The pollution of the Desplaines and the Illinois Rivers
extends 81 miles, as far as the mouth of the Fox (see plan, Fig. 1) in
summer low water, and occasionally to Peoria (158 miles) in winter.
Outside of the direct circulation the river harbor is indescribable.
The spewing of the harbor contents into the lake, the sewers
constantly discharging therein, clouds the source of water supply (the
lake) with contamination. Relief to Chicago and equity to her
neighbors is a necessity of the early future." To make this quotation
clear it is necessary to explain the actual condition of the Chicago
sewage question.
Long before the present metropolis had arrived at the title and
dignity of a city, the advantage to be derived from a waterway between
Lake Michigan and the Illinois River, and thence to the Mississippi,
was well understood. The scheme was, in fact, considered of sufficient
importance to call for legislation as early as 1822, in which year an
act was passed authorizing the construction of a canal having this
object. It was not commenced, however, till 1836, and was opened to
navigation in the spring of 1848. This canal extended from Chicago to
La Salle, a distance of 971/4 miles, and it had a fall of 146 ft. to low
water in the Illinois River (see Fig. 1). It was only a small affair,
6 ft. deep, and 60 ft. wide on the surface; the locks were 110 ft.
long and 18 ft. wide. The summit level, which was only 8 ft.
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