The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-08-27
What the !. RIVER Improvement
LEAGUE HAS ACCoMPLISHEDIaE.

miles in every twenty four hours, and
at the present time move only twenty
miles in every twenty-four hours, or
a reduction in speed of about 4S per
cent
This slow movement of freight trains
is due to the congested state of tracks
and terminals. Including stops, boats
with barges easily move 200 miles in
twenty four hours.
The commerce tributary 20 the Min
nesota river will more than justify the
improvement for navigation.
Statistics gathered by this league
show that the Minnesota valley uses
annually ,l66 tons of coal. The
greater portion of this is soft coal. COM
ing from Illinois and Ohio, that could
very easily be carried by water at
great saving to the people of this sec
ton of the country. The greater por-
ton of the enormous flour shipments of
42l, l25 tons finds it's way to the sea
board. The saving in freight on this
product alone would be enormous.
In the matter of stone and crushed
rock, the town of Kasota alone, SHIPS
10000 tons annually. These quarres
are at the edge of the Minnesota river.
Total amount of freight received an
nually in tons are 666,36l tons; freight
originating in this valley, l,3lS,544
tons, making grand total of 1884
905 tons.
"The possibilities of the reservoir sys-
tenn, the estimated cost based on actual
surveys made by State Drainage Engi-
neer G. A. Ralph show that three res
ervoirs, one at Big Stone Lake, the Sec
ond one at Granite Falls and the third
one at Redwood Falls, the last two
named will develop $4,000 horse power
and the total cost of the three reser-
voirs according to Mr.. Ralph is in the
neiohborhood of 100000, but we will
call it a round million dollars and if
they should cost round two million
dollars they would be cheap and a gilt
edge investment for the state and ma
ton.
"Let us figure their earning capacity
Mr.. Ralph said they would develop 2SG
900 horse power. The market price per
horse power per year on the switch
board is about $50, that would make it
$75OO00 Those figures may seem too
big, so we will figure at the rate of
$50 per horse power and we find just
100000 Those figures are still too
big. we will come down to $40 per
horse power and find $250000.
"These reservoirs in question will also
effectually stop the destructive floods.
According to our committee on stats
tics, losses to farmers in the valley of
the Minnesota from 1906 to 1908, each
year by overflow of the river is $685.
322, making a grand total $l,290,95O.
Say nothing about the large amount
saved in freight rates.
1--WE have arrived at stage of pro-
cedure where all of our efforts seem
to have been for nothing. The legisla-
tion we got last winter must be tested
in the courts before we can proceed
any further, if at all, so far as state
aid is concerned
Il therefore seems to me our i'm
mediate prospects for relief lie with
the federal government. And if all of
our energies could be directed in that
channel it seems to me we ought to
get favorable results. If we fail, the
chances are that we will lose our res
ervoir sites, for at this very moment
private capital is ready to start opera
ton for power purposes and if once in
their hands and without state control
the farmers and little business men
may as well 90 out of business and the
state and nation will be held respon-
sible.