The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-07-22
WORK ON TH BIG RIVER
THE REPORT OF MAI. ABBOT ON
THE IMPROVEMENTS
GIVEN OUT
MONEY SPENT ON THE LOCKS
Some of the Funds, However, Have
Been Observation-Disclosures in
the Minnesota River
and the Red.

WASHINGTON, July 2L-Secretary
Root today gave out the annual report
of Maj Abbot, in charge of river i'm
provements in Minnesota. As to work
on lock and dam No. 2, Maj Abbot says
the formal contracts have been let for
the upper and the lower lock gates, at
very reasonable prices. The other work
has been done by hired labor. The plant
described in the last annual report has
been in active use during the entire work
ing season and has proved convenient
and efficient in eevry respect, the cable
way has been in constant use sixteen
hours q day and has given 10 trouble. 1t
has paid for itself many times over in
the saving of time effected by being able
to lift full seven tons and carry 1t from
any point in the Golfer dam to any other
point in the Golfer dam or on the BANKS
within the length of tracks, $50 feet.
On Sept. % the Golfer dam was pumped
out for the first time and it was found
to be free from leaks, although numerous
springs were found in the enclosed river
bottom
Excavation was started, the material
being carried across the river and Dump
ed against the cliff in such a position as
to be readily reloaded and brought back
for use in filing in the rear of the land
wall Of the lock. On June Is the contract
on the land wall began and it was prose-
cuted vigorously.
At lock and dam No. 1 good progress
has been made in securing favorable Of
fers for fowage rights, options having
been secured on no acres out of a total
of about 100 acres. No actual purchases
were made, as all the formalities preced-
ing approval of titles by the attorney
general had not been completed by the
close of the year.
Mai Abbot recommends that cond7~r-
nation proceedings be begun for the oth0
lands needed for the Improvement, and
that at the next session of the Legislature
OF Minnesota a request be made for the
cession of such land in the Soldiers
Home grounds as are needed for the
dam site. A considerable area is also to
be secured from the Minneapolis park
board, probably without cost to the
United States.
The total expenditure on both locks ard
dams to June 50 was $23609G, and there
is every prospect for completing the
locks for the original sum provided
Work on the reservoirs at the head,
waters Of the Mississippi consisted Of
surveys of Pokegama reservoir. Pine
river, Lake Winnebagoshish and Leech
lake. The Golfer dam for the new Lake
Winnebagoshish dam WAS removed in
July 1855 and the removal of the cid
dam was begun Parts Of the new dam
were assembled ready fer putting in
place. At the Leech Lake dam work in
the Golfer dam was begun in May last,
and at the close, of the year everything
was in readiness to close the Golfer dam
by the middle of this month. At the Pine
river dam a party was put in the field in
August building bikes to close the low
places on the south side of the reservoir.
1t is hoped TO complete them before freeZ-
ing weather this fall.
The completion of the Winnebagoshish
and the Leech Lake dams this fall will
exhaust the funds now on hand, and it
will still be necessary to replace the Pine
River dam by a suitable concrete and
steel structure.
All lands below Pokegama Falls af-
fected by the discharge from the dam
not previously acquired have been sub
iect to condemnation proceedings. The
total awards were $5,193, and it is ex-
pected that the proceedings will close
in a short time.
The total expenditure for reservoirs
since July, 1898, have been SIP, SOP.
The Pine River and the Sandy Lake
reservoirs have been operated during the
year, but their effect has been small eX-,
cept in assisting in floating logs in May
and June this year. Many repairs were
made to all the dams. The total expense
of maintenance during the year was
$40, $50
In the Chippewa river new dams were
built at Plum island, Crow island and
WacOuta island, and repairs made to the
old Plum island dam. The expenditures
were SIS, 628
In st. Croix river new dam was built
at the head of Folsonis island. just be
low Taylors Falls, at a cost of $685.
Maj. Abbot refers to the fight be-
tween the lumbermen and the steamboat
men over the navigation of the river
and states that an agreement had been
reached.
In the Minnesota river channel was
maintained throughout the year by
dredging. The expenditures amounted to
1892.
In the Red River of the North consid-
cradle dredging was done both above
and below Grand Forks, at an expense
of $2,192
AS to the survey for the removal of
the bar at the mouth of Warroad river,
Maj Abbot says that at the outlet, in
Canadian territory there is a. power
dam, which has apparently raised the
level Of the lakes something like three
feet Correspondence with the officers of
the company indicates that the dams
will be kept closed and the level of the
lake maintained at about the height
when the survey was made.
A project for the general Improvement
of Warroad harbor was submitted, but
Maj. Abbot thinks the funds available
should be retained until more are pro-
vided by congress. The Neurological
measurements of the run-on OF Red
Lake river shows a total of 24,51S, 430, 1T6
cubic feet since May, 1899. The run-of
at the outlet of Otter Tail lake in the
same time was HIPS, 6o4 112 cubic feet.
There is a holding at the latter place for
the construction of a dam in impound
$500, coo 900 cubic feet of water.