The Mankato free press., 1912-04-05


900. 1t is estimated by no less an
authority than Major Skunk. United
States engineer of St. Paul, that the
Improvement will cost approximately
$1,50O,000, and we all know the
government estimates are always
very conservative and are based on
the most substantial improvements.
Amount of Horsepower.
George A. Ralph, state engineer.
after a careful survey of the Mime.
sofa river from Big Stone Lake to
st. Paul estimated the water power
of the Minnesota river and tribu-
taries to be $1,000 horse power and
that this power is worth al a conserv-
ative figure $50 per horse power per
annum, or $450,000. This sum would
pay six per cent interest on $1,000.
900, but, to be conservative, suppos-
ing we figure on the basis of 10,-
900 horse power or 100000 a year,
this sum would pay interest at six
per cent on $5,000,000 or to be still
more conservative let us reduce it
to 5000 horse power or $150,9O0 a
year this sum would pay six per
cent interest on S2,500,0O0, in addi-
ton to navigation and drainage.
You may ask why it is that if
the waterpowers of the Minnesota
river are so valuable that they have
not been developed before. The
answer is very simple. In the first
place, hydro-electric power does not
date back very far. This makes
possible the transmission of power
at small loss for one hundred miles
or more, while in the old way the
power could only be used at the
place of it's production. Furthermore
the water powers on the Minnesota
river without the reservoirs are
not near as valuable as with them,
for the reason that without the
reservoirs the flood waters flow
down the stream in such quantities
that it is not practical to make use
OF it and its force and energy is
lost for all time.
Causes Much Destruction.
at is incapable of being harnessed
but goes on down the stream caus-
ing destruction and devastation of
property all along the line until it
reaches the Gulf of Mexico. We
would change this valuable element
of nature from one of destruction
to one of great utility and value
not for a day or for a year but for
all time. 1t is little short of a
crime to allow this great waste, that
can so easily be charged to one Of
great profit along one of our prin-
cipal rivers, river that bears the
name of our great state, which to
harness and improve requires but
little effort, if each one directly or
indirectly interested in Minnesota
will but lend little aid and energy
toward developing the same, and
every citizen should have patriotism
and pride enough in the welfare of
his community and of his posterity
without even the promise or hope OF
personal pecuniary profit or reward,
to do all in his power to. assist in
developing to the fullest extent the
natural resources of our country.
Progress and Achievement.
"This is day and age of progress
and achievement Of self sacrifice for
the public good. That is why we
are here today. The selfish man
who knows nothing, sees nothing
except the Almighty Dollar, is like a
stagnant pool beside a bright, spark
ling, living stream. The improve
ment of the Minnesota river is not
a pipe dream or visionary air
castle.
"The plan was recommended by
Major Skunk after careful sur
vey. In his report to the govern
ment he recommended the expendi-
ture of $1,375,OOO for the sconstruc-
ton of a dyke at the foot of Lac
qui Parle lake, making a reservoir
with a capacity of 33,000,000,000
cubic feet of water which he said
could be filled every year, and
dredging the river from ST. Paul to
Morton, his recommendation was
based on navigation alone without
taking into consideration drainage
and water powers. His predecessor
Major Jones, recommended a still
larger plan, extending to the Otter
Tail river. There has been three
surveys of the river and Big Stone
and Traverse lakes by the federal
government, one by the state and
one by the Minnesota River Improve
ment league, all favorable. The war
department has been the stumbling
block. This department has re-
Gently turned down Major Shunk's
giving as reason
that the benefits to navigation would
not amount to as much as the cost
Of construction, one of the engineers
however, held that the benefits to
navigation on the Mississippi was
not fully presented and if it We're
IN his opinion a favorable report
might be made Possibly he had in
mind another survey.
Why Congress Does Not Act.
CAS- rule congress does not act
lpon such matters until the project
S approved by the war department.
This department does not hesitate
% recommend the construction of