Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-02-25
IMPROVING THE MISSISSIPPI

While the plan OF improving the Mis-
sissippi river, by means of large reservoirs
upon the head waters of all it's tributaries
is an enterprise of great magnitude, vet
it seems to be the only comprehensive
and radical method Of treatment.
1t is proposed to control the water in
detail rather than Ill mass. To store
water when the supply is eXtraVagant, and
gradually discharge it during seasons of
penury The erasion Of the banks is
almost wholly caused by the high wafer
under correspondingly high velocity, and
the result is the deposited SEDIMENT crea-
ton of bars raising the bed Of the river,
shifting the channel, and the deposits at
the mouth. The shoai places are trouble
some only during low water. If all Of the
tributaries can be made to approach to
nearly an uniform volume, the Mississippi
will of necessity conform TO the supply and
the evils of hig Oh and low water viii be
radically and permanently mastered
By this plan not only the Mississippi is
improved, but the navigable capacities of
its tributaries are greatly enhanced, while
their value for manutacturing purposes
are largely multiplied. Every reservoir
built is a permanent advance III the de-
velopment and execution OF compre-
hensive and radical plan. A reservoir
sheds double blessing from its site to
to the mouth of the Mississippi, withhold
ing when there is waste, and giving when
there is poverty. A levec is a temporary
expedient, mere local defense.
1t is doubtful if in the aggregate the
reservoir plan will entail a larger expense
than the present temporary plan of build
ing ievees, securing out the mouth and
deepening shoal places or canaling
around them A levee pays back nothing
to the Government, while reservoirs will,
by encouraging commerce and manufac-
lures. Manufacturing interests always
seek a permanent and uniform water
supply. The profits of year are often
prevented or squandered by a lack Of
power for only comparatively short
time. At the feet of the reservoirs, and
lining the streams below them, will be
born and matured large manufacturing
interests, which directly and indirectly
will repay the government for the out
lay.
If the Mississippi river is to be improv-
ed on the reservoir plan, Rock river
ought to be included. 1t does not seem
improper to ask that Lake Horizon be
utilized as a reservoir, when it is propos-
ed to build three on the Chippewa, three
on the ST. Croix and two on the Wiscon-
sin.
General Wilson in his report to the
Chief of Engineers of the army, on the
survey of Rock river, as set forth in Col.
Worrars sub report, estimates the storage
capacity of Lake Horizon, as six feet deep
on forty-seven thousand acres, or II, 1885,
100000 cubic feet of water He estimates
the water shed area to supply this reser-
voir at 1876 square miles, and states that
according to the observations of Mr.. Lap
ham of Milwaukee, the average rainfall
for twenty-four years, was 40, 278, the
lowest being 2o-54 inches, and the high
est 44-S6 inches.
In view of these figures the value of
Lake Horizon as a reservoir is apparent,
and the people Of the Rock River valley
can not afford to ignore so vital an inter
est.
1t will be observed that the navigable
interest of the Mississippi and the navi-
gable and manufacturing interests of its
tributaries are in harmony. Each would
dictate the filling of the reservoirs where
the supply of water is large, and the
drawing from them when the supply is
scant.
-u T. PTrnEp