and Kirkland, History of Chicago (Chicago, 1895); the various papers in Fergus's Historical Series, Nos. 1-22 (Chicago, 1876-82); Hurlburt, Chicago Antiquities (Chicago, 1881), and a chapter by Lyman J. Gage, in Powell, Historic Towns of the Western States (New York, 1901); Andreas, History of Chicago (Chicago, 1884).
CHICAGO DRAINAGE CANAL. This canal was built to connect the west branch of the south fork of the Chicago River (q.v.) with the Des Plaines River, one of the head streams of the Illinois River, under such conditions that the water flows from Lake Michigan, through the Chicago River and the canal, into the Des Plaines River, thus reversing the direction of flow of the Chicago River. The object of the canal is to divert to the Illinois River the sewage of Chicago, which had been previously discharged into Lake Michigan. The engineering difficulties were peculiar, and aroused much professional and general interest. Work was begun on the canal on September 3, 1892, and it was formally opened on January 28, 1900. The canal proper begins on the west fork of the south branch of the Chicago River, at Robey Street, 5.8 miles from the lake, up to which point the Chicago River had to be dredged, and extends to Lockport, a distance of 28.05 miles, where the water action is controlled. Here there is a basin of sufficient width to allow vessels to turn. The tail-race below Lockport, which carries the water to the Des Plaines River, is 6500 feet long. The flow of water through this race is controlled by sluice-gates and a dam. It was necessary, however, to carry the construction to Joliet, 7.1 miles farther, so that the total distance from the lake to Joliet is about 40 miles. The width of the canal is 160 feet at the bottom and 162 feet at the top, through rock, and 110 to 202 feet at the bottom and 200 to 300 at the top, through earthy soil, the actual width in most of the distance being but 100 feet, this being sufficient for the flow of water at the rate of 300,000 cubic feet per minute. The depth is 36 feet, with a minimum depth of water of 22 feet. The cost of the canal up to the time of ‘opening’ was about $33,000,000. The construction has been most of the time under the charge of Chief Engineer Isham Randolph. Current numbers of the Engineering News contain much information in regard to the canal. See Sewage Disposal.
CHICAGO ORCHESTRA. A permanent orchestra, under the direction and leadership of Theodore Thomas (q.v.), and established at Chicago, Ill. It was organized in 1891, and is supported partly by subscription and partly by the sale of seats for the Friday afternoon public rehearsal and the Saturday evening concert, which are given weekly during the season. The rates of admission are designedly moderate, the deficit at the close of the season being periodically met by the guarantors of the association, a number of public-spirited citizens, through whose generosity alone the establishment of a permanent orchestra has been made possible. The organization formerly consisted of about sixty players, but in 1901 the number was increased to ninety. In 1898 the orchestra was reinforced by a chorus of mixed voices under the direction of Arthur Mees, but it was found advisable to abandon the idea at the close of the season. The history of the organization has not been entirely peaceful. A strict adherence to the highest classic ideals, and an unswerving refusal to be influenced by local criticism or financial exigencies, at first caused considerable friction, but the annually decreasing deficit and the greatly increased attendance have amply justified the course of the conductor, who has brought his organization to a plane of excellence where it compares favorably with the world's greatest orchestras.
CHICAGO RIVER. A navigable stream in the city of Chicago, which formerly emptied into Lake Michigan, but the direction of whose current has been reversed by the construction of the Chicago Drainage Canal. It is formed by two branches, the North Fork and the South Fork, and it is less than a mile from this junction to Lake Michigan (Map: Chicago, J 9). Nearly 4 miles from the main river, the south branch separates into a west fork and a south fork. The United States Government and the city of Chicago have expended large amounts of money in keeping the river open to navigation. The Illinois and Michigan Canal connects the Chicago River at Bridgeport with the Illinois River at La Salle, a distance of nearly 100 miles, and during 1893-1900 the Chicago Drainage Canal (q.v.) was constructed, connecting the west fork of the south branch and Joliet, on the Des Plaines River, the distance being 28.05 miles. See Chicago.
CHICAGO UNIVERSITY (officially styled The University of Chicago). A leading American university, situated in Chicago, Ill. The university was established at the instance of prominent Baptists throughout the country, and through gifts made chiefly by Mr. John D. Rockefeller, to replace the former University of Chicago, a Baptist institution opened in 1857, but which had been obliged, through lack of funds, to close its doors in 1880. In recognition of the funds given by Baptists to start the new university, it was provided in the charter that while no religious tests should ever be exacted from the university professors or students, yet at all times two-thirds of the trustees, and also the president of the university, should be members of regular Baptist churches.
As provided in its plan of organization, the university includes five divisions: First, schools, colleges, and academies; second, the university affiliations; third, university extension; fourth, the university libraries, laboratories, and museums; fifth, the university press. The first division includes the graduate schools, of which the divinity school, the graduate school of arts and literature, and the Ogden graduate school of science and the law school have already been organized, while schools of medicine, technology, fine arts, and music are yet to be established. Of the schools established, the Ogden School of Science was founded under the will of William B. Ogden, his executors allotting to Chicago 70 per cent. of the moneys he devised to charities. The divinity school was established under an agreement of the university made in 1891 with the Baptist Theological Union of Chicago, by which its seminary became the divinity school of the university. The colleges of the university are either integral parts of it or are affiliated. The former include the colleges of art, literature, science, commerce, and administration, and the university (teachers') college. The academies of the university are either an organic part of
