As Cleveland and its industries grew larger, the lake water nearest to the city became increasingly polluted. As a result, drinking water taken from Lake Erie had to be collected further and further from the city's shore. Tunnels extending underneath the lake, such as the one seen under construction here around 1900, made this possible. Digging these tunnels was a dangerous endeavor, and 6 major accidents claimed 58 lives in the tunnels between 1898 and 1916.
