The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-10

NThe reservoirs are now being so,
managed as to benefit in the course OF
the year every one of the seven inter
ests concerned except the riparian own
ers on the reservoir, or are being COM
pensated in cash. Each of these inter
ests is materially better off than it
would be if the reservoirs did not ex-
some very much dissatisfied, because
each would like the reservoirs managed
exclusively for it's own benefit, so that
it might receive, if possible, all Of the
great public good which the reservoir
system is intended to accomplish and
does accomplish.
cit is a mistake to believe that the
reservoirs are of little use for real
steamboat navigation. Without the
St. Paul is liable to fall to 1900 cubic
feet a second, as it has in the past;
while with the reservoirs the discharge
is held throuout the navigatior season
at or above 1000 cubic feet. The ben
eft to steamboat navigation at and be-
low st. Paul is manifest from these
figures.
Log Driving Is Navigation.
"This same increment to the low
water discharge produces a still greater
effect above st. Paul thruout the 424
miles of nayigable river between Min
neapolis and Cass Lake. It is true that
there are but few steamboats, on the
river above st. Paul at present, but it
is mainly due to the fact that the
logging industry is using this length
making other forms of navigation i'm
possible in many places. There are
annually carried 4S6, 900, 900 feet b. m.
OF logs, or 100000 tons-a very heavy
tonnage for so small a stream, largely
due to the facilities offered by the
reservoir system.
1.-THE paper mill at Grand Rapids
was established after the completion Of
the reservoir system, and it was well
understood that it's interests had to
be secondary to those Of navigation.
incidentally, however, the use Of reser-
volrs for the benefit of navigation also
benefits the mill, tho, of course, the
benefit IS not as great as would be if
the reservoirs were used solely as mil
ponds to equalize the available power
for the mill. ~ " ~
"The statement that Winnibigashish
dam has not been opened for severa.
years is entirely without foundation
The dam has been open more or less
as needed every year since its com
pletion in 1900. A total Of $4,000, 900,
900 cubic feet has been released
from it since it's completion. All the
reservoirs are now reduced to thei
minimum discharge in an effort t,
check a flood in the river at and nea:
Altkin, in response to many telegram
received from that point. The foy
above the Grand Rapids mill is nov
about double the low-water discharg,
and will soon be increased still furthe
until the close, Of navigation in Novem
Der. ..
"Finally, it should be noted tina
water held back in one season must b
released in another; sooner or later. al
the water there is must reach the mill.
At the very time the Grand Rapid
mill was clamoring for more water
May 20, the shower of complaining tele
grams, all from Aitkin, to the govern
ment engineer at st. Paul, contained
among others, these:
'Astonished at opening Sandy lax
dam nov; creating great damage. Ed
mississippi raising hell. Farmer
drowning out: Can't you do some
thing? A. L. Hamilton, ~Publisher.'
"Close the dams. Planted lane
eN!sRg M1iTps inip under water. Firs
~"Thousands Of acres along Missi
sSippi inundated. Farms abandone,
Take nuick acti0n- T A Danauiok