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VOL. XXXII. CLEVELAND, ©.. MARCH 20, 190s. INO. 1S. DECLINE OF CHICAGO AS A LAKE PORT Some very striking facts are contained in the report which Mr. Dennis Sullivan has drawn up for the Chicago River Im- provement association. There has been a falling off in in- terest on the part of the people of Chicago in the improve- inadequate to care for it. Ten yeats ago almost all of the large ships could enter Chicago harbor and river and were limited in their draught only by the tunnels. Today the larg- est vessels on the lakes cannot get through Rush street bridge, owing to the narrowness of the draw, and some of GRAND TRUNK CAR FERRY LANSDOWNE CROSSING THE DETROIT RIVER. Built by Detrott Dry Dock Co. ment of the Chicago river, due in part undoubtedly to the fact that the tunnel question is now regarded as_prac- tically settled. It is true that the river is in much _ better shape now for navigation than it was five years ago, but the situation of the city of Chicago in its relation to lake trade is nevertheless an alarming one. During the past few years the commerce of the lakes has grown with such amazing strides that the facilities offered by Chicago as a port are [ Copyrighted, 1905, by Detrott Photographic Co. them, owing to their draught, cannot navigate the river at all. Ten years ago the largest vessel on the lakes did not exceed' 350 ft.:in lensth and 45 1t2 in beam. Today the larger ships are from 545 ft. to 569 ft. in length and from 55 ft. to 60 ft; in beam. With this' great increase in the size of vessels every center pier bridge becomes an obstruc- tion to navigation. 'The city of Milwaukee has been wise in providing that the navigable draw in every bridge in that