Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1882-03-01

have another wasteway to prevent the
water rising above certain height. l
think any hydraulic engineer would de-
eide that l have made ample arrange
ments for the passage of all water not
required for use.
Long Lake this winter ia the lowest
it has been any winter since it was
known. Rocks and reefs that are usu-
ally visible only in summer, were in
plain sight previous to the last snow
storm. Yet, when Long Lake froze up
late last fall, my dam was full; the
first ice formed was within three-fourths
of an inch of the top of the wasteway,
while the sand fats at the foot of the
lake were bare for several rods in width,
and on the dry sand, several rods from
the water of the lake, lay a pine butt
nearly five feet through, which never
foated there without at least three feet
higher water than there is in the lake
at present. This is one of Mr.. Packs
logs, which was cut and RATED before
any dam was constructed at the foot of
the lake.
This was the state Of affairs at the
time application was made before the
Board Of Supervisors, Jan. 4th. My
race is not yet quite finished, and l
have slight, insecure dam at the head
of it. As soon as weather will permit,
/ shall finish the race, and then l can
finish the dam; it is nearly empty now,
as the sluice has been running oil win
ter; then the Board of Supervisors, or
any others interested, can satisfy them
selves as to the height to which it will
raise Long Lake. The outlet from the
dam to the foot of the lake is well
known to be shallow stream in time of
high water, and in the dry season is a
miry marsh, which it would pay to keep
covered with water, so as to keep the
bottom from being exposed to the suns
rays, as it then poisons the atmosphere
with malaria.
AS the height of the dam is ct most
the same as very low level of the lake,
no damage can be done to lands or
crops; and the statement that some of
the houses would be vacated if the dam
was allowed to remain, is simply pre-
posterous, and any man at the lake who
knows the facts. and would make such
a statement, would be regarded as eth
er liar or lunatic.
I used to think that mills in new
country were to be regarded as great
benefit to the settlers, and would add
to the value Of the section in which
they were built, but / begin to think
that l must be mistaken. l did also
suppose that the acts of legislative bod
les should tend, in a measure, to en-
courage all enterprises that looked to-
ward the opening up and development
of new country.
/ came on to this place for the pur-
pose of opening up farm and improv-
ing my mill site and one thing is cer-
tain, if dam cannot be maintained
here, mill is out of the question. My
timber that is out for the mill, ] sup
pose / can build barn with, and the
water-wheel and machinery, now on the
ground, might be conveyed to some To-
cality where it is not crime to build
water mill.
Mr.. Editor, you will excuse me for
occupying so much of your space, for
when / see such base and false state
ments as the one I have endeavored to
reply to in this, published and sent out
for facts, / feel that to remain silent
would be an injustice to myself, and
by neglecting to explain, might work a
lasting injury to the best interests OF
this part of Alpena county and large
portion of Presque Isle county.
GEO. STUBS,