As will be seen, the canal commencing near the mouth of the Chicago River passes through a cut in the low ridge forming the summit level; then it runs to Lake Joliet, and through the valleys of the Desplaines and Illinois Rivers, to the Mississippi at Grafton, a distance of 325 miles.  The elevations and distances of the principal points are as follows: 

------------------------------+------------+-----------

+-----------+
|            |           |           |
|            | Low Water |           |
| Miles from |Level below| High Water|
|     Lake   | Chicago   | above Low |
|  Michigan. |  Datum.   |   Water.  |
|            |           |           |
------------------------------+------------+-----------+----

-------+
|            |           |           |
|            |    ft.    |    ft.    |
Lake Michigan                 |            |           |    4.7    |
Lake Joliet                   |     40     |    77     |   5 to 6  |
Kankakee River                |    51.30   |    93.70  |  18 to 20 |
Morris                        |     61     |   100.3   |    21     |
Marseilles                    |     77     |   102.8   |  4 to 5   |
Ottawa                        |    84.5    |   132.1   |    26     |
La Salle                      |   100.3    |   146.6   |    28     |
Hennepin                      |   115.8    |   148.7   |    25     |
Peoria                        |   161.4    |   151.3   |    21     |
Mouth of the Illinois         |    325     |   172.4   |    20     |
|            |           |           |
------------------------------+------------+-----------+----

-------+

The project in contemplation provides that the depth of the canal as far as Lake Joliet (which is about six miles long) shall be not less than 22 ft., and on to La Salle not less than 14 ft. at first, with facilities to increase it to 22 ft.  Beyond La Salle to the mouth of the Illinois, dredging and flushing by the large volume of water pouring in from Lake Michigan would make and maintain ultimately a similar depth.

As it appears recognized that the sewage channel of Chicago must be 15 ft. deep, and as provision is now being made all over the great lake system for vessels drawing 20 ft. of water, a comparatively small additional outlay would provide for a channel available for the largest lake vessels.  It is claimed that by the co-operation of the Chicago municipality and the general government—­the latter to advance a sum of not less than $50,000,000—­a ship (and sanitary) canal 22 ft. deep could be made from the lake to Joliet, extended thence to Utica, 20 ft. deep, and from there to the Mississippi, 14 ft. deep.

That such a work would vastly enhance the commerce, not only of Chicago, but of the whole section of the country through which the canal would pass, admits of but little doubt, and probably the outlay would be justified by results similar to those achieved with other great canal works and rectified rivers in the United States.