The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-03-07
WHY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
WISHES CONTROL.
WHY

WISHES CONTROL.
Of late there has been more or less
discussion in regard to getting the
Minnesota river declared unnavigable,
and there has been some criticism be-
cause Congressman McCleary will not
take hold of the scheme and get the
government to throw off its control
over the stream. People look upon the
fact that the stream will never be in
shape again for steam boat navigation
and cannot see why the federal govern
ment should retain possession OF it as
a navigable stream. There is another
side to the matter, however, which the
attention of the people has not been
called to. All that the government
wants of the river is merely a water
way to preserve its right to the use
and control of the head waters of the
Minnesota, including Lakes Big Stone,
Traverse and other waters tributary
thereto, for the purpose of improve
ment of navigation of the Mississippi,
by having these lakes as storage places
for water to be used in the summer
when the Mississippi is low. 1t is
quite likely that at some time in the
near future scheme will be- worked
out to turn the surplus waters which
caurse the disastrous floods along the
upper waters of the Red river OF the
North into these lakes, and then much
of that surplus will be held in storage
as above stated to be used when need
ed. As to any move which might wish
to be made of the river by bridging,
that can be done under state law
that was passed last winter in accord
ance with advice or ruling of the war
department. If there was wish to
dam the river, we do not see why it
could not be done under a permit from
the war department, and if the river
is held simply as water course to
convey water to the. mississippi, we do
not:...see why the war; department
should refuse to grant such permits.
The following from a Washington
correspondence to the Chicago Daily
News, shows what is back of this
effort to.get certain navigabless@rivers
declared unnavigable, even though it
may not include the Minnesota. 1t
says:
"a shrewd money making scheme is
said to be behind the apparently inno-
cent-bills (which are appearing in con-
gress..s.to have certain small western
rivers declared non-navigable. A prom
inent. firm. of New York lawyers is
behind the measures and the attorneys
in turn--are... backed by capitalists who
have .unbounded confidence in the
development of certain sections of the
west ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Mem
bers of..copgress are just waking up to
the FACT that.-sthere are unlimited
possibilities behind the bills for. traffic
in..ssthess. natural resources of the west
and there..is an indication that rivers
will.nsnot. be placed. in....the.. controrof
private corporations with as little in
quiry as has been done in the past.
"All.streams are regarded as navi-
gable by the..government until speci-
fcally.. declared otherwise by congress.
The present scheme, which is attrac-
ting the attention of members, looks
to the acquisition by private corpora
tions to-. the. water...rights ..of rivers
which art. ..inconsequential.. ..as--water-
ways, but.which -will.becomesvaluable
t.. manufacturers. =. 1t. is.charged that
the cliquess..which is pushing. these
measures.to....the..front by purchase-sor
option acquire Improperly along. the
head waters. of..the river. A survey is
made. fora dam. and....application.-to
have the. stream declared non-naviga-
ble-is made.to congress. through..a bill
introduced--by some. obliging member.
The. bill.onc passed..the dam is. con-
structed.. land. the. spectators are..prac-
tically..in control of the water.~of--..the
entire valley through which the. stream
flows. ..
"In..the..ea where. the. Importance
Of water.frontage. is appreciated, there
is little..feld..fo such operations. :. a. Any
move..to. give....the...oontrol of stream
of..water, mo matter how insignificant,
is. Observation-Disclosures Opposition.
In the.west, however, there has been
little agitation on the subject and the
field of operations has been transferred
there, although returns do not promise
to be immediate.
neutrality-suspicious. in these--days
might.give a''good. deal.to. gets~-contro
of....the....storage. capacity.of any..such
stream. as. the. Minnesota especially
with....such a capacity...ass.it.... has. for
gathering surplus..--water. =. But even
If syndicate of capitalists has not
an eye upon the headwaters of the
Minnesota, if the river should be de-
clared unnavigable, the government
would..be cut short of all chance to i'm
prove the storage capacity of the lakes
above referred to or to make any i'm
provements in the future that would
give relief, if possible, to the Red
river country, as it would have no
control of the outlet, having in such
q case released the same and allowed it