CHICAGO RIVER

navigable stream in Illinois that divides the city of Chicago into three parts. It has two branches that unite at a mile from Lake Michigan, into which it formerly emptied. It was found, however, that the sewage carried into the lake (from which the people of Chicago draw their water supply) was affecting the public health, and a plan was devised of cutting a canal between the south branch of the river and the Des plain s river, with a pumping plant that would change the direction of the current and make it flow into the Illinois river system. Ths was effected Jan. 2, 1900. The river, though crooked and difficult of navigation because of the bridges spanning it, carries a large volume of commerce.