The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-29

ties, or wing dams, and the building Of
the dams for the storing of water in the
reservoirs, to be distributed during the
low water season, went on simultane-
ously.
ri had in view the navigation of the
river all the way to Lake Pepin, and,
to some extent, to Dubuque. I then
looked forward to the time wher navi-
CATION would be improved so that
steamboats,, or barges, would ultimately
come to the very foot of the Falls OF !
st. Anthony and take from there the /
products Of our mills, as well as freight I,
of other descriptions, bringing back, in /.
return, coal and other articles of heavy I
freight. I have always believed that .
would be practicable and would be .
done, and, of course, in that event, 1
had a very vital interest in navigation 1
to the falls. {
At an early period there had been .
some. quite extensive surveys with this !
IN view, L cannot at the moment say
Just what time it was, but surveys were
made early looking to the improve I
ment of the Mississippi river from Fort
Smelling, or the Minnesota river, up to T.
the foot Of the falls. This early esti-
mate, as | remember, was about $780,
900. OF this, $146,00O was appropriated
for the purpose of clearing the river
from Fort Smelling, or between st. Paul
and a point near where the ,Minnehaha
creek empties into the river. This was
q; stretch of river where. the only thing
that seemed necessary in order to Sc
cure navigation to the point above
named was the removal of large bould-
ers and bars by contraction Of the chan
mel and certain things of that kind.
That appropriation was first made.
81 said to myself, Before the gov
eminent enters upon such large i'm:
provement, to-wit: this expenditure of
learned is whether they can get navi-
cation to this point The appropria-
ton of $4,000 was made and perfect
navigation was developed to this point.
The Interurban Improvement.
CT then became convinced, from my
local knowledge of things, that the esti-
mates made were entirely too large.
They were so large as to almost dis
courage the undertaking of such a
scheme and, at my request, resurvey
was made. The plans of the improve
ments were somewhat changed and esti-
mates very largely reduced, yet, with
the small amount Of commerce then on
the river, one hardly felt justified in
pushing thru a scheme of that kind
under the then existing conditions and
not until the Hennepin canal connected
the1waters of the Mississippi and Lake
Michigan did / feel that the govern
ment would be justified in going on
with this improvement; but with the
completion Of the Hennepim canal, Sc
curing this navigation, felt that the
time had come to enter on this work,
for, with the completion of the locks
and dams, steamboats, and barges would
be able to come to the foot of the falls,
where -four and other heavy freight
could be loaded, not only for all points
on the Mississippi river, but also con-
tinuous waterway to Chicago. 1t has
/ seemed to me probable that flour could
be taken from the Minneapolis mills to
! Chicago by this waterway as cheaply
! as by rail to Duluth or any Lake SUI
! perior points. In any event, the crea-
ton of such an additional route would
at least serve as a great balance wheel
in the matter of freights, and then
with the increase of commerce on the
! lower Mississippi | thought the time
commenced, and 1 think that all
thoughtful people have had this in view
| in connection with the construction of
| the reservoirs. -
awe cannot. of course, tell exactly
what will be the effect of the building
of these locks and dams, but nay belIer
is that it will add greatly to the com.
mercial possibilities of this section OF
the country. The construction OF these
! locks and dams will create, at the very
| foot of the falls, a great mlllpond or
| harbor, where steamboats,, barges and
commerce to an unlimited extent can
! be f1oated, which will bear the products
of the mills of the country to Chicago,
! St. Louis and. to many points where
railroads now reach the river, but which
are not available to our traffic at the
present time.
" Assuming that such a condition Of
things may, at some time, come to pass,
one can see how important 1t IS That
all this water should be held back in
the reservoirs and utilized In connec.
] tion with this important navigation
River Traffic of the Future.
81 do not expect to live to see the
day myself, but I think there are many
/ in this room who will, when we shall
/ have deep-water, or ocean Navigation
! from New Orleans to st. Louis. L De.
/ lieve this inevitable in the future. Ii
this is to come, if we are to have ocean
steamers reach ST. Louis and have lines
/ of steamers and barges that will navf-
gate the river from the Falls of st. An
thony to ST. Louis and Chicago, and ultl-
1 mately connect with the ocean steamers
| at that point, with our vast interests at
/ stake, no one, it seems to me, can over
! estimate the value of what the resof-
/ yoirs will contribute.
Senator Washburn stated further tnat
the building and maintenance OF the
reservoirs had always had the approval
and support of the engineering depart
ment of the United States army-a de,
partment above suspicion. General
Wright, when chief engineer. was highly
impressed with the value of the Teser'
/ yoirs and their Importance. Mi. WASH
burn declared that any interference WITH
the reservoirs or their operations Wouio
not only be a great mistake, but little
i short Of crime. On the contrary, adj
ditional reservoirs should be built. hes
ervoirs could be constructed, he behevesl
/ to such an extent that conditions OF
j high or low water would hardly De
i known.
| A colloquy between Senator MeCar,
/ thy and Senator Washburn followed
with regard to utilizing the MISSISSIPPI
above the Falls of ST. Anthony for nav
/ igation purposes, in which Senator
I Washburn agreed that the. reservoirs
should be managed SO as to promote
1 navigation between Minneapolis ano
the reservoirs as well as below Minnie
apolis.
l.,