The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-13
THE MINNEAPOLIS JOURNAL.

ming, THE,
been familiar with the upper river for
many years, that floods thereon, SINGS
1884 have been lower than heretofore. |
Prior to 1884, floods reached as high as
twenty-five feet above low water mark at
Aitkin, while the highest occurring since
that date did not exceed seventeen feet
at that place. The reservoirs have cost
the government a million and quarter
to build and maiptain. They have been
the means of preventing or mitigating re-
peated serious flood injury to property
along the river from Grand Rapids down,
and they have paid for themselves times
over In damage thus saved.
Flowage Rights.
The records show this to be the first
year in which the United States has used,
40 any appreciate extent, it's howage
rights upon either Of the two big reser-
voir basins, and the government has long
since acquired by gift purchase, presi-
Dental proclamation and condemnation
proceedings, foWage rights exceeding the
present overhowed surface by four feet
The limits Of these fiowage rights are
matters of public record and the rights
attach to the land.
The records also disclose that the dis
charges of water from the releasing basins
have never been sufficient in themselves
to produce serious overflow upon lands
situated below the DAMS The floods In
the Aitkin district have been caused by
streams not under government control
In view Of these facts 1t Is difficult to
see wherein the method of operation has
been open to criticism but attack upon
method of management should not be per-
mitted to even suggest the total abandon
ment Of the reservoirs.
If the reservoirs are not to carry IN
storage sufficient water to maintain the
river at navigable stage at st. Paul.
that is to say, If they are to be used
merely as flood reducers, the government
might have no right to maintain them,
and their total Abandonment by act OF
congress would be the logical and prob
ably a speedy STEP.
Flowage rights would revert to the land
| owners and could not be again secured
without the expenditure OF great sums OF
money, however much they might be de-
sired in the future.
If flowage rights have not already been
secured upon a few small tracts Of swamp
| and lack pine wastes, the government IS
rapidly obtaining them. The interests OF
few ought not to prevail over those Oh
the citizens of Minnesota and other states
benefited by open navigation on the RIVER
and to destroy the efficiency OF the reser-
volrs In this respect would be calamity
|
the reservoir district to St. Louis.
| The government has already expended
ss40, 900 on locks and dams to aid naVl-
cation below Minneapolis. II the reser-
voirs are to be destroyed, this expendl-
| ture has been Of no avail
Future Navigation.
| With the disappearing Of the logging
and lumber interest on the Mississippi
river, which can be expected within a
reasonable space Of time, there must De
a. decided change in the growth and de-
velopment of navigation on this waterway
and there is no plausible or valid reason
WHY. in time the Mississippi river shali
not be an artery of commerce and trans
portation such as the rivers Rhine or
| Fylbe in Germany or other rivers In Vafl-
Gus parts of Europe. Navigation IS YET
in it's infancy on the upper MISSISSIPPI,
but who will say that the time Is not
coming when conditions OF American conl-
MERGE will make navigation on the NILS,
sissippi a necessity. a paying venture anu
a great public benefit. :.
While the reservoir project was IN
augurated for the benefit OF navigator
primarily, we maintain that their usetul-
ness in maintaining uniform stage o.
water for power purposes is a cohsldela
ton so important that 1t can hardly pe
longer regarded as merely an 1ncldenta
|
manufacturing CITY, Many Of Its indus
tries. heretofore mentioned, were estab
| 1ished there because of the natural power
Since the reservoir plan was adoptet<
most of these industries have been en-
larged and additional power has peer
made available at extensive cost,s.thos
making such investments relying upol
the permanency OF the reservoir pla1'
Not only at Minneapolis, but at othe
no;nts. both up and down the river, i'm
movements have been made and are be
. ing made upon the same Assumption
which will add materially to the wealtl
Of the state and the best interests or al
Its people.
= An abandonment Of the reservoir sys
tenn would not only work hardship upo1
these interests, but would tend to pre-
. want the further development of manu-
featuring interests within the state, an
thereby the establishment Of more an
greater industrial centers along the river
. | affording a nearby market FOR the 1aI1
products of the state.
:. In the interest then of navigation an
), | manufacturing, We emphat1cally protes
Il against the abandonment of any part c
= the reservoir system and respectfully urg
. it's extension as rapidly as possible, sug
- eestine additional basins on Prairie an
. Willow rivers. ~
. We also favor the continued manage
? ment of the reservoir system by the fed
J.. eral government, believing that the lde
- of turning over the control of the reser
n voirs to this state, when so many othe
:. states have an interest in their prope
Is maintenance, is. not worthy to be enter
. tanned.
:. We approve the management of the sys
u tenn as it has been conducted being sat
e isfed from such investigation as we haV
t. been able to make and from the discus
= sion at this hearing, that such manage
: ment has been strictly In accordanc
g with government regulations and at tn
n least possible loss to private interests.
> Council Committees Statement.
. The special committee appointed b
- the Minneapolis city council lndorse
- in it's statement the recommending
10 made by the Minneapolis Commercl;
club, and added: + ~ =.
The continued maintenance and Ell
largement of the reservoir system, viii
,e incidentally Of advantage to the eli
IS which we represent, is Of such vast In
n | portance to the entire Mississippi vale
ID as a. means of maintaining navigation,
" mitigating floods and Of providing pow
id for manufacturing and other purpose
We that the abandonment of the PROBE
m should not be seriously considered s
j. While our city obtains an advantas
re thru the steady flow Of water which
va possible because of the reservoirs, 9TH
asI cities. both above and below us, a.
~ equally favored in this respect and
70 time the water will be utilized for pow
"a purposes at other points along the rive
~ and other manufacturing centers deve