The Mankato free press., 1913-03-14
Dams and Locks Not
Feasible, Says Expert
r. j. MERSHON.

Free Press: In answer to a number
oi articles that recently appeared
IN The Minneapolis Journal and The
Pioneer Press, written by members
oT the Minnesota River and Power
company i'm answer to certain re-
marks by Lewis c. Spooner, member
of the house of representatives, in
regard TO certain bills in congress
and certain organization that is
talking waterways and water power
that can be only speculative, or at
least beyond the pale of any interest
to the state.
Such scheme must fail if for no
other reason than that the material
and conditions are entirely lacking
for any such plans as are being held
up 10 the people of the Minnesota
river valley or the state legislature.
To develop any such amount of
water power on the Minnesota river
under its present conditions. in this
somewhat semi-arid climate would
mean active smoke stacks at every
plant for twelve months of the year.
Locks and Dams Not Justified.
not Justify the expense of dams and
locks and transmission lines, though
slope and other conditions of the
river may be ideal.
The available water as has been
said, may be used over and over,
but not without additional expense
for dams and locks at every plant.
Water is the main factor in all
hydrO-electric plants combined with
slope and there is but one plant in
the United States that is not short
of water.
The state of Minnesota has posi-
bilitles for water powers, but moth
ing of any great magnitude only on
the largest and most comprehensive
plan, barring some small plant on
the st. Louis river i'm the eastern
part of the state.
Can Gather the Water.
The physical features of the cen
tral, western and northern part of
the state make ii possible to gather
together the food waters of the
state: and to conduct it to the most
valuable slopes and where great
bondage is possible, and in doing
this, it seems possible at the same
time to construct a barge canal of
the York state type from the Mis-
sissippi river west and north to the
Lake of the Woods where great
bondage is already in store.
1t is not absolutely necessary to
submerge cities and villages as one
writer would have you believe, but
if conditions will make it profitable
TO do so, it should be done, if not,
there are opportunities to go around
or add an extra lock or two.
a great waterway across the state
TO the wheat fields of the northwest
and future dense population is the
most essential factor, but if at the
same time We can produce an endless
power as endless as the clouds, that
should be done also in any possible
degree. If Minnesota is to build
let them build well and for the flu
ture. We already have sample here
in the midst of us of mistakes of
pioneer days, the botching up of
great natural resource whose value
at that time was not comprehended
by its promoters. 1t can be repair.
ed, but likely it is to remain short
Ol us enormous VdlueS.
Give UP Thought of Rivalry.
The greater plan and plan that
secures the greatest good to the
greatest territory and statewide as
possible, is surely the best for the
people of the Minnesota River Val
ley, and every city and town in the
state. BY cooperation, the work is
not difficult and not burden to be
feared or ever regretted. Let each
community give up all thought of
rivalry. Natural conditions largely
work out our destiny and if opposed,
we faStef on ourselves, and pos
terity conditions that are likely to
be regretted.
The usefulness of the cross-cOun-
try ditch of limited dimension, as
has been stated, and fights of ex-
pensive locks up and down steep
slopes are obsolete in this age of
navigation. A successful waterway
must have but few locks. AS to the
value of land i'm the Minnesota Riv-
er valley and the damages that it
has been subject to have been
greatly exaggerated.
The larger part of the valley is
the rocky gorge of an ancient river,
with steep and abrupt shore lines;
with granite bOulders and out crop
pings of sandstone and innumerable
slOughs, make up the valley with a
few exceptions of rich patches here
and there.
How About Navigation?
From Mankato down to the mouth
of the river, it can never be made
valuable as a navigable stream only
by deeping and Strengthening and
more or less miles of levees, and no
shallow ditch of four or five or six
feet is worth considering. Get more
water and train the river boundaries,
and better channel is assured.
Slack water improvement are possi
bic TO some extent if necessary.
From Big Stone lake to Mankato.
there are many sharp slopes to give
great use to all available water, but
the government dam and reservoir
if built, as proposed at a cost of
over one million five hundred thou
sand dollars, and one-half or seven
hundred and fifty thousand dollars
to be paid by the state, would only
furnish five hundred continuous
horse power, and at thirty dollars
per horsepower on the shaft, which
&c o fair prioa mOuld am0unt to ff