Morris tribune., 1889-09-18
Big Stone Lake.

Big Stone Lake is known far and near
as a favorite resort for fishermen, sports
men and summer tourists. Its waters
abound with the finest varieties of game
flsll-pike, bass, pickerel and other
varieties; while ducks, geese and brant
are shot in great numbers on the lake
and in it's immediate vicinity. 1t is
beautiful sheet of water and is navig-
able for a good sized craft. But the
waters of this beautiful lake are fast
drying up and the fish are being des-
troyed. So it is quite natural that the
people living near the lake, as we'll as
those living at greater distance, should
meet in convention, as thew 6id. d; ~ ~ ~:
tonvllIe one Gay lasI week. 1heie was
quite a large delegation, both from near
home and abroad. The meeting was
called the "Waterways and Fish Con-
vention,' and assembled for the purpose
of discussing the subject of restoring
the lake to it's former height. Quite a
number of the mills which were former
" run by water, no longer depend on a
water supply, as steam has been sub
stituted.
tt was Mr.. John Kaercher's idea that
| a dam should be put in at the outlet OF
the lake, with flood gates, to the END
that during the spring freshets the waters
of the Milestone might be brought into
the lake and made available in filling up
the depleted reservoirs.
Col. Everest said that it was crying
shame to see the most beautiful and at
tractive lake in the whole country
ruined when little enterprise and at
tention to the matter might assure It's
permanency.
| Senator Hixson was present ana mace
a speech. He believed that the general
government should appropriate SUI.
ticient money to place the lake beyond
danger and maintain it as naVlgaole
body of water, and that with proper
effort such an appropriation could DC
secured. He also believed that the ques
ltion of preserving and increasing the
fish supply ought to receive attention
from the national and state authorities
Many of the delegates gave evidence
concerning the great loss by deprecla
ton in property values, occasioned DJ
the lake receding and creating un
healthy and unpleasant marshes ano
mud banks. The rapid destruction OF
fish was commented upon, and the
necessity existing for fishways in the
Minnesota river at all points where mil
dams had been constructed.
| Col. Everest believed that state aid couio
he secured to make Big Stone Lake
fish hatchery, and establish deputy tlsh
commissioner at Ortonville.
| The sentiment of the convention
seemed to be that the necessities OF the
case were too imperative to permit OF de
laying action or waiting for govern
ment appropriation, but that the pre-
liminary work of building dam at thu
foot of the lake must be commenced a
once, and so much done rs would stol
the waste of water now going on, ane
place the lake in position TO hold the tal
rains. 1t was evident this work woult
have to be done by private subscriptions
and accordingly on motion of Col
Everest the chair appointed commltte'
of eleven, to have full power to receiv'
subscriptions and proceed with the work
Resolutions were also adopted declar
ing that the general government ough
to approprlte the sum of $25 600 asked TO
by our legislature for the purpose OF con
structing dyke across the foot OF BIZ
lStone Lake, and to dredge the same t.
the end that it may be preserved as
nayigable body of water, and that
united and vigorous effort should b
made to preserve and increase the sup
+ ply of fish in the said Big Stone Lake
j and that state and national aid shoul'
= be invoked for that purpose.