The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-13
OPPONENTS HAVE
TAKEN TO WOODS
All Attending the Hearing Claim
to Be Friends Of Reservoir
System.
STATEMENTS
DRAWN VERY MILD
Arguments in Favor of Maintain
ing Dams Seem to Be I'm
necessary Labor.

necessary Labor.
Opposition to the government ressi-
0oirs at the headwaters Of the Missis-
before the board of army engineers
which is inquiring into the conduct of
the reservoirs, came to a close late this
afternoon, with the statements from
Minneapolis and st. Paul interests.
The case of the compliments was all
put in before the end of the morn
ing session, and it proved to be a sue
conduct of the system. Not a word
was said in favor Of abolishing the
reservoirs. Each man appearing was
asked point blank, and each replied
that he favored maintaining the sys-
tenn. The representative from Duluth,
where the principal hue and cry has
arisen, roared "gently as any sucking
dove1 today, and spoke for about five
minutes in general support Of the up
river towns and their numerous pro-
tests.
Congressman Stevens of St. Paul
threw down the gauntlet, declaring in
plain language that the attacks on the
Stimulated or the talk should cease.
No one took him up. The fight on the
reservoirs looks like a fash in the pan.
Minneapolis interests were heard
this afternoon. The Commercial club
presented it's statement, %upholding the
Importance of the reservoirs to com
merce and manufactures. The various
Water-Power interests were heard also.
Rome &. Brown made a general state
ment for them, saying that, tho things
did not always go Just to suit them,
they had no complaint to make and
were satisfied to have the system oper-
ated by competent engineers, with con-
sideration for all interests, and with
out Interference, political or otherwise.
statements and figures on behalf of
the St. Anthony Falls Water Power
company, the milling interests and the
street railway company.
This Years Rain Record.
In opening the session today Major
Chittenden read some statistics Of rain
voir district is 1855 inches. During
five months from April to August this
veal the fall was 1852 inches, and
1886 inches fell during May, June and
July.
A. G. Bossart Of Grand Rapids was
questioned by the engineers. He said
that he had never favored the abandon
11ChU VI OhO C0O1 So11O, OQO WOE IL
of the extension of the system. Rome
G.. Brown questioned Mr.. ,Bossart con-
corning the operation of the Ipapermill,
and brought out the fact that on the
establishment of the mill twas planned
on a supply Of 400 feet a second. The
capacity of the mill was made larger
to take advantage Of surplus water. Mr..
tilt, in which the latter maintained that
even in it's exercise of authority over
navigable streams, the government had
no right to stop navigation on a stretch
Of $50 miles of the river in the inter.
est of navigation on another section.
Major Chittenden took a hand, and
asked whether there had been any com
plant from the navigation companies
Mr.. Mccarthy said he knew only from
hearsay. Major Derby, when called on
said he had never heard n complaint
and that on the contrary, he had always
urged the people on the upper river tt
put on a good frei]ght-capacity boat
Rapids is "nursed' for the benefit OF
the boat plying between those towns.
J.. S. Gale Of Grand Rapids appeared
for the Commercial club Of that city
and spoke in behalf of the settlers Of
the vicinity. He complained that thu
government hads not compensated own
ers of land overlooked, paying only S.
or So an acre for fowage rights. The,
should receive the full value Of Ian,
complained of the shutting down O.
the paper mill, and the injury to tn
market it afforded for timber. MI
Gale said that a power dam about to b
put in at Prairie Lake would end foo
trouble from that direction. CIV
DON want to fight the twin Cities" h
said, "but we want to get togethe
with them in this matter.'
com npeDr for lands submerged wer
not in the jurisdiction of the board
Major Derby said that under q new SUI
vey settlements were being made a
equitably as possible.
Duluth's Disclaimer.
F. W. Eva, secretary of the Dulut
Commercial club, said his organizatio
had little to say on the subject, an
was interested only in the welfare 0
arose. The interests along the uppe
river were deserving Of consideration
and Duluth Joined with the cities tina
made complaints, in asking that tn
causes for the complaints be removed
Duluth did not ask for the abandon
ment of the dams, but for their operf
ton with regard to the welfare Of locs
INTERESTS. NO Oue elSe IIoIH huluGu di
peared.
C. M. Erskine of the Northwest Tin
Der & Supply company of 'Cohasset, su&
gested that in e%mptying the upper re
ervoirs the river be kept bank full, S
as to make log driving more ieasibl
Speaking of complaints of impossible
ty of driving logs, he said that in h:
portion of the river and below til
reservoirs had been a benefit. Th
logs interfere with boat navigation, bu
this year they. have had no troubl,
They can navigate anywhere and in an
direction.
The Watab Rapids Power compan
of Sank Rapids was represented b
Mr.. Mathey. He said their 100000
investment was made with the unde:
standing that the reservoir systel
should be continued. All their built
ing supplies were being bought in tn
state and the pulp and paper mill WI
buy spruce and poplar logs. They hav
nothing to ask except that the rese
voir system be maintained. They III
derstand that they are run for th
interests of navigation, but understan
that this will help manufacturing Ell
terprises.
G.. w. Mattoon of Sandy Lake con
planned of the overflow there, whic
had not been abated since the hig
water. Major Derby said that til
river had gone over the dam, and tha
after it subsidized he had held the Sand
Es LAX dam RI Ioor 1opup 4ho A al;