The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-10-25

THE WATER POWER AT SAUK
,sf.q5a2 RAPIDS. >,
ANOTHER GREAT MINNESOTA VA
;. 2 TER spOWEH lMPROvEMEsT.

From The st. Paul. Pioneer. ,;r,,. :!
1t is with great pleasure that We learn
that steps have been taken and plans
laid for the improvement of tho i'm
mense water power Of the Mississippi
river at "Sauk Rapids" in the County
of Benton. ,
The "sauk Rapids" of the Missis-
sippi river are opposite the town Of
:aak Ra pills, the county seat of Ben
ton county, aud three miles above the
town of St. Cloud, the county seat Of
Stearns county.
Thesrapids or swift water begins its
fall short distance below the mouth of
the Sank river and extends about one
mile, giving a fall in that distance Of
from six t7 ten feet, the river at this
place being about 600 feet wide and
running over solid granite ledge bot
tom and shores.
Various Efforts have been made since
the irst settlements in that vicinity to
imprJye the power. but for various rea-
cons they have all failed, and for the
past five OR six years no attempt has
been made for the improvement, but
the completion Of the railroad from st.
Paul to St Cloud the present season
has induced the owners Of the real
estate connected with this water power
t., nuke a renewed effort for its lul-
proven cnt, aud for this purpose they
have placed the management thereof
in the hands Of f. K Deiano. Esq.
the superintendent Of the St. Paul and
Pacific Railroad, and those who have
seen the manner in which this gentle
man has expended the funds placed at
his disposal for the construction Of the
railroad under his charge, coupled with
his great ~Mechan;cai Engineering abiii-
ty, will entertain no doubt Of the sue
ccssful accomplishment Of the object
III view. 10 better person could have
been selected By the property ewners
and proposed stock holders as an agent
than Mr.. Delano, aud We are glad that
he is the man.
We have just seen the ground. CT
river plan, for the abutmcDts. piers,
dam, canals. etc. and if carried out On
that plan it will be magnificent in
provement.
The power Of the river created bv
this improvement, at the volume OF
water, as measured in Ju'y last and
which was at the time much lower than
ordinary, was equal to: and sufficient to
drive, with the latest improved wheels
under an eight feet head, txo hundred
and thirty run Of four feet burr mill
stones at a grinding speed. of fifteen
bushels Of wheat, or say three barrels
of -four per hour to each run, this
would make total power sufficient to
grud 3.45U bushels Of wheat and make
quo barlels OF -four per hour. or 81
500 bushels OF wheat and $500 barrels
of flour per day OF ten hours the ca
paci'y OF the water is rated in this way
as the best test from the fact that for
grinding purpose au even steady stream
with an even head is required-s
This improvement will also lay d.
rectly across the outlet to the great
Sauk Valley: from whence will pour in
wheat, wool. &c: to keep busy its
thousand wheels
We have referred to this in cur
heading as Minnesota improvement
we do this for the reason that it is olc
Of the Improvements Ct such a magni-
tude that its influence will he felt d.
roctly over the whole northern portion
Of the State. as is that OF ST. Anthony
Falls throug ghout the whole State The
estimated expenditure for construction
u1 dam, piers, and canals ready for the
err ction Of mills and factories will be
about S2UO.VO0. The continuation Of
the railroad will PASS along the water
power front giving great advaDta-e
III the way OF transportation. We shall
watch the improvement with great IN
terest and Of its progress entcavor 10
keep .ur readers nosted.