Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-20
TIE RESERTOIR SrSTEM.

THE RESERTOIR SYSTEM. q
Had it not been for the vigilance of the
Ramsey county delegation in the House
Yesterday afternoon the Legislature would
have fallen into the very serious mistake
of asking Congress for an appropriation
for scheme that, if carried out, will be
of incalculable injury to the State at
large, and do more than dozen grass
hopper visitations to retard the growth of
our great commonwealth. In the course
of business a joint memorial from the
Senate endorsing the proposed reservoir
system was read by the clerk. The me-
mortal was ingeniously drawn as being in
the interest of the better navigation of
the Mississippi river, and having the ap-
prevail Of several very eminent civil en-
gineers connected with the war depart
ment, The designers knew very well that
every proposition looking toward
the improvement of navigation
on this great national high
way would pass almost unquestioned, and
they we're not disappointed as far as the
Senate was concerned, for it passed that
body without debate In the House yes
terday Mr.. Hicks endeavored to secure
its passage under suspension of the rules.
Mcssrs James Smith, il. and j. B. San
born, Of St Paul, and Judge Wilson,
Of Winona, were on the alert,
however, and by shedding little light on
the scheme succeeded in having it laid
over till Friday for discussion.
Few residents Of the State outside of
the ring that is fostering this scheme,
fully understand its real purpose. Under
the disguise of plan to improve the
navigation of the Mississippi river, it is
simply a scheme for the profit of a
few mill-owners at Minneapolis at
ne expense of the general govern
ment, and to delay if not to
forever prevent the improvement of the
river for commercial purposes. 1t was
aptly characterized by one gentleman
Yesterday as an effort to make the general
government build dams that should be
constructed by the individual loggers
themselves.
If this was the only effect of the SYSTEM
however, 1t would not he open to as seri-
GUS objections as can now be urged against
it, The construction of the dams pro-
posed at the outlets of the lakes would
cause the overflow Of millions of acres of
arabic and meadow land, the most valu-
able in the State. In large part of the
State the meadow lands would be COM
pletely destroyed and rendered worse than
valueless, for after the waters are drawn
off in the midsummer months, they would
be nothing but filthy morass, breeding
pestilence and death for miles around.
Besides the pecuniary loss such an over
flow would cause, it would change Min
nesota from the healthIest, to one of the
most insalubrious States in the Uuion.
The pretense that the proposed res
ervolrs would increase the volume of
water in the river at or be-
low St Paul, is fallacious. Evaporation
and absorption would consume the bulk
of the water long before it reached this
city, and not an inch would be added to
the depth of the channel The only
plan by which the navigation of the
river can be improved is by the construc-
ton of wing dams, judicious dredging
at the bars, and combining the channel to
as narrow limits as possible.
1t is not necessary to refer to the hid
den reasons for the advocacy of this
scheme, such, for instance, as the effort
TO rob the Indians of the timber now
upon their reservations. These. will no
doubt be fully exposed in the course of
the debate. The House should not take
action upon the memorial until it is fully
understood in all its bearings.
If it passes Congress the settlers on the
borders Of the lakes and rivers emptving
into them will suffer the loss of all their
meadows and much of their most fertile
farming lands, which will be made foul
cesspools, breeding disease throughout
wide area of country, while the only
persons benefited will be a few persons
who have already grown rich by robbinc
the government of its timber, and wish
TO increase their store by pursuing the
same course in the future
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