The Detroit times., 1913-02-17
INTERNATIONAL
BOARD TAKES UP
BOIS BLANC Dixie
Hearing Held on Proposal to
Build Dam from Island to
Livingstone Channel
AMHERSTBURG FOLK
OPPOSE CONSTRUCTION
Claim That Water Supply Would
BE POlluted-COl. Patrick On
Stand All Morning

The international Joint commission
composed OF representatives OF tha
governments OF the United States and
Canada, met in the federal buildina
Monday morning. for hearing oil the
proposed construction OF dam from
Bois Blanc island 10 the mouth of tho
Livingstone channel. 10 hold back the
flow OF water and maintain the levels
on the upper lakes.
Former Congressman James A.
Tawney. OF Minnesota, presided ant
the other United States members pres
ent were former Congressman Frank
>. Streeter, Of New Hampshire and
former Congressman George Turner
or Washington. The Canadian repre-
sentatives were T Chase Casgrain, OF
Montreal, and Charles A. Magrath, OF
Ottawa. Henry A. Powell. X. c., of ST.
John. y. b., being absent.
Opening the hearing. Monday morn
ing, Mr. Tawney outlined the pur-
poses for which IL was called TO con
slider whether the proposed dam is
necessary and whether 1t will rccom-
rlish the purpose.
Peter White. X. c., OF Toronto, pre-.
sented q memorandum suggesting that
the consideration OF compensatory
works 10 maintain the lake levels is oil
little importance until the question Of
the amount of water 10 be taken from
the lakes by the Chicago drainage
canal Is determined The memoran.
dun stated that The Canadian govern.
ment is in sympathy with broad CO.
operative general policy in maintain
ing the great lakes waterway system.
Lieut.-Col Mason NJ Patrick,
United States engineer for the Dc.
troit district, was put on the stand
and his testimony occupied the rest
OF the morning He described the
situation and the effect OF the Living
stone channel upon the several cur
rents In the lower part of the river
He stated that the construction OF the
dam would increase the current In
the Amherstburg channel by two.
lfths 10 n half.mile per hour. and
would increase the difference in ele-
walton al the point where the chan
mel commences by about two-ffths OF
foot.
Col Patrick testified that the cross
current which resulted from the
opening OF the channel would be
dangerous 10 navigation If the dam
were not built to check It. Col
Patrick's testimony included mass
OF figures on water levels and flow be-
fore the channel was started, when
the cofferdam was in place and after
the channel was opened.
The direct examination was con
Quoted by Reeves T. Strickland, rep
-Fese#tiFe depart theRt OF Justice
and Col. Patrick was cross examined
by Charles ). Maginnis K G.. of
Toronto. The questions on cross-ex-
animation related TO the amount OF
water diverted through the Chicago
drainage canal. which It Is claimed b.
the Canadians, Is greater than the
amount allowed
The commission continued its SEES
sions Monday afternoon, when the
Canadians presented their side OF the
case. number OF communities along
the border including Amherstburg,
were represented by counsel They
are opposed TO the dam being con
structed.
: The hearings before the commits
sion are said 10 be unique in that
they Sive an opportunity TO the peo-
ple OF two nations 10 present their
sides OF a controversy face to face,
The commission will take up the
question OF the pollution Of waters
along the border when the hearing
on the dam is finished