The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-17
FAVOR HENRY PLAN.
City and County Officials Approve
Plan Of Draining Bassett's
Greek Into Lake.
County Surveyor Cooley and Sewer
Engineer Ilstrup Think
Plan Feasible.

F. M. Henrys plan to divert the wa
ters of Bassett's creek into Cedar lake
and use Medicine lake as a reservoir for
maintaining an adequate supply of water
in the chain of lakes embraced in the Min
neapolls park system. meets with the APP
proval Of city and county officials. If it is
feasible, and there is every reason to be-
lieve that it is, all agree that the sooner
the work is begun the better
Park board members are particularly
interested and it is not unlikely that the
plan will be considered at the meeting
next Monday. AS the residence district
encroaches more and more upon the Dor
ders of the lakes, bringing extensions Of
the sewer system the waters of the lakes
lower perceptibly and there is really grave
danger that in time Lake Harriet Lake
Calhoun AMI Lake Of the Isles will dry
up, or at the best become only big sloughs.
1t is recognized by the members of the
board that nature cannot always be relied
upon to preserve the lakes in their pris-
tine beauty and that artificial means must
be provided if the lakes are to be re-
tanned.
The plan offered by Mr.. Henry appears
to be a happy solution and several mem
bers have expressed themselves in favor
of giving the matter. serious consideration.
County Surveyor George w. Cooley and
City Engineer Carl ilstrup say that from
the data they have at hand the project
seems practicable. Cedar lake has an ele-
Walton Of about 1854 feet above the sea,
while Medicine lake has an elevation of
SS6. The plats Of the United States geo.
detlc survey show several stretches of
marshes and lowlands between Cedar lake
and Bassett's creek which would reduce
the cost of making a ditch to a minimum
Neither is prepared to indorse Mr. Henry S
estimate Of the cost.
Mr.. Ilstrup believes that a diversion OF
Bassetts creek into Cedar lake will as
sist materially in reducing the danger OF
floods in the Bassetts creek valley. These
are constant menace to persons living
on the low country south of Western ave-
nue. and there will probably never be
enough sewers in North Minneapolis tc
carry off such unusually heavy rains as
inundated this part of the city a few
! days ago.
| There are thus four strong arguments
| In favor, of the Henry plan, namely: The
| prevention Of foods in the Bassett's
| creek valley, the reclamation of hundreds
of acres Of low lands for farming pur.
poses, the maintenance Of a high stage
| Of water in four pretty lakes, and OBJ
| tanning a constant supply Of. water fol
Minnehaha Falls.
AS the whole ditch must be dug outside
! of the city territory there may be some
complications to prevent immediate &C
ton, but the city maintains a quarantine
hospital and a big reservoir outside the
city, and this impediment would prob
ably be easily overcome.
Linden Hills Approves.
| At the meeting of the Linden Hills
| Improvement association last evening the
plan was considered. By invitation of the
executive board, Mr.. Henry explained the
project in detail. There was much IA,
vorable comment and "a resolution was
unanimously adopted Endorsing the plan
In this connection there was renewed dis
cussion and condemnation of Mr. Man
ning's scheme for lowering Lake Harriet
This was the first ANNUAL meeting. Th'
association has been unusually success
full. Its most notable achievement wa
the securing Of the extension Of the cit
gas mains. The election resulted as fol
lows: President, H. G. Chaplin; vice presi
dent, Spicer Gage; secretary, M o.. Mel
son., treasurer, L. l.. Sanford; executive
committee the officers the retiring presi
dent and 0. F. Stafford, Alderma
Schoonmaker and DR.. Hertz.