Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-09-12
STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL to-
VIEW WATERS OF STATE
UNDER CONTROVERSY
POLICY ALLEGED 70 De
NOT ONE or DESTRUCTION
Denial Made That Wall Lake Has
Been Leased for Indefinite Period
State Law Enacted With Idea Of
Preserving Such Lakes % Ar Not
Menace 20 Health.


great many statements about Wall
lake and other lakes that aren't 80.
It IL stated 1T the proper Office in
the state house where such things are
Of record. that nobody has any lease
OF Wall lake. but the council entered
into an agreement with resident of
Wright county for Improvement Of the
lake bed and expenditure Of money.
Any lease OF Wall lake or any other
lake IL subject to cancellation at any
time under the laws Of the state.
For number of years the state had
. great deal Of trouble taking care Of
some Of the best lakes. as for instance
Storm Lake, because of inability to
control the grass land around the lake,
which lies between the meandered line
and the hiEhwater mark. And 80 last
winter. Secretary Dawson OF the state
executive council to whose much bur-
dened desk all such troubles fall, pre-
pared q bill for q law which gave the
state authority over the lakes not only
to the meandered lines but out SO far
As the water ever goes. Such a law
would operate to save many Of the
lakes Of the state and to prevent much
trouble. But It seems the law would
have affected adversely some interests
to which the senator from Burlington,
Mr. Cowles. was responsive and the
Bill: was &c: allowed to come to
vote.
As an alternative then. Secretary
Dawson prepared q bill giving to the
state the authority to lease the land
within the meandered lines until such
time as the land is otherwise disposed
of. This was done for the purpose OF
protecting the lakes and to permit OF
care Of the grass land surrounding
some Of the best lakes.
To Inspect Lakes.
Members of the executive council
will go to Wright county as soon as
the trip can be arranged. to personally
inspect the summer cottages said to
BIO erected on the shores Of Wall lake
and to take q ride In the excursion
,tSsnsr. etc. They viii also 20 TO
Rush lake In Palo Alto county. as the
trip they had planned TO this lake IN
the summer was abandoned because OF
the governors illneaA The council will
soon have ND for consideration tho
proposals IN regard to Goose lake. In
regard to RUSH Lake there - the most
conflicting testimony. II 10 said to DO
danserous to health ana breeding
place for millions Of blacl<bi1ds rather
than Z few ducks. It II also shown by
the records there IL not enough water
there to make Of It . lake no matter
what might be done in regard to
dredging It out.
The state executive council Is said TO
be following about tho same line as
for a number Of years regarding these
lakes. namely. that whenever and
wherever any pond or lake can be
saved or improved and be made into
a beauty spot or a game preserve this
Is to be done: but where the demands
Of health or considerations OF the
property Of the people demand 1t, upon
the most conclusive evidence, the state
win permit drainage Of the lake and
conversion of the land into useful
farms. But primarily the state Is SEEK
ing to save as many Of the lakes as
POSSIBLE rather than to have them
abandoned. The right Of the state to
take a hand in the drainage OF the
lakes or their improvement arises SOLE
" from the superior right Of the state
TO look after the health Of the people.
1t is expected that fall rains VIII
help to fill some Of the lakes that have
been dry all the year.