Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1908-05-15
| WENT YEARS Ago
The Completion Of the
Water Power Was Cele-
brated

! Twenty years ago last Sunday was
great event in Little Falls, there being
on that day the celebration of The
completion of the dam and imnrova-
ments by the Little Falls Water Power
company.
Believing that some matter pub.
lished at that time in connection with
the affair would at this time be Of
interest to our readers, we publish
below a few excerpts taken from
matter published in the Transcript Of
that date, as the Herald at that time
was not yet born, being first publishes
a year later.
Yesterday was great dav for
Little Falls and the celebration was
one Of Importance to the entire north
west.
| The largest crowd that ever
assembled in Little Falls was present;
conservative estimates placing the
attendance from outside points at 6. 600
people. The Louisville contingent
arrived on Wednesday evening, and a
large number of others arrived from
different points on the night trains.
The 10 a. m. train brought 400 people
from BraineTd, 100 from Fl Ripley. a
large number from Motley and other
places. About 100 6remen came
down from Bralnerd, accompanied bv.
their excellent brass band. The
special train from the south brought
nearly 1000 people from St. Paul and
Minneapolis, Anoka, St. Cloud, Sank
Rapids and Royalton, and arrived at
II 80 The Little Falls and Dakota
train brought in large party, arriv-
ing just before noon.
| 1.-The programme for the day AZ
arranged was as follows:
"9 90 a. m-Citizens meet guests at
vestibule train on west side, and drive
about the city.
; 10 80 a. m.-Receive delegation.
| '12 90 m.-Lunch
| ~ p. m.-Speaking at grand
stand
| 2 80 p. m.-Parade
80 p. m.-Water Power ceremonies
at gate house. -.
| - w p. m.--Amusements on river
The rain began falling before 10
clock in the morning. and made it
necessary to abandon any attempt to
follow the program. The guests were
taken to the chamber of commerce
and other public places, and every
thing possible done to entertain the
| visitors.
The rain ceased about noon, and at
O'Clock the speaking began on the
grand stand near the water power i'm
provements. DR.. VIM. L. Breyfogle,
| the president Of the Little Falls Water
Power company, made the first
| address.
LAS president of the Water Power
company Mr. Breyfogle welcomed his
| hearers and spoke of the Agricultural
growth of the northwest and the
urgent need for corresponding manu-
featuring development From his
speech we quote the following:
To enable you to manufacture your
wares Nature made Little Falls. If
you doubt her intention, examine
closely that magnificent rock in the
middle of the Mississippi, called mill
Island. - Look at the solid rock
foundation at the bed of the river!
Glance at that magnificent fall of
over 20 feet, at the bend of the river
and the natural location for a canal!
Cast your eyes over the beautiful site
on both sides of the river for a cityl
Reflect on your geographical position,
and then dare to say that Nature has
not left it's imprint here as the spot
upon which to build a MAGNIFICENT
city. Today we are to open.
never to close again, the most com
plete and substantial improvements to
be found anywhere. A dam $50 feet
long and 40 feet wide, bolted to the
solid rock in the bed of the river with
an earthen embankment in front over
which 20 horses can be driven abreast.
A canal 1000 feet long, 80 feet wide,
IL feet deep, blasted out of almost solid
rock, with a head gate constructed of
solid granite, ITO feet long, II feet
thick, % feet in height, equipped with
hydraulic machinery, etc. In r. fact
everything necessary to make COM
piece and substantial Improvement
has been considered. tx EVERYTHING
is here to stay and the improvements
apparent now are only as the shadow
OF what are to follow. One week ago
the work was completed; today we
have one Touring mill, with
capacity of 500 barrels per day under
construction; and the sluice or canal
for its use finished Other parties are
about closing negotiations for a large
pulp and paper mill another figuring
to establish a wooden mill, and the
management feel confident that in a
few months the rattle of the machinery
will drown the beautiful music made
by the falling water, and change the
quiet of the village into stirring
activity of manufacturing citY
Already the effect is felt on every side.
From a little village of 1900 or
1850 Inhabitants few months ago.
you now number 8, 600. ~ So far az
the Water Power company is con-
oerned can say that not content with
building an improvement of such great
public value: they intend carrying
their work into other improvements
and to assist in. making Little Falls
what nature intended Ia beautiful and
attractive manufacturing city. To the
citizens we say, continue in the good