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Illinois is established as a state. Its northern boundary is extended to include the southwestern trip of Lake Michigan, so that a proposed canal connecting the Mississippi River and Great Lakes can be constructed entirely within the state.
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Chicago is incorporated as a city and attemps to protect its drinking water and prevent offensive odors. Under the terms of ordinance, citizens are forbidden to use river as a receptacle for "dung, dead, putrid meat, decayed vegetables, or any other offensive substance".
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The state of Illinois begins construction on the Illinois & Michigan Canal (I&M). It opens in 1848.
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As Chicago's population grows, it expands sewer system to handle the increasing waste dumped into the Chicago River. City begins to raise level of streets to accomodate new infrastructure.
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As Union Stock Yard and Transit Co. opened along South Branch of Chicago river, it became center of meat-packing industry. Animal waste from "The Yards" was dumped in the river and transformed into into a thick, putrid water bubbling with methane.
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After years of sewage contamination in Lake Michigan, a rainfall lasted 19 hours and dumped 5 1/2 inches of waters throughout Chicago. Sewers overflow, flooding the city and wide-spread fear of cholera and typhoid outrbroke.
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The Illinois General Assembly established the Sanitary District of Chicago to implement the construction of 28-mile Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
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The CSSC opens, reversing the flow of Chicago River. Chicago's sewage now travels away from Lake Michigan.