The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-11

A score or more residents Of White
Bear gathered at the rooms of the
Commercial club last night and Or
gained the White Bear Improvement
association, the object Of which will
be, primarily, to provide some means
for keeping the water line of the lake
up and the construction Of the propos-
ed boulevard around the lake. The
following officers were elected: Presi-
dent, Harry T. Drake; vice president,
j. M. Goldsmith; secretary, M. e. Kost;
treasurer. David Hanna.
Mr.. Goldsmith called the meeting to
order and explained the object Of the
gathering. He was followed by Harry
T. Drake, who stated that the water
line of the lake had been getting lower
and lower every year at an alarming
rate. The lake was situated on the
highest point on the watershed be-
tween the two cities. He thought if
some means could be devised to drain
Pine Tree lake, just north of White
Bear, in the spring, 1t would accom-
plish the desired result. The st. Paul
& Duluth road would build a culvert
under its bridge near White Bear
Beach, and the natural topography of
the land would insure a large supply
of water in the spring if a 1ume was
built for about 81, 900 between Pine Tree
and White Bear lakes.
Tracy Lyon explained that the av-
erage mean of evaporation was great
er than the average rainfall in Mime
sofa. AS some had raised the ques-
ton as to the advisability of having
ice-cutting operations stopped in the
winter time, Mr.. Lyon explained that
cutting the ice in the winter had
scarcely a perceptible effect upon the
lake. Something like 100000 tons were
cut each year, and this would not
make more than a half-inch difference
for the whole season.
Representative Fulton said it would
be hardly possible to get any aid from
the state, as it would be class legisla-
ton. He thought the boards of county
commissioners should take the matter
up.
County Commissioner Hillery, of
Washington county said that the body
which he represented would do moth
ing towards improving the lake.
N. E. Kost thought the board Of
county commissioners Of Ramsey
county should make the $500 appro-
priation needed each year as a COM
paratively large amount was appro-
priated annually by the comm ssion-
ers of Hennepin county for Lake Min
netonka. He thought this could be
done without special legislative au-
thor1ty so long as it did not necessitate
a bond issue.
j. Z. Jensen said the weeds were to
blame for the rapid evaporation Of
water In the lake. He said the more
weeds the more rapid the evaporation.
II the weeds were cleaned out 1t would
solve the whole question. He thought
1t foolhardy to attempt to construct
an artificial water shed.
Capt. Young, the veteran steamboat
man, substantiated Mr.. Jenson's state
ment about the weeds. The longer
they were allowed to go the tougher
they became and the more expensive
to get rid Of.
Emil Geist said the weeds grew best
In shallow water. He thought if the
water was deeper they would not be
troubled with the weeds, as they only
became annoying when they grew near
the top of the water, as they developed
very rapidly as soon as they got near
the air.
A committee consisting of J. c. Jen
son, c. D. O'Brien, ]. H. Schultz, A.
M Lawton and w. S. Morton was ap-
pointed to look into the matter and
report at the next regular meeting.
Friday night, at the Commercial club.
A. M. Lawton introduced a resolu-
ton requesting the county commits
sioners Of Ramsey county to improv.
the highways about the lake and build
a drive around the lake. The matter
was referred to the same committee
for proper presentation.