The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-08

It's way into Minnehaha creek, and as
Bassett's creek carries to-day practically
as much water as Minnehaha, 1t would
result in doubling the flow over Mime
haha Falls and greatly increasing its
beauty.
The total cost of all the work, Mr..
Henry says, would not exceed $500
The practical nature Of this irnprove-
ment becomes more apparent as the prop
osition is studied. It Is of great inpor-
lance to Minneapolis that the four lakes
in the proposed chain be preserved. None
Of them are now fed by streams of any
size, and lakes depending on springs or
small surface streams have been drying
up in Minnesota for a number OF years
It is shown by actual measurement that
all of these four lakes are becoming lower
each year Ramsey county Is now pre-
serving the level of White Bear lake, and
St. Paul Of Como lake, by pumping water
in. This is a very expensive and unre-
liable way Of filing the lakes, but Mime
apolis will be compelled to follow suit in
a very short time unless some surface
supply is found for them. Mr.. Henry's
suggestion would give them an ample
feed. Bassett's creek drains Medicine
lake, a body of water three miles long
and draining a basin Of twenty-five or
twenty-three square miles. This gives
a steady flow Of water, and the creek Is
ordinarily the same size as Minnehaha
flowing all the year around.
Bassett's creek is now burden to Min
neapolis instead Of a blessing. It trav-
erses the third ward for a distance Of
three miles, and for all that distance It
is now carried by a wooden frame sewer.
This is growing old, and in the near fu-
ture, If the stream continues Its present
course, the sewer must be enclosed in
an immense brick work large enough to
permit it to carry off the spring floods.
This would cost hundreds Of thousands
of dollars. BY diverting the creek at
Golden Valley only little surface rain
water would have to be carried thru this
sewer, and 1t would be nearly dry a part
OF the year. 1t would not only save the
city money, but would be a benefit to
property along the stream. There might
be some claims for compensation from
Golden Valley farmers along the stream
and below the point where 1t is proposed
to divert it. but if there was any dam
age to them 1t would be more than COM
pensated by the benefits to city prop
erty and to lands along the line Of the
proposed ditch.
Big Swamp Drained.
West Of the city limits and along the
line Of Superior avenue Is big swamp,
under water most Of the time and the
it, carrying OFF the standing water and
making about 1000 acres Of the swamp
fertile farm land. This incidental benefit
would go long way toward paying the
cost Of the ditch.
Mr.. Henry is Of the opinion that any
one Of the three principal benefits. taken
alone would amply justify the work. The
bitches could be put In for small part
Of the cost Of the three and a half miles
OF sewer for Bassett's creek and once
built they could be maintained at small
cost on account Of the rapid fail in the
long stretch from Golden Valley to Cedar
lake.
cents. there are the important questions
of preserving a beautiful chain Of lakes
within the city limits Of Minneapolis and
Of greatly increasing the beauty and at
Effectiveness OF the city's star scenic at
traction, Minnehaha Falls. The greatness