The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
INDIANA'S LITTLE LAKES.

A cry of alarm has been raised in the
northern counties of the State against the
big drainage bitches. many of which have
been dug and put in operation within re-
cent years and many more of which are
projected. The Lagrange Democrat says:
There has been for the past few years a
tendency, almost mania in fact, to dig
great bitches and destroy the fresh water
lakes of the State. This has been accom-
plished through the pretense of drainage
of wet lands, and scores of beautiful.
natural lakes have already ceased to exist
except as small, almost stagnant ponds. The
forests of the State have been cut down
and now they seek to take our lakes.
This tendency has now it appears, re-
ceived a check from the Noble county Cir
cult Court. The boards of commissioners
of Lagrange and Noble counties had ar
ranged for the construction of an eight
mile ditch at cost of $4,000, which would
run through and lower five small lakes in
the two counties. Work was about to begin
when someone raised the point that the
drainage laws of the State do not author
lie the lowering or destroying of fresh
water lakes. The question was submitted
to the court by the commissioners, and the
remonstrants, most of whom were farmers
of the vicinity. were sustained. The Demo-
crat adds very pertinentIy:
Now that the courts have lent their
helping hand 1t is time for the people to
i rise up and preserve the lakes in their
natural state. If this headlong course of
destruction is pursued 1T is only question
of time until beautiful summer resorts will
be destroyed and their countless thousands
of dollars of improvements rendered of no
VA Inc no lie Il, off no 70 to lin
tanning fish hatcheries and fish commissions
and stocking the lake only to have the
water lowered and the natural resort
destroyed? III one lake is destroyed legally
there is no assurance that such lakes as
Lake James Winona and Maxinkuckee will
not also suffer In the same way. The lakes
| are the property of the State and the public
has rights in them as well as the owners
of the adjoining lands. We hope that the
| people will awaken to this great question
| and demand that the rights of the public
| in these natural lakes be forever upheld.
The protest comes, apparently. none too
soon. 1t is well enough that wet lands
should be drained. but If this must be done
at the lasting cost to the community of
the loss. of its greatest natural attraction
| a halt should be called and individual in
terests made to give way to the common
benefit. The little lakes of northern In
diana are not only identifying feature of
the region and a source of pleasure and
| profit to the people living near but are also
highly regarded by thousands of citizens
| residing elsewhere in the State who make
annual visits TO them for the sake of
boating and fishing privileges. AS resorts
they become more popular each year and
the destruction of even one of them is a
misfortune to be generally lamented. The
effect of the court decision will undoubted-
| ly be far-reaching and salutary. but other
measures for the protection of these bodies
of water should at once be taken. The In
diana lakes must be preserved.