Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-18

letter was read and referred, from E. p.
Peterson. of Litchfeld, stating that board
of trade had been organized at that place,
with V. P. Kennedy as president and the
writer as secretary.
A letter was read from N. F. Hartshorn,
of England, stating that colony or several
colonies of Scotch Presbyterians desired to
come to this country, and suggesting that
steps be taken to secure them for Mime
sota On motion of Mr.. Willius, the execu-
tive committee was directed to consult with
the State board of immigration and ascertain
and report what is being done to secure
immigration.
| The special committee on State railroad
bonds, by Gen. Sibley, submitted a report,in
| form of communication, prepared for
presentation to the Republican and Demo-
cratic conventions, urging the need and JUS
tice of adjusting or providing for redemp
ton of the bonds. The report was adopted
and the committee directed to present the
subject to the conventions as proposed.
| Mr.. Hall, for the committee of conference
with the new board of trade, reported YER
bally upon the pending project for organ
lzing as stock company to erect building
in which permanent quarters may be pro-
vided for both the board and the chamber.
The president reported that the commit
tees appointed for that purpose last week
secured subscriptions to the membership
roll of the chamber, amounting to $716, of
which $571 has been paid into the treasury
The committees were continued, except that
those members who have given day to the
work are excused from further service.
Captain Blakely having obtained permits
sion for Col. VIM. 81. Crooks to address the
Chamber on the subject of improving river
navigation by reservoirs, Colonel Crooks
spoke in substance as follows:
Referring to the resolutions recently
adopted by the Chamber against the reser-
voir system, he said he thought it probable
there had been in the Chamber a misappre-
hension of the facts which have been shown
by competent engineers. Examinations
have been made, at government expense, for
thirteen years, under General Warren, Ma
jor Farvuhar and Captain Allen, United
States corps of engineers, to ascertain the
practicability of holding the surplus waters
of the upper Mississippi and it's tributaries,
to prevent to degree the devastations of
foods aud gain the benefits of supplying
water in time of need. You want the water
here for 120 days during the usual low water
4 period of the summer. You cannot get it
by deepening the channel but must hold
back for that season the surplus water of the
spring. l submit to your consideration the
following data When $500 cubic feet of
water per second passes st. Paul the large
boats begin to find trouble in reaching our
levee. 70 this amount of water, for period
of ninety days, for the low water season, we
can add by the reservoir system 300 cubic
feet per second. But reducing it to the re-
quirements of 120 days, We can pass st. Paul
1880 cubic feet per second, making $4,000
cubic feet per second for 120 days. By what
can be drawn from the st. Croix system of
dams - about which there is no possible
doubt-at low water we can add to the vol
ume of the Mississippi at the mouth of the
st. Croix $500 feet per second, making the
volume of water from Prescott 19, 500 feet
per second and this is below what might be
fairly estimated. The low water volume now
is $500 feet per second at st. Paul, plus
1900 from the st. Croix at Prescott, equals
8,400 feet, against 1880 per second, with
the dams bullt-or two and third times the
present low water volume.
Carrying this increased volume down the
river and through Lake Pepin, adding 100
feet per second for the Cannon and other
small streams, and we have for the volume
above the mouth of the Chippewa f9, 600 feet
per second. The low water (measured) dis
charge of the Chippewa at its mouth Id
$500 feet per second, to which we can add
from reservoirs on the Chippewa 5000 feet
per second, giving as the accession to the
Mississippi there $500 feet per second-ag-
gregating below the mouth of the Chippewa
%, 100 cubic feet per second for ninety days.
Recapitulating-The measured and gagged
low water of the Mississippi, st. Croix and
Chippewa, as used in the foregoing calcul,-
ton, is as follows: At st. Paul, $500 feet
per second; st. Croix, $500 feet; Cannon
river, etc., 100 feet Chippewa, $500 feet;
total, II 900 cubic feet per second. Amount
which would, furnished by the construction
of reservoirs, additional, IA, 100 cubic feet
per second, making 25,1O0 cubic feet per
second, or 2 $40 times the low water dis
charge-no inconsiderable addition in time
of need.
Further, at Winona, by absolute gauging
and measurements, we find the low water OF
1864, II, 100 feet per second. And in 1878
Col. Farquahar made measurements and
gauging below the Chippewa at Wabashaw,
and found the low water discharge there
TO- 100 cubic feet per second.
Examinations as to evaporation, infiltra-
ton, wsstage, percolation-in other words,
all sources of loss-have been made by ac-
tual instrumental observation at the United
States depots in Minnesota and Wisconsin
and, as factor of safety-wholly unneces-
sary but given to cover all possibilities only
25 per cent. of the rainfall has been allowed
to cover losses from such sources in any of
these calculations, whereas all the reports
from accepted authorities show that 40 per
cent. is the lowest which sh ould be allowed
in any region east of the Red River of the
North.
The speaker deprecated any association
of the reservoir system with the opposition,
for selfish reasons, of certain mill owners to
the sawdust bill, pending in Congress. That
would be passed, of course, because it is use
less to adopt any plan of river improvement
and then allow it to be defeated by the de-
post of distractions.
Excavating the channel will not alone pro-
vide for good stage of water. You cennot
have enough water in the dry season unless
you hold it back from the flood season. That
this can be done is demonstrated. 1t is no
longer problem but a demonstrated theo-
rem, accepted as demonstrated by competent
and prominent engineers. In conclusion he
expressed the opinion that it came with i'll
grace from the Chamber of Commerce Of the
capital city of Minnesota-to throw doubt on
a project .pomising as much of benefit to both
city and State.
Mr.. James Smith, Jr., said he had read
| carefully the reports of government
engineers on the reservoir system and could
not draw conclusions from them agreeing
with those drawn by Col. Crooks. Ii the
question was to be again discussed be de-
sired to be heard on 1t.
Capt. Blakeley thought the vote by which
the resolution against the reservoir system
was passed was a hasty vote, and hoped