navigable channel for vessels of deep draught. The maps, Figs. 1 and
2, give an idea of the most favored scheme--that of Mr. Cooley.

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 |