The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-07-02
IMPROVE THE RIVER
THAT is TIE SLOGAN OF THE
MINNESOTA DELEGATION.
Arguments Were Made Before the Uni
ted States Board of Engineers in
Washington Yesterday By Senator
Clapp, Congressman Nye, Tawney,
Volsteadt, and Davis; Also A. l..
Pcehler of Henderson; Briefs Filed.

Washington, June 29.-The Mime
sofa river in all its phases was exhi-
bited to the United States board of
engineers in charge of river and har
Dor work yesterday morning at hear
ing extending over two hours. The
proposed improvements on the rivers,
the demand for action on the part
of the state of Minnesota and the re-
suits to be obtained fcs navigation
commerce and prevention of floods,
were gone into IN detail. Senator
Clapp, Congressman Nyc, Tawney, Vol
stead and Davis. A. l.. Poehler of Hen
derson, representing the Minnesota Val
lty Improvement association, and Paul
E. Ewart of Pipestone, were present at
the hearing. Senator Nelson, Con-
gresham Hammond, and authorities of
the state of Minnesota were repre-
scented by briefs filed.
Davis Made Principal Argument
Congressman Davis made the princi-
pal argument in favor of the improve
ment of the river. His remarks were
directed principally toward showing
the benefit to commerce, the beneficial
effect on freight rates and on indus
trial development, and the benefit to
residents on lands in the Minnesota
valley, from the proposed improve
ment of the navigable section of the
river, and the construction of reser-
voirs at Big Stone, Lac Qui Parle and
Redwood.
Following Mr.. Davis, Congressman
| Tawney took the case up as to it's
actual status before the board He
said that congress had deemed the
demands of the people of Minnesota
important enough to authorize the
making of survey of the Big River,
that Major Skunk had made prelim-
mary examination, but the board in
Washington had held against the max
ing of an official survey.
Chides the Engineers.
Mr.. Tawney said he did not believe
the Washington engineers were compe-
tent to pass upon the entire question
of development of the river or the aid
of navigation in the Mississippi
"This board is confronted simply
with the question of whether or not
this survey ought to be made at this
Time" said Mr.. Tawney Gas Mr..
Davis has said, the people of Min
nesota are demanding that it shall
be made. 1t will be made sooner or
later, whatever action this board takes,
and l believe it would be economy for
the board to approve it and let the
survey be made at soon as possible"
Senator Clapp, Congressman Volstead
and A. L. Poehler spoke briefly before
the board as to the need for the re-
establishment of commerce upon the
river. The trend of the questions of
the engineers and of the arguments of
the Minnesota men present, showed
conclusively that the fate of future
reservoirs, upon the upper Minnesota
depends entirely upon the aid to navi-
CATION in the Mississippi, and that the
!engineers do not believe they will
have enough to warrant their construc
ton.
Colonel Knight Gives Views.
Colonel Knight of the Engineers
board declared that the five reservoirs
on the Mississippi, with capacity of
90000,0O0 cubic feet of water, do not
have more than one and one half or
two feet influence upon the stage of
water near st. Paul.
He said that the control of Mime
sofa flood waters through the con-
struction of impounding reservoirs of
about 25,O0O,000 capacity would not
have more than six inches effect on
the Mississippi near st. Paul, so
slight an amount as to make it of
small effect.
This view was not shared by the
Minnesota Congressman. Congressman
Tawney declared that it was the gov
ernment's duty to at least make a
definite survey of the Minnesota valley,
to determine just what effect the con-
struction of reservoirs would have
He declared that with the Minnesota,
proper regulation of the waters of the
river would materially benefit the
stream upon which the government is
annually expanding hundreds of thous.
ands of dollars.
AS Commercial Factor.
Congressman Davis emphasized the
fact that commercial development of
the Minnesota will be of great benefit
to the industry of towns along the val
ley. He said that approximately 2OO,-
100000 tons of freight moves up and
down the valley annually, through a
section served by only one railroad the
Omaha. The natural riches along the
Minnesota, such as stone, brick and
other products of the valley lands, can
not be handled to commercial advan-
tage, he said, until water navigation
to the twin cities is made possible.
Colonel Knight asked repeatedly if
the removal of the sand bar at the
mouth of the river, and the expendi-
ture of some money in improving the
channels would not accomplish the de-
sired result. Minnesota representatives
stated that permanent improvement
must be made in the nature of pre-
ventatives for the floods and for low