83 The Dayton Dam was created in 1924 to replace one that had previously been washed out in 1904. The million-dollar dam located on the west bank of the river was planned to provide a renewable source of energy for LaSalle County. After intense investment from the government and surrounding neighborhoods, it was eventually built. Years later, the Dayton power station generates 3,700 kilowatts of hydroelectric energy. The facility itself churns out about “18 million kilowatthours of clean energy in a typical year.”6 This immense amount of power was used for refrigeration, milling grain into flour, and sawing trees into lumber. Although using hydropower to generate electricity is a significantly more environmentally friendly option than its harmful alternatives of fossil fuels and nuclear power plants, it is not as inexpensive. Thus, the Dayton Dam was effectively rendered to historical evidence of past technological advancements, rather than a sole source of energy for the surrounding area.7 Though it appears that dams only harbor positive effects, there were a slew of issues and generally negative feelings about the numerous dams along the Fox River. The dams were not cheap. Former governor of Illinois William Grant Stratton had asked for 7 million dollars to fund his entire project of creating multiple dams across the span of the Fox River.8 There was also an outcry for individual interest. Some outright disliked the dams as they would disrupt the “beauty spot of Illinois,” the Fox River. Others were worried about the state of their riverside properties.9 Besides opinions, the dams themselves could provide problems for the surrounding communities and 6 "Dayton," Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, accessed November 13, 2022, https://www.eaglecreekre.com/facilities/operating-facilities/dayton. 7 "Why Were the Fox River's Dams Built?," Friends of the Fox River, accessed November 13, 2022, https://friendsofthefoxriver.org/why-were-the-fox-rivers-dams-built/. 8 Avery, Suzanne, "STATE FUNDS TO BE SOUGHT FOR FOX RIVER: GOVERNOR TO ASK BOAT PROJECT GOV. STRATTON TO ASK FUNDS FOR FOX RIVER," Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Mar 22, 1959, https://go.openathens.net/redirector/imsa.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/state-funds-besought-fox-river/docview/182270497/se-2. 9 "CONGRESSMEN ASKED TO FIGHT FOX RIVER DAM." Chicago Daily Tribune (1923-1963), Sep 04, 1927. https://go.openathens.net/redirector/imsa.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/congressmenasked-fight-fox-river-dam/docview/180849809/se-2.
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