Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-01-26
THE RESERTOIR SYSTEM.


The debate in the House Of Represent
atives yesterday afternoon on the me-
mortal to Congress asking for an appro-
priation for the construction of reservoirs
at the headwaters of the Mississippi river
and its tributaries, was the most animated
Of the session thus far, and though it
resulted in the adoption Of the memorial,
it reflected little credit on the advocates
of the measure. 1t will be remembered
that the memorial was sprung upon the
Senate last week, and passed that body
without the least consideration, and that
the same smuggling dodge was attempted
in the House. Here it was yesterday dis
cussed at length, few of the objections
to the proposed system pointed out, the
narrow scope of the Improvements shown
convincingly, and above all it was proved
that under the guisc of being an expert
mental test of the utility or inutility of the
system, it was comprehensive appeal
TO Congress to expend money for the
construction of total of forty-one dams
on the Mississippi river and its tributa-
'ries, and the creation of as many reser-
voirs, all for the purpose of assisting a
few lumbermen to float their logs expe-
ditiously and cheaply to mill and market
The memorial was advocated on false
pretense, and the majority of those who
voted for it, did so under the impression
that they were asking for money to build
one reservoir, while the memorial con-
templated the construction of forty-one
All through the debate the advocates
of the reservoir system sought to convey
the impression that all the memorial COW
cred was the construction of an expert
mental dam.at the outlet of Winnibi-
goshish lake, which it was claimed would
restrain 10000, 100000 cubic feet
of water that would be available
in times of drought to increase the depth
ofiwater in;the channel of the Mississippi.
Mr.. Hicks repeated this over and over
again, but when cornered and pointed to
the language Of the memorial by Mr..
Searles, he was obliged Ito confess that
tnC DupCio DCCu Idobll uIdhH, huu
was susceptible of such construction as
Mr.. Searles placed upon it, but he as
sured the House that the memorial did
not mean what it said A pretty confess
sion for man of Mr.. Hicks apparent in
telligence to make And what shall be
said of legislative body that, after such
a confession-an acknowledgment of the
fact that the memorial was loosely drawn
and calculated and intended to deceive
approved of the sch eme7
Mr.. Hoyt fifty characterized the memo
rial as an appropriation of public moneys
for the promotion of private interests
that was prejudicial to public policy.
This it is and nothing less. Even Mr..
Hicks was compelled to admit that its
primary purpose was to facilitate manu-
featuring at the falls of St. Anthony.
though as a secondary consideration he
urged that it would increase the flow of
water below that point How many
'woodchucks" will develop as part of
the Job time alone Will show.
MIR. Smith expressed the sentiments OF
all St. Paul people of standing when he
declared that he would not oppose the
reservoir system if its practicability could
he demonstrated, and if it did not inter-
fere with the present methods for i'm
proving the navigation of theJ Missis-
.ippi river. He was willing to admit
that it might prove an important factor
in such improvement, but was emphati-
cally opposed to taking from the river
the money necessary for the purposes of
commerce and frittering it away in I'M
tried and doubtful experiments 1t is to
be hoped that Congress will take similar
view Of the matter.