Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-04-14
STERLING, April l, 1880.

Editors OF the Stertlng Gazette:
The subject of constructing reservoirs
on the head waters of the Mississippi
river and it's tributaries, for storing or
holding the food waters of the streams
until the dry part of the season. and dis-
charging the water gradually from the
reservoirs by gates in the dams, in such
manner as to equally divide the water
and make a uniform flow until the water
is all drawn out, and by this means keep
ing up the navigation of the rivers in
good condition during the dry months of
July, August, September and October, OF
say ninety to one hundred days, is being
agitated.
Extensive surveys have been made on
the head waters of the Mississippi, Saint
Croix, Chippewa and Wisconsin rivers,
and a report of the same has Just been
made by the Secretary of War to Con-
gress on that subject, submitting the re-
ports of the e. S. Engineers. These re-
ports include forty different reservoirs on
the said streams, with capacity to hold
166, 100000 900 cubic feet of water, at an
estimated cost of $1,990,791, or about
$S, $50 for each 100000 900 cubic feet,
or an average of $34, no per reservoir.
In 1866 survey was made by the u.
S. Engineers for the improvement of
Rock river and thus connecting the
Mississippi river with Lake Winnebago
and Green Bay. The summit level of
this important improvement was at Lake
Horizon in Wisconsin, which is the source
of Rock river In order to supply this
work with water, it is proposed to con-
vert Lake Horizon into larger reservoir
by dam at the outlet, raising the water
six feet Its capacity would be $4,000
acres by six feet deep, making II, 2S3,-
100000 cubic feet.
The watershed of that lake was esti-
mated at four hundred square miles and
the least rain fall twenty inches per year,
and the average rainfall for twenty-four
years thirty inches per year. The small
est would be equal to one and one-half
times the capacity of the reservoir and
the average two and one-half times TAX
ing one-half of the rainfall for accumula-
ton and discharge, there is no question as
to the supply of water to fill the reservoir
for reserve, and this would give S5, 800
cubic feet of water per minute for one
hundred days.
The reservoir would be about twice as
large as thirty eight Of the above propos-
ed reservoirs, although the other two re-
servoirs are more than five times as large
as the Horizon reservoir. [ do not find
an estimate of the cost of constructing
dam for this reservoir, but am of the
opinion that it would not be over $50, 600
including land damages. 1t would in
crease the water power at all the towns
on Rock river in this state at least sixty
per cent, and in Wisconsin from seventy
five to one hundred per cent At Sterl-
ing there is fall of six feet, and there is
now at low water in the river about 1900
theoretical horse power, or 1900 effective
horse power-equal to sixty-seven run Of
mill stone and necessary machinery for
the manufacture of -four. An increase of
sixty per cent. will make 1920 effective
horse power, or one hundred and seven
run of stone At Dixon the head used is
the same, or six feet, and would receive
the same benefit.
The additional quantity of water which
will be added to the flow of the Missis-
sippi river from the proposed reservoirs is
cSGlIlldlCu dt OtA,OoO CuUlC lCCg pei HILL
ute, to which add the Horizon reservoir
would make 1925 $50 cubic feet per
minute, which I think would be about
fifty per cent of the present flow in that
river at Rock Island at low water 1t
thus clearly demonstrates the great value
that the reservoirs would be to the i'm
provement of the navigation of the Mis-
sissippi river and its tributaries, and the
increase in value it would add to the
water power on the Rock river, as well
as the other tributaries. 1t also should
show to the members of Congress whose
constituents are interested in these great
works, the Importance Of their favoring
and advocating by their acts and votes
the necessary appropriations by Congress
to carry out these proposed improvements
and especially to all who are on or near
| the line of Rock river to see to it that
this river is included with the other riy-
ers, as afording extensive facilities for
the construction of valuable reservoirs
DANIEL G. JENNIE,
Chief En0ineer UL. & Mich. Canal.