REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 23 



Whereas it is the common practice of many Illinois 

 cities to discharge raw sewage, and of numerous corpo- 

 rations to empty factory and even chemical waste into 

 the streams of the state, thus polluting and poisoning 

 and rendering them unfit for domestic and, when exces- 

 sively charged, even for industrial use, depriving farm- 

 ers of their right to the use of said streams for stock and 

 other purposes, and preventing the public from enjoy- 

 ing them for bathing and other pastimes, and 



Wheeeas such abuse of the streams is killing the fish 

 and aquatic life, and imperiling waterfowl ; and 



"Whereas in the case of the larger streams such prac- 

 tices of pollution are making said streams offensive for 

 navigation; and 



Whereas the gradual diminution of other sources of 

 water supplies for municipalities, farms and industries 

 makes the preservation of our streams as possible 

 sources of supplies imperative, therefore be it 



Resolved that we will support the State Waterway and 

 State Health authorities in their efforts to encourage or 

 compel municipalities, corporations and individuals to 

 abate the public menace created by the discharge of sew- 

 age, waste and other filth into the streams of Illinois. 



Be solved that if the present law is not sufficiently 

 stringent for this purpose, or is not applicable to munici- 

 palities, we favor the passage of such further measures 

 by the State Legislature as will secure reformatory 

 action. 



Be solved that we favor the study and consideration of 

 the question in the commercial bodies and schools of the 

 State, so that the people may be led to comprehend that 

 the present, practice of stream pollution is a crime 

 against themselves, and so that they may, therefore, be 

 persuaded to assume the expense of providing a remedy. 



Resolved that we favor the appropriation by the Legis- 

 lature of a sum suliicient to enable the State Waterway 

 Board to make a detailed survey of the streams of the 

 State with a view to recommendations that will meet the 

 present dangerous situation. 



