Rock Island Argus., 1900-05-23
RIVER IS DRYING UP,
Causes Of Diminishing Waters of
the Rock to be lnVesti-
gated.
GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A HAND
Not Only Main Stream, But Trib.
utaries, lessening in
Volume.

| Rock river is drying up, and the
cause Of the diminishing waters is to
be made the subject of an investiga-
ton by the United States department
| of agriculture. This action was
| brought about at the instance of Fred
| Lawton, who is connected with the
Lee County Farmers institute.
Mr.. LawtOn wrote a letter to Con-
gresham Hit. who referred it to
Secretary Wilson, submitting some
facts which seem to show that the
stream. which by many gifted writers
has been made TO figure in history.
romance and poetry, is in danger of
drying up. Its waters. those in posi-
tion to know. say, have been gradu-
ally diminishing, and the people in
such towns as Janesville. Beloit.
Rockford. Byron. Oregon and Dixon
have been much concerned about the
matter.
Secretary Wilson has directed that
G.. Fred Schwartz. an expert of the
division Of forestry, repair at once to
the Rock river valley, there TO make
an Investigation bearing on conditions
which affect the flow of water down
the valley.
There are several theories advanced
pertaining to this subject, but it is
claimed that not only the main
stream is lessening in volume. but its
tributaries, such as the Kishwaukee.
Pecatopica. Sugar, Turtle and other
rivers and creeks, are also surely
growing less with the passing of each
year.
1t is the common opinion that the
waters of the Rock have diminished
because of the cutting of timber at
the headwaters and to excessive
drainage for commercial and other
purposes. 1t is claimed that thou
sands of springs which in early years
contributed their cool. clear waters to
the historic stream have dried up and
that former brooks are now grass
grown wales.
Causes Explained.
A citizen of GAINESVILLE figures it out
that the causes are the same that have
produced practically the same result
in the Mississippi river. He claims
that the great marshy tracts along the
upper course of the stream and its
tributaries, which once acted as u sort
of a sponge, holding the flood waters
OF fall and spring and giving them up
slowly so as to equaliZe the flow of
summer with that of other seasons,
have been reclaimed, and the former
great expanse of swamps covered with
reeds and wild rice are now parts and
parcels of rich, improved farms of two
states. 1t is contended that while
much timber has been cut from what
was known as the Watertown woods.
the tributary streams. including near
ly all from the west, flow through a
prairie country now much more heav-
lily timbered than it was 80 years ago.
To Suggest q Remedy.
All of these matters will be called |
to the attention of the government |
expert on his arrival. The purpose
of his investigation is to suggest 4 |
remedy if there be one, and he may
depend on the cooperation of the peo-
pie of the entire valley.
Within the last two years there has |
been a great deal of building going on
on both banks of the river between
this point and the Wisconsin line.
Most of this has been in the way of
summer homes of wealthy Chicago
people. The Rockford Country club
has leased for 10 years 10J acres on
the west bank of the river and is
spending $4,000 on a clubhouse and
Is making other improvements.