The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-31
THE wINN1n1GosHIsH DAM.

Pokegama reservoirs form distinct
group, with Pokegama as a distribu-
ting reservoir for the water discharged
from the other two. Pine river and
Sandy lake reservoirs are on opposite
sides of the Mississippi, into which
they discharge their waters at point
much below Pokegama Falls. The five
reservoirs hold a total capacity Of
about 10000, 600, 600 cubic feet. The fol-
lowing shows the capacity of each
reservoir with the number of square
miles of surface and the number of
square miles of tributary watershed:
Winnibigoshish - Capacity 45,S13.9H.3H
cubic feet; square miles of watershed, 1.422;
square miles of water surface. ISL %.
Leech Lake-Capacity.. 80 ols, $50, s35 cubic
feet; square miles of watershed. 1,225;
square miles of water surface, 23S:S.
Pokegama-Capacity, 1858, 07O520 cubic
feet; square miles of watershed, $50; square
miles of water surface, 5.
Pine River-Capacity, 7,474,SS4.1oa cubic
feet; square miles of watershed, 6O3; square
miles OF water surface. % 76
Sandy Lake-Capacity. 2,GS5, S9S, coo; square
miles of watershed, 1854; square miles OF
water surface 1852.
The reservoir Of Lake Winnibigo-
shis is the largest in the world, and it's
loss will be felt by the river residents
during the dry seasons when the "a
Their of Waters was won't to Stake
his thirst at this huge tank.
The dams are constructed all alike.
They are surrounded by an empank-
ment of earth with a section of wood
en- sluices The reservoir at Winni-
bigoshis being the largest, the size and
strength OF its embankment are, OF
course. the greatest The embank-
ments are constructed with center
inforced on either side with puddled
clay, and the sloping outside surfaces
being protected with substantial rip
rap work. The foundations were
planted far below the level OF the
ground before the embankments were
built, and the rows of sheet piling put
in during the construction of the dam
still remain outside the entertainments
as an additional protection against the
pressure Of the water.
Heavy timbers were used in building
the sections OF the dams used for
sluices. The sluices are about five
feet square and are closed by heavy
plank gates, which are operated by
Windlasses. The quantity of water let
out through these sluices can be gaug-
ed very accurately by means Of these
windlasses. The passage of logs is
provided for by one large specially con-
structed sluice in each dam.
Two watchmen are situated at each
dam, and they are kept busy from day
to day keeping the different buildings
located
care for the dams. They also have
their gardens and COWS and poultry to
look after These men live in plain
almost rude buildings, but everything
is kept emaculately neat, and the men,
as rule, are bright, intelligent fell
lows. .ts
The object of these reservoirs is to
collect surplus water, principally from
precipitation Of winter, spring and
,J1 n hn
leased so as to benefit navigation on
the Mississippi river below the reser-
Voir dams. ~
These dams, it Is claimed, have been
of great benefit during the low-water
| season to the navigable portion of the
river, from Grand Rapids Mimi, to
| the confluence of the Mississippi and
miles below st. Paul. and have ma
terially aided the lumbermen.
The reservoir dam at Lake Winni-
bigoshish was commenced fifteen years
ago, and is reported to be greatly In
| need Of repair Twelve to fifteen years
| is about as long as the timber portions
| above water, constructed Of pine
| should be left without renewal Of the
exposed timber. or, at least, extensive
repairs. ~ 80
Capt. Abbot estimates that the need
eel repairs of the dams at Lake Winni-
bigoshish and sLeeeh lake, the latter
also needing repairing, will cost, ap-
proximately, $225,000.a
The engineering department here Is
without funds to CARRY on the repairs
so, in order to- prevent any breaking
Of rotten timbers, pfecipitating an un-
expected rise IN the fiver, accompanied
by possible menace9of life no orders
will be given the two men at Winni-
bigoshish to close the great timber
gates after they areoopened next sum-