The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-07

0peclal 10 Ine Journal. ...,.....- .. H. g.
.. Redwood Falls, MIMI June Lit was
just two years ago that "a meet
ing was called for the purpose Of planning,
an anniversary@eele Celebration of the battle.
of Santiago and a Fourth. of. July -cele=-
"bration. The meeting was also the be-
ginning OF "a movement which has since
full undertakings ever attempted by "a
community of business men $1,000: :
. It was suggested that IT the Redwood
river could be: damned at point about
200 feet south of the bridge across the
river in this city it would give, Redwood
Falls an artificial lake of no. mean pro;
portions: H. A. Baldwin, O. L. Warner:
and Julius A.. -Schmahl were appointed a
committee to look into the feasibility Of
constructing the dam. At that time and
for weeks after the proposition was looked
upon as visionary by many people. Of the.
city and surrounding country. - -: -.
- First steps: ~ =. - ~. 1 =:
The committee quietly entered into an
A. G. Burmeister, proprietor OF the Red
wood mills and electric lighting plant
that. if the citizens of Redwood Falls
would furnish the easement for the con-
struction of the dam and the overflow
rights extending back from the proposed
point Of construction he would carry on
the work, Of building a concrete dam
thirty feet high, and would forever keep
1T in repair. That was the foundation.
During August Of 1900 the committee
entered into an arrangement with James
D. Paxton, a civil engineer of St. Paul,
whereby the latter was to make a survey
of the proposed dam and overflow basin.
In eight days Mr.. Paxton had made his
report to the committee, showing, the
-" -, ~
sary to overflow by the; cons truction Of
the dam thirty feet high. ~. ~ z!- IN,
The first move on the part of the COM
mittee was to secure the deed to the land
needed for the abuttments Of the dam. At
this time the committee also secured the
deeds to ell the Delhi mill lots, the
site on which mill, once Stood, and
where the dam still stands under several
feet Of water. A syndicate, of citizens
owned q tract on the west side Of the
river from the .Werder tract, which it was
necessary to acquire, and this deed was
secured with but. very little trouble G..
E. Mckay. H. r: Jackson and others,
owned property along the line which they
DECIDED to the committee on demand but
it finally became: necessary to condemn
the greatest amount offthe land wanted,
and last year proceedings We're COM
menced and carried through with A. @.
Burmeister as plaintiff in. the action.
Work Begun In September. sd
AS soon as the. settlements. had been
effected with over half Of the property
owners Mr.. Burmeister, In: September Of
last year, comm enced the. work of con-
structing the dam: A stone crusher.wa
secured and operations commenced. The
point finally selected was, 375 feet north
Of the bridge in a most, natural position,
solid natural piers Of stone arising on
either side Of the river. a Golfer dam was
constructed and worknien we're put at
work finding the bed rock. In doing this
huge st one buttress was found: IN which
to place the north side Of the dam.
The power -house or pumping station OF
the city is located on the banks 7of the
Redwood a mile above the dam. About
this time 1T was discovered that If the
dam was run up. to the full height Of
thirty feet the power house would be de
luged, and hence it was decided to run
the dam upsonly twenty eight feet, seven
inches, which Will keep the water within
the banks at <the power-house. ~
iAlong the eastern side of the crest
I was natural gateway, located between
one of the natural stone a'but msnt IS form
| ing an easement for the main portion Of
! the dam, and the eastern shore line, also
| of stone. This, too, has been filled with
cement, except so much as has been used
! fer the sateWay. The latter connects