The Minneapolis journal., 1905-10-11
Ter. I. WORK DONE
BY COUNTY FUNDS
TROUBLE BREWING OVER DREDG-
ING AT THE LAKE.
Elbow Reef Work Was Discontinued
Without Due Authority and the
Dredge Was Employed Near Excel
sior, Where Deeper Water Is Desired
for the Street Railway Company
Dock ~

Why should the funds Of .Hennepin
county be expended in doing private
work for the street railway company at
Lake MinnetOnka?
This is question which has created
not little feeling between certain
county commissioners and residents Of
Minnetonka on the one hand and the
other members of the county board on
the other.
Despite orders to the contrary from
the board and wholly without specific
orders for the work in hand, the big
dredgeboat, which has been removing
dangerous reefs in the lake has been
taken off the public work and devoted
to dredging for the street railway COM
pany's dock at Excelsior. The whole
matter has been put up in rather
forcibleyway to Andrew Smith, long
time member Of the county board, who
impressiong that the street railway
company's dock at Excelsior was to be
a public institution.
Captain J. R. johnson g -dredge has
been employed at the lake at an ex-
pense Of 800 day. After considera-
BILE money had been spent in general
Improvement Of the lake, about $4,000
remained in the funds for finishing pub
lie work Of the season. 1t was ordered
by the lake improvement committee OF
the board that the dredge should begin
work few days ago at Elbow Lake, a
dangerous submarine ridge of boulders
off Ferndale. ~-.. s,,%.,....
The dredge had been working on
this piece Of work for about two weeks
when it unexpectedly reappeared off
Excelsior and proceeded to make some
heavy cuttings where the street rail
way cOmpany's dock is to be built.
County Commissioner F. W. Cook, who
has been interested with the Ferndale
people in the removal of Elbow reef,
Immediately made inquiry as to the
Excelsior. He was informed that the
change had been ordered by County
Commissioner Smith.
The lake Improvement committee of
the board was Immediately consulted
and it was ascertained that no official
authority whatever had been given for
changing the base of operations, and as
a result the committee, with the chair
man of the board and County Surveyor
Cooley, visited the lake yesterday
Bearing in mind Commissioner Smith 5
insistent statements that the new Ex-
celsior dock was to be a public insti-
tuition, the other commissioners were
quick to seek veri6cation when a spe-
cial car bearing President Thomas Low
ry and Vice President G. G.. Goodrich
appeared on the scene.
Mr.. Goodrich unhesitatingly an.
| nounced that the dock was to be in nc
way public one, and with this as 9
leverage, the commissioners finally Sc
cured an understanding that the dredge
would cease work when the present cut
was completed; but inasmuch as it will
take until Thursday night to complete
this piece Of work, and the fund still
remaining for lake Improvement has
been greatly depleted, it will leave
! less than $500 for other work. There
are no more funds and it is hardly prob
able that the work on Elbow reef car
be resumed. .s-%-."
Ferndale residents are not at al
pleased with this outcome, but in thu
meantime the street railway company
has had the benefit of more than So ,OO1
worth of dredging which the county ha
paid for. ,