The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1884-10-03
Our Waterway

ment representative OF the survey par
ty visited Browns Valley last Friday
to CLEAN facts for report as to the
feasibility of connecting these two
lakes by Il navigation canal, making
, the same an essential part Of the Min
y esota and Red River Improvements.
Mr.. Davenport wa, here several years
ago, and went over the ground from a
survey standpoint. He is an intelli-
gent man ard evidently understands
his business with Il keen sense of re-
sponslbllity III this great and impor-
tant undertaking. Many Of our lead
| ing citizens met him in council in
Messrs. Brooke & Todd's bank, that
evening. After duly scanning the sit
uation with a view to success, Mr..
Davenport required Il statment IN
writing certifying as to the extent OF
'country tributary to said waterway,
the population it would specially and
commercially benefit in connection
with the benefit derived therefrom for
/ the country at large.
Mr.. Davenport states that the Red
River is nayigable from its mouth as
far up rs McCauleyyille, near Breck-
enridge. The distance thence to the
! foot of Lake Traverse can be opened
without any great expense. 4 little
dredging at different points and the
work is completed. The main object
to be accomplished is to canal between
our two lakes. This may be regarded
as the heaviest work whereby naviga-
ton will be open to Ortonyille; but let
it be remembered that nature has al
ready provided a channel by means Of
the upper Minnesota, which at the
least calculation is half done. Boats
have already ascended as high up rs
Mr Bailey's, within a mile Of Browns
Valley. BY dredging thence the river
along the town and west to the foot Of
the Dakota bluffs, and yeering north,
a natural channel is found where Gen.
turies ago the waters of Lake Travers
emptied direct into Big Stone. We
do not therefore look upon the enter
prise Of dredging enough for steamers
to navigate as involving an immense
cost. Mr. kearcher, the practical
miller III Ortonyille, AYERS that the
cost of dyke at the foot OF Traverse
can be done at comp pafatiyely light e2
pense. One lock at said dyke Wonle
be sufficient, for Traverse is bnt abou
eight feet above low water. level q
Big Stone.
We understand from Mr.. Daven
port that the. object the government
has in view is not SO much 20 make
grand reseryoir-although that Noult
incidentally follows to open nayl
CATION between the Mississippi and st
Paul and the entire length Of Re-
River to the northern boundary lint
of the state; the provincial govern
ment of Manitoba removing all Oh
structions thence. if any exist thu
constituting the great international
waterway of the North America
tcontinent. 1t is not therefore neces
saly that any further dyking be don
at the foot uf Big Stone, for that lax
is already ample every way for tn
largest steamers that would ply alon
this route.
If shippers Of wheat by the Farg
barges TO Wlnnepeg already save D
that route at least seven cents pc
bushel farmers III this region Wonl
save hy that route at least SIX cent
per hushel. When the route IS oner
ca. as it certlinly will be in due time
millions of people will be immensel
benefited. There is no public enter
prise more worthy Of the special a
tention and munltlcence OF congress
By Il vigorous cooperation OF the put
lie presses specially interested IN init
encing our national representatives
unfaltering action. success IS sure an
that not very distant.-BroWn va
S ley Reporter.