The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-03-21
Believe River Should Drain Meadow
Lands Instead Of Making Soft =,
Sponges of Them.
WATER TRAFFIC CAN COME
Pota toes and Lumber Can Be Shipped
From Northern Minnesota to
Louisiana at Small Cost.

BemluJl TO the Gull was tne SlO-
gan adopted at the mass meeting of
the upper Mississippi Commercial
clubs held in Cass Lake last night. 1t
meeting that active steps should be
taken toward securing the construc-
ton of additional dams between Be-
midi and Minneapolis. the construc-
ton Of locks in the dams already
built and the strengthening of the
channel of the Mississippi where it
flows through the great meadows.
An executive committee of the
president and secretary of the Com
mercial clubs Of Bemidji, Cass Lake,
Federal Dam, Walker, Boy River,
Ball Club, Deer River and Grand
Rapids was appointed to push the
matter in and out Of congress in ord
er that action may be taken as soon
as possible. BY the building of a
lock in the Warfeld dam and the
building OF one more dam between
here and Cass Lake. Benidji will be
the head OF navigation on the Mis-
sissippi.
What was at first looked upon as
a pipe dream. gradually impressed
its Importance upon the men attend
ing the meeting until the project was
favored by all. William O'Neill, ex-
note address saying that while he did
not expect to live to see boat passing
from Bemidji to New Orleans, yet such
thing was a possibility if united
efforts are made to obtain the right
system of dams and locks.
Mr.. O'Neill pointed out that the
River Rhine is made to carry an enor-
NOUS traffic each year but that it is
not a better river than the MISSISSIPPI
pi. He said that the war department.
looked upon the Mississippi basin as
the place for the storing of waters to
be used on the lower river when
drouth comes but that at present the
water never reaches Minneapolis be-
cause it is absorbed and evaporated
in the great meadows. He advocated
the appointing OF central committee
OF all the Commercial clubs Interested
in the project in order that action
may be taken with congress at once.
Walter Neills. of Cass Lake, presid-
ed at the meeting and was assisted
by r. S. Lycan. Mr.. ONeil] was fol-
lowed by r. J. Burke who endorsed
the project and stated that he believ
ed the plan was feasible. p. NJ. Lar
son of Cass Lake told of the efforts
made by the Cass Lake Commercial
club alone that the other clubs had
been called in to assist because one
voice was apparently too weak.
County Attorney Torrance was in
troduced as ''silver tongued orator.
but insisted that "s]iver tOngued'
would be more appropriate. Ed Mar
shall. head Of the United States For
eStrY Service in CaSS Lake, said that
the war department was structing
the greatest system Of reservoirs in
the world on the upper Mississippi.
Mr. Marshall stated that the dams al
ready in hold back 100000, 1000, 900
cubic feet Of water.
ave cannot drink it all he said,
land should do something with it. 1t
is ours. There are 5000 horsepower
developed by water falls between here
and Minneapolis and this entire re-
servoir system is to hold back water
enough to keep the power up in the
dry season. We are given no consid-
Grafton whatever and the country is
CONTINUED on last page9. -.