Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-08
Rock River Water Power.

| facturers of Rock river had bee edn-
Gated as they have since been BY The
want Of reservoirs, and are nov likely a
be, fortunately, by their use, Lake Hori-
con was allowed to be drained. Thus Z
magnificent reservoir having an exteus
gilmore than 10000 acres was dest royed
The result has heen exceedingly det-
rimental to the manufac uring interests
of the valley. The heavy foods Of
spring and the low water Of winter,
have both alike been sources of annoy
ance. Lake Koshkonong, which,
next to HORIZON, is the most important
reservoir on the river. was mana ged in
way diametrically opposed to the IN
terests of the water powers below. In
the spring the sluices were opened and
the water which should have been re-
tanned, allowed to sur e by, to the det-
riment of all below. aud then as the
dry season approached, the gates were
closed and the water not needed for
the two small mills at the outlet was
held back so as to maintain a high
head at that point, thus leaving in
ate quate supply for the larger manu-
facturers below. About year since
the Rock River Paper Co., of this
place, under the guidance of It's clear
headed sagacious su oerintendent, J..
M. Cobb procured a careful survey of
the lake and an estimate Of its avail.
able capacity as regulating reservoir
The area north of Indian Ford Dam,
which is the first power below the
lake, is 2,574 square miles, which
shows that the collecting basin is en-
tirely adequate. The annual quantity
Of Water passing Indian Ford is no
less than $3.50, ,801, 800 cubic feet
This with the tributaries below, would,
if properly controlled, giveat Belois a
daily supply Of 220 ,2l3. .628 cubic feet.
TO show how this fine supply OF water
has been wasted, it is only necessary
to call attention to the fact that, ac-
cording to the estimates of two prom
| inent engineers, there passed James
vile during the highest stage of water
no less than 1888, 900, 900 cubic feet
per day; while during the lowest stage
according to an expert employed In a
legal case. the daily supply was only
&c, ,920 ,00S cubic feet While these
are estimates of the extreme stages,
they do not perhaps exaggerate the dis
advantage under which these powers
nave labored. 1t is estimated by com-
Ipetent judges that fifty per cent Of
power for four months ban be added
to all the powers below the lake by
proper management Of the reservoir.
Through the preserving efforts of Mt.
Cobb, the control Of the dam at In
dian Ford hat been secured, and as a
result, the factories and mills of Beloit
were never before In possession of SO
good power as they are using daily
But the Importance OF this achieve
ment is not limited to this fact how
ever valuable it may be. The enter
! prise is the Inauguration In our state
and in the west, of system, which
when carefully carried into effect viii
be worth millions to the country. It
is probably unsurpassed in its real i'm
portance by any business undertaking
Of the last decade. Too much credit
can not be given to the Rock River
Paper company and It's farsighted
managers for undertaking and consum-
mating :.this enterprise. It speaks
volumes for the character and pros
poets of the company.
| DEATH OF IRA HARRIS Hon
Ira Harris, of New York is
dead. He was called can old Roman" !"
being man Of high character and
great attainments. He was born In
Montgomery ounty in 1902, was grad
| uated at Union and admitted to the
| bar at Albany, where he lived until
his death. He represented his city in
| the Assembly in 1874 and l845, was
delegate to the Constitutional Con-
vention in 1916 and was elected TO
the Senate In that year. In 1847 he
was elected Judge of the Supreme
Court, position he held for twelve
years. In 1861 he was elected
United States Senator, and held the
position six years during the most
trying period in our history.
The Iowa BIsHopRIc. The Rev.
DR.. Eccleston of Philadelphia, declines
the Iowa Bishopric, although a major
| ity Of the standing committees have
ratified his election. The choice 4d
the convention was the occasion OF
much bitterness of feeling on the part
of the minority, and in declining, d..
Eccleston has probably acted for the
best interests Of ihe church and the
diocese. Another election will be
held at the annual convention t Dss
Moines, in May next.
BosroN, Mass, Dec. 6.-At large
meeting to-day of the Methodist Epis
copal Sabbath School Union and Of the
Tract Society. and also the weekly
naatino. of nreachers. eomprisinr near