"
The rectification of the Illinois and the construction of a large
canal from La Salle to Lake Michigan are, therefore, all that is
necessary to open a waterway to the Gulf of Mexico, and to make
Chicago doubly a port; on the one hand, for the enormous lake traffic
now existing; on the other, for the trade that would be created in
both directions, northward to Lake Michigan, and southward to the
Gulf.
As a matter of fact this great scheme has long occupied the attention
of the United States government. A bill in 1882 authorized surveys for
"a canal from a point on the Illinois River, at or near the town of
Hennepin, by the most practical route to the Mississippi River ... and
a survey of the Illinois and Michigan Canal connecting the Illinois
River with Chicago, and estimates from its enlargements." This scheme
only contemplated navigation for boats up to 600 tons. In 1885 the
Citizens' Association, of Chicago caused a report to be made for an
extended plan. The name of Mr. L.E. Cooly, at that time municipal
sanitary engineer, was closely associated with this report, as it is
at the present time for the agitation for carrying out the works. This
report recommended that "an ample channel be created from Chicago to
the Illinois River, sufficient to carry away in a diluted state the
sewage of a large population. That this channel may be enlarged by the
State or national government to any requirement of navigation or water
supply for the whole river, creating incidentally a great water power
in the Desplaines valley.
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