The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-09
DAMAGE At LAKE
High Water, i Causing Havoc to
Cottagers' Grounds and
Farms.
q. M. Carpenter Heads . Movement
to Secure Relief Thru the
Courts.

Minnetonka residents are again In.
trouble over the Bray's bay dam and
the trouble Is OF such a serious nature
that the courts will again be asked to
give relief. 1t is high water that is
now doing the damage and it is al
legged that the failure Of the county.
commissioners to provide the dam.
with food gates is responsible for the
present conditions. This is the theory
on which the appeal to the court is
based. The appeal takes the form OF
a petition for the appointment of ap-
praisers to determine the damages
sustained by the petitioners and to
award compensation In the manner
provided by law.
The petitioners are III. Nj. Carpen-
ter, Henry ROdner, Frank Haywood,
Joseph Prior and William Bushnell.
but Mr.. Carpenter, who is taking the
initiative in the proceedings hopes to
have all the largest taxpayers on the
lake Join in the petition before it Is
filed. s5gs: ~ sesa
Damage Already Done
The water in the lake is unusually
high, and It has already done incalcul-
able damage to docks, sea walls, rip
rapping and other provisions for pro-
tecting the banks and shores from
damage by water and ice. The level
Of the lake is now foot over the
in accordance with chapter 49,, laws Of
1897, providing for the establishment
Of a uniform height Of water IN Lake
Minnetonka.
The damage to some Of the more ex-
tensiye lake estates has already
amounted to hundreds Of dollars and
If the present conditions are allowed
to continue the damage will be greatly
increased, particularly when the ice
begins its deadly work on the shore
protection, DOCKS boat houses and
| other improvements. III y
It is alleged that an almost fatal
mistake was made when the dam at
the foot of Gray's lake was constructed
without providing gates for carrying
Off the surplus water when flood was
threatened. BY reason Of this failure
to provide an outlet for the excess
water, 1t Is further alleged that the
waters of the lake were retained and
raised. not only above the bench mark,
but above ordinary high water and
only the property Of the cottagers, but
the lands used for farming and espe-
ctally hay meadows. s5 r. = : r.
MT. Carpenter, who has been q
persistent opponent Of the dam ever
since the subject was first broached
declares that a meadow from which
! ne formerly was able to cut seventy.
five tons of hay Is now so wet it will
now yield him nothing, and there il
danger that the meadow will be
ruined. :'>' - s0c..-7C
| Creek Needs Dredging.
County Surveyor G.. w. Cooley rec,
ognizes that the water is unusually
nigh and realizes that great damage
! is being done to lake property, but
cannot suggest any mode of relief
The dam at present is completely sub:
merged and one could row over II
( without being aware OF its presence
Even If there were gates In the dam
ne says e: they would bring NO relie1
! dam is in no wise Responsible for The
present conditions. He states that the
I water in the lake was as high in 1885,
and '94 as 1t is. now and that in 1882
| SO, '8S and '93 1t was from one to two
feet higher and all these floods wer.
before the construction Of the presen
dam, altho there was one at Mime
tonka Mills. s&<etg f. -E5.'.EEs 4
Mr.. Carpenter and those associated
with him insist that If Minnehahs
creek was dredged out from Gray!
lake to a point below the Burwel
dam at Minnetonka Mills it would b,
effective IN reducing the level Of tn,
lake or controlling It at any stage de
sired. Mr.. Cooley admits that Thu
may be true, but fears that such worl
would flood the lands further dow
\ the creek. f'--..N
Authorities Feel Helpless.
Mr.. Cooley and the county commits
sioners Insist that under the presen
conditions they are: practically help
less in providing any measures to
running any more water out Of LAX
Minnetonka. All over the county tn
creeks and water courses are runnin
over their banks, the lakes are IN
precedentedly high, the ground Il
soaked in water and as yet there ha
appeared no place to put it. = i:
al Mr.. Carpenter, however, insist
that the county is responsible TO
the damage caused to lake propert
and has not only taken steps to re
cover damages, but has appealed t
Governor Van SAINT to intervene o
behalf Of the state. The governor 1na
referred the matter to the attorne
general. IT,. ~. .la.5<. - = MI. =<-@.
"Silkorized" Underwear. ST." Hoff.