contribut-
ing sediment and mud to both the Chicago
River and the canal by thousands of cubic
yards. Mayor HEATH was finally prevailed
upon to order the construction Of tempo
rary dam, but this is two feet lower than the
natural banks of the Desplaines River, there
is now six inches Of water running over it, and
it is apprehended that the first high water in
spring will cut around the dam, and IN in
creased quantity of material be p1owed out
and sent forward into the canal aud river.
The sum of $1C,475 has been expended this
year alone in dredging the canal, which is
chargeable to tho Ogden Ditch, and the
Canal Superintendent estimates that the
total cost Of removing the deposit made BY
this ditch in the canal will not fall short of
$4,000. If the damage be permitted to
continue, the State will have an enormous
annual burden, and perhaps be unable to
keep the canal in a navigable condition.





matter is as lively us that of the State, for
the danger threatening the canal is equally
menacing to the Chicago River. and
menace to the Chicago River is blow at
Chicago's commerce. The actual damage
done is largely increased by the Cicero Town
ship drains, Of which there are eight, run
ming north and south from the ridge at the
back and emptying into this Ogden Ditch.
The increased dimensions OF these drains are
noticeable every few months, and they are
only enlarged by the deepening aud WIDEN
ing caused by washing out their beds into the |
ditch, and SO into the west fork, the South |
Branch, and the main bed Of the Chicago !
River; thus they fill up the river and impede |
the current into the canal, which, during
most of the year, il the main reli- |
ance for its publication. The dammine
OF the Ogden Ditch where it joins the |
Desplaines River does not remove the wash
ing out of the Cicero drains, though there |
will then be less current to carry the mud
and sediment from these drains into the Chi.
cago River. But as the Cicero drains and
the Ogden Ditch combine to increase the al-
1urial, it has been suggested TINT large
levee or embankment should be constructed
across the ditch where it joins the west fork.
which should force the outpourines Of the
drains through the ditch into the Desplaines
River. In this event, the Chicago River
would be protected against the overflow from
both drains and ditch, and it would only be
necessary for the State authorities to protect
the canal from the breaking of its banks bv
the Desplaines River in order to avoid NIL
further damage. Whether it is better to
construct an adequate and permanent dam
over the mouth Of the ditch, or build an en-
bankment where the west fork Joins the
ditch, is a question for competent engineers
to determine; but it is obvious that thu
action of the Cicero drains whicl, are con-
stnntly increasing in size by the washing-out
process, should receive due consideration.


This danger to the Chicago River and the
canal must no longer DO neglected by either
The city or the State authorities The State
is more Immediately concerned, and seems to ,
"a the proper agency to apply the remedy.
1t is confronted with the necessity of taking ,
prompt action to avert damage to the cannl {
to 1000 or S75, 600 year. and :
eriously interfering with navigation, which ,
works additional injury. It is not likely +
hat the authorities will encounter anv such g
opposition from the landowners as 1vas i
hown in the past whenever an effort was n
made to dam the Ogden Ditch. lIr. Ogden. f
rho WAS the most obstinate in the q
'atter, is low dead, and it is not =
robabls that his heirs have in.