Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-03-27
FIsHWAY ORDERED.
House of Representatives Takes Ac
tion-Sportsmen Will Applaud.

Unless the firm of Meek Brothers, of
Bonaparte, begins legal action, and
possibly even if this is resorted to, the
sportsmen of the upper Des Moines
river, or at least that part of it be.
tween Bonaparte and Ottumwa, will be
able, within a short time, to try their
skill as fishermen on larger and
more satisfactory scale than has been
possible for 10. these many years. The
Iowa house of representatives passed
a bill on Saturday which provides for
the erection of a fishway in the dam
which for so many years has been
maintained by the Meeks. The cost
of erecting such fishway is variously
estimated at from S400 to $4,000.
A Welcome Move.
This dam has probably been the
cause of enough profanity among the
sportsmen living along the Des
Moines to cause the big majority to be
marked for some time to come. and
there is not man between Ottumwa
and Bonaparte who really enjoys
good days fishing who does not feel
grateful today to the legislative body
which saw fit to yield at last to the en-
treaties of the hundreds on hundreds
who have prayed and petitioned SO
long for some relief from the condi.
lions that have existed since the rich
WOODEN goods manufacturers at Bona
parte blocked the stream with their
dam.
Is Famous.
The Meek dam at Bonaparte has
reputation, gained through years of at
tempted legislation and more years of
litigation. 1t was formerly used by
the firm for the purpose of propelling
the machinery but of latter years it
has not been in use although it has
been kept in good repair at all times
For quarter of a century or more it
has been an eyesore to the sportsmen
living up the river from Bonaparte, and
time and again the more rash have
threatened to use dynamite. Actions
were begun to have the Meeks compell-
ed to erect fishway, but the cases,
upon being carried to the supreme
court were decided in favor of the
owners of the dam.
A Comprehensive Bill.
The bill just passed was made by an
enemy of the Meeks, if its form indi-
Gates Alright. In addition to providing
for the erection of the fishway it pro-
vides a penalty for any obstructing or
damaging such a fishway. This is de-
cidedly to the liking of the Ottumwa
fisherman, many of whom have work
ed long and earnestly in favor of such
bill as the one which has finally
found supporters in the house of repre-
sentativeS.
OttumWa's Turn Now.
| Ottumwa will no doubt come in now
| for her share of trouble on account of
the dams which, located just above
this city. block the passage of fish
northward toward Des Moines and 9TH
er points along the stream The dams
have one redeeming feature in the
fact that they are being used all of the
time to serve the purposes of the
City Water Supply Co. Nevertheless,
it is no more than reasonable to ex
pect that in a short time those who re.
side farther up the Des Moines river
than Ottumwa will begin making de-
mands upon this city to construct q
| fishway and allow others on opportun-
ity to catch some Mississippi river fish
without leaving their homes many
miles.
Will Be Watchful.
When the fishway has been con.
structed, if it is. the Ottumwa people
who believe in fishing for sport and
enjoyment and for these alone will re;