All documents on this page courtesy of the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) at Northeastern Illinois University.

Within the Common Council files at the Illinois Regional Archives Depository at Northeastern Illinois University, I found four similar ordinances that each addressed the problem of people washing their animals or otherwise entering the lake at a place where officials feared contamination of the water supply.

(See a reproduction of the 1848 ordinance, below, at the Illinois State Archives website, here.)

June 9, 1848
An Ordinance to prevent filth from entering into the Hydraulic Works of the Chicago Hydraulic Company from Lake Michigan.

Be it ordained by the Common Council of the City of Chicago that no person or persons shall hereafter drive lead or swim any horse, or horses, or other animal into Lake Michigan at the East end of Lake Street, in said city (or between the Hydraulic Works of said company, and the South pier for the purpose of washing or cleaning said horse or horses or other animal. Nor shall any person or persons wash or clean any carriages or vehicle whatever, within said limits, or cause the same to be done.

Any person, who shall violate any provision of the forgoing ordinance shall forfeit to the City of Chicago the penalty of Ten dollars to be collected before any Justiceof the Peace, or Court having jurisdiction thereof:

Passed June 9th 1848    James H. Woodworth Mayor
Attest S. Abell  Clerk
Above: An Ordinance to prevent filth from entering into the works of the Chicago Hydraulic Company and of the Chicago City Hydraulic Company from Lake Michigan

S.1. No person to drive or wash horses in the lake within certain limits. | S.2. Penalty for violating ordinance

Be it ordained tht the Common Council of the city of Chicago -

Sec. 1. That no person or persons shall hereafter drive lead or swim any horse, sheep, swine or other animal into lake Michigan at the east end of Lake street in said city or between the works of "the Chicago Hydraulic Company" and the south pier, or within three blocks south and north of the works of the "Chicago city hydraulic company" on Chicago avenue, commonly called the new water works for the purpose of washing or cleaning such horse, sheep, swine, or other animal - Nor shall any person or persons wash or clean any carriage orother vehicle whatever within said limits or cause the same to be done.

Sec. 2. Any person who shall violate any portion of this ordinance shall forfeit to the city of Chicago the penalty of ten dollars, to be collected before any justice of the peace or any court having jurisdiction thereof -

Passed January 9 1854
Above: 1856 Amendment to An Ordinance To prevent filth from entering into the Works of the "Chicago City Hydraulic Company," from Lake Michigan,

Be it ordained by the Common Council of Chicago:
Sec 1st That no person or persons shall hereafter - drive, lead, or swim any horse sheep, swine, or other animal into or in the waters of Lake Michigan, within three blocks of the Works of the "Chicago City Hydraulic Company," on Chicago avenue of said City, commonly called the new Water Works, for the purpose of washing or cleaning such horse, sheep, swine, or other animal or for any other purpose whatever. Nor shall any person or persons wash or clean any carriage or other vehicle whatever; nor shall any person or persons bathe, or swim, within the said Limits.
Sec 2d Any person who shall violate any provision of this ordinance shall forfeit to the City of Chicago a penalty not less than ten nor more than twenty five Dollars for every such violation.

Sec 3d An ordinance entitled "An ordinance to prevent filth from entering into the works of the "Chicago Hydraulic Company" and of the "Chicago City Hydraulic Company from Lake Michigan" Passed January 9, 1854 is hereby repealed

Resolved. that the Board of Police be ordered to enforce the Ordinance prohibiting all persons from Bathing
or swimming horses, sheep, dogs, or other animals within three Blocks North and three Blocks
south of the Pumping works on the margin of Lake Michigan and situated in the North Division of this City

Passed July 13 1865
Presented to the Mayor for approval July 18 1865.

A.H. Bodman City Clerk.
Approved July 18, 1865
J.B. Rice Mayor