The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-02-05
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woRTHlHaToH, MINE. F4B1UA1Y S, 1891
MINNESOTA LAKE DRAINAGE.
W. J. Mcleod, Esq, Of Sibley coun-
~. Minnesota, has published . strong
article tn the st. Paul Globe protesting
against the drainage of the lakes of
thts State. He traces the drouths which
he thinks have cut short the produce
ttons OF the soil In this State and tho
two Dakotas to over drainage. In the
greed for land its owners have ''mean.
'dered" many OF tho beautiful lakes
which were once the pride Of the State.
He says: 1.-THE II 900 lakes of all sizee,
set like 50 many jewels by the wise Cre-
ator's hand, to forever beactify and
fsrtilize the North Star State" have
been reduced In number, and the work
OF ''meandrriag" is going on coutinu-
ally. The supply Of fisb, once So valu.
able, 10 materially less than it vas.
Water for farm stock is more and more
difficult to obtain. The average preci.
pitatiOn Of snow and rain is diminish
Ing every year. Farmers must bore
deep wells every year, or quit farming.
Mr.. Mcleod concludes his timely warn.
ing by saying:
''These sad results are not without
causes. The principal cause "Over-
drainage" The drainage of many
small ponds, sloughs and marshes,
while tending to lessen evaporation,
WAS In many Gases q necessity, or
necessary evil. But the draining If
meandered lakes, or even small, clear
lakes not meandered, is a fearful blum
der, and a crime against natures law,
the people Of Minnesota and their pos
terity. The rain and snow fall is
gradually decreasing because the water
surface of the State has been so great
ly lessened, and it is the principal
source Of local evaporation. I would
appeal to the patriotism and good
sense of our people to use every possi-
ble means to preserve what lakes we
have left. What q short sighted poll
cy it is to spend money draining these
natural reservoirs of Minnesota, while
Dakota, adjoining us, has always been
drOuth cursed in large sections, and
has been begging Congress to appro-
pirate large sums for irrigation, when
irrigation of any l,r2e part OF it is sim
ply impossible. We should guard these
lakes rs we would the prosperity and
beauty Of the State, for the existence
"f the one is the guarantee of the
oz1'er. Illinois, like US, has suffered
from the same Cause. Scientists tell US
that were it not for evaporations from
the lakes Of North America, the cen.
trail part Of the continent would be y
desert more barren than Sahara. 1t
were better than approriating money
for such purpose to hire a meteorOlo
gist to lectule at Farmers institutes
on the suicidal effects of over drainage.
Who has not noticed chat the Minnesr-
ta counties that have never known u
failure of crops are those in or near the
lake region of the State? Yesterdays
Globe reported u wholesale fOrec!osinR
"f farm mortgages, and a violent con-
flict between the sheriff's posse, and
some of the evicted farmers, near VII
chita, Kansas There are no lakes or
ponds in that part of the jayhawker
State"
DEATH OF SECRETARY WIN
DOM.
Secretary Window died suddenly of
heart disease at Delmonicos in New
York few moments after delivering
the first speech ut the banquet given
BY the New York Board Of Trade.
Ex-Secretary Bayard was announced
to follow with speech, but had
scarcely begnn when It was observed
that Mr.. Window was seized with u
spasm aud WAS falling back In his
chair. The large assembly wss at once
dissolved, and soon the appalling fact
was announced that the Secretary was
dead. The funeral WAS held at WASH
ington on Monday last, and was At
tended by all the Departments of the
Government, and by the representa-
Of the governments now at Washing-
ton.
Secretary Windom was long in pub
lie life, and was among the most hon
ored and useful of our public servants.
The state Of Minnesota feels justly
proud of his able and honorable cs Eesr,
while representing her in Congress and
In the Presidents Cabinet. He had
many warm supporters as candidate
for the Presidency. His speech was
on the silver question. which was read
by the people Of the country the day
after death had sealed his lips in per-
petual silence. It was q semi-Official
declaration on the part of tho Admin.
istrstion against the Free Silver Bill
passed BY the senate. How far his ar
gument will affect the popular coEvic-
tion on this subrct is not yet apparent
but It Is regarded a. an intimatior
that = free silver bill will not receive
the Presidents approval.
A GOOD MOVEMENT.
The Woman's Board g Missions, Al
organization Of the Congregational de-
nomination. has resolved to ask tn,