14 



known to exist 65 cases of typhoid fever, and this ice was marketed. 

 There is an easy, cheap and effective method of caring for euch 

 sewage, and the people should be protected from such unsanitary 

 conditions by legislation that would prohibit the turning into our 

 rivers, particularly the smaller ones, the sewage from towns and the 

 waste from manufacturing or othej commercial plants. 



We herewith give a clipping which will bear on a subject matter 

 of foregoing item. Copied from Engineering Record of Jan. 10, '03, 

 page 66: 



A successful Septic Tank Installation is that of Vancouver, British Colum- 

 bia, the construction of which was described in the Engineering Record of 

 Oct. 12, 1901. There are three tanks, designed to treat the sewage irom dis- 

 tricts having populations of 5,000, 3,000 and 2,000, respectively. They are 

 built of concrete and are entirely covered over. In regard to the results ac- 

 complished, Mr. Thomas H, Tracy, the city engineer, states that the tanks 

 have now been in operation for nearly two years and they have given the 

 most decided satisfaction, the effluent having been at all times (after the first 

 three months) clear and inoffensive. There is a deposit of sediment about 2 

 inches thick at the inlet end of the tanks, none at the outlet end. The scum 

 is about 10 inches thick at the inlet end ■u;cl very slight at the outlet end. 

 This would seem to indicate that a much greater quantity of sewage could be 

 treated in the tanks than is at present passing through. Where sewers are 

 constructed on the separate system, Mr. Tracy does not consider the grit 

 chambers necessary, and, in fact, a very decided septic action has been 

 noticed in the grit chambers of the smaller tanks. A small manhole for con- 

 venient inspection would, it is thought, be better. The tanks have not cost 

 a cent either for operation or repair in the two years. They have been in- 

 spf^cted fairly often, as the installation has attracted much attention on ac- 

 count of its marked snceessfulness. 



LAKE MICHIGAN. 



This season we have undertaken the enforcement of the law relat- 

 ing to Lake Michigan. Since the opening of the drainage canal, we 

 are informed that white fish and trout are again making their appear- 

 ance in fair quantities in the lower part of Lake Michigan. 



Mr. Cohen had several conferences with the Michigan commis- 

 sioners relative to methods of enforcing the laws during close season 

 on Lake Michigan, and they have been using our warden jointly in 

 the work. This together with the removal of the dip nets, will do 

 very much to increase fish supplies about Chicago. We will ask the 

 Legislature to add white fish and lake trout to our list of fish, mak- 

 ing a size limit for them. 



STEAMER ILLINOIS. 



The boat purchased for our use, the steamer Reindeer, was con- 

 demned in April, 1901, the hull being worn out, and the appropria- 

 tion made for the purpose was used in building a new hull, which 

 was designed and built under the supervision of Mr. E. J. Moritz. 



The new hull was 12 feet longer and six feet wider than that in the 

 old boat, making a total length of 137 feet long by a 29 foot beam. 



