Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1906-03-07
ARE THE DELLS
| THREATEN
DISCUSSION OF EFFECT OF DAM
BECOMES GENERAL.
SENTIMENT VS.. BUSINESS
Will the Scenic and Scientific Worth
of Wisconsin's Greatest Natural
Wonder Be Enhanced or Reduced
BY the kiIbourn Oam?-opinions
Differ.

Much discussion is being INDUCED
in right now as to the effect the pro-
posed Kilbourn dam will have on the
gulches and glens that make the dells
of the Wisconsin famous the world
over. Whether a few feet of water
will destroy or impair their attrac-
tiveness becomes largely a matter of
taste. AS they now are, the paths
through them in which so many
strangers travel each summer, are
damp and soggy, so much so that
plank walks are provided and in some
cases these are built high from the
rock bottom on stills. The trip
through any one Of them is not
physical comfort, and he who cones
off with dry shoes has exercised unu-
sual care. A few feet of water. enough
TO carry light boat or canoe, would
little impair a gulch that has precip-
/ itous sides a hundred feet high, so it
is argued.
The swift current of the river at
this point would be changed to slack
water, and some claim that the gran
deur of the stream would thus be sac
rificed. Others point out that a less
turbulent current would render the
whole dells region less dangerous and
that one of the elements that have
kept visitors from the place would
be removed There are many argu-
ments pro and con, as well as oppor-
tunity for the exercise OF sentiment
on both sides of the question. 1t is
pointed out that when the old dam
stood, the dells were even more Wis
tied than they have been since the
torrent was again turned loose by the
washing out of the obstruction. Ger
tain it is that navigation to the dells
from KiIbourn would be improved and
made less hazardous by the increased
depth and reduced current Profess
sor l.. S. Smith of the University of
Wisconsin recently directed a survey
of the river from Kilbourn to Grand
Rapids, which shows that 15-foot
dam would back water into some of
the canyons and this probability has
given rise to the newspaper comment
that has not been confined to the
press of Wisconsin.
Discussing the probable effect upon
the scenic beauties of the dells, the
Kilbourn Illustrated Events says:
Suppose we figure a fifteeu-foot dam
here with a fall of six feet in the dells
six from fifteen leaves nine feet up
there in the dells indisputably. With
no dam, at dead low water in the sum-
mer. with a big excursion due. an
eight or ten foot rise is always vel
come to the dells boat company. And
the dells have never seemed TO lose
! the usual rapturous attraction to the
excursionists or visitors when the
water is ten feet above dead low
water Suppose we admit that the
water would come up to Van Wte's
/ in the canyon-which is the most ad-
mitted by old riyermen. The canyon
remains just as it has been for years
past when people walked over the hill
from the Larks Suppose. too, that
water backed up in the gulch so that
the steamboats, could ascend to Dia-
mond Grotto and small boats to the
foot of the stairs, The whole att4ac-
ton of the gulch is unaffected as to
accessibility. True The walls along
the river would not appear so high,
and to those familiar with the dells
in extreme low water this difference
would be noticea Die But as many
people have admired the grandeur OF
the dells within ten or twelve feet OF
additional water at this lowest stage
the attraction is there Just the
same. 1t is true as Engineer Smith
said the other day. that higher water
will afford access to scenery as grand
as the dells which is never seen by
excursionists or transient visitors. 1t
would afford one of the most charm
ing boat trips in the state. would al.
ford safe and pleasant rowing, and
would keep people here all summer