Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1914-02-12

way Doane Robinson has worked II
out.
What IS the plan rho speaker
said that the river Ii broad ana shall
low before It reaches the northern
boundary of South Dalxota, and also
broad and shallow sou tllA Of the; state.
As II inviting the scheme noane Rob
inson has conceived the river in re-
mote ages pnrposely narrowed its bed
upon entering the territory now
called South Dakota. ana as II even
urging this scheme Of his 1t gathered
Its waters into q very narrow channel
at fourteen different places as it tiows
through the state, where fourteen
dams could be conveniently built
Doane Robinson is the firat man who
lhas been able to interpret the mean
Ing Of this, and SO practical and bene.
iciai does the plan seem to him that
he has spent hours OF weary labor
collecting figures on horse power and
fertility Of soil and acreage and light
ing plants for the purpose of showing
his day and generation the marvellous
possibilities Of power and prosperity
the old Missouri river affords the
people Of the state. Already some of
the papers have commenced to talk
about his plan, and some on the cities
have felt that there is considerable
merit In his scheme and have COM
lneneed to wonder how the plan could
serve to boom their riches.
Doane Robinson wants to build d.
dam across the river Iii the south
eastern part Of the state, right at the
state line. Then he would 90 up the
river several miles and build anot therH
one. Then he would so np the river
"A bit and built another dam. After
this he would continue his ionrnies
clear up to the North Dakota line
building dams till he had only four
teen of them across the stream These
dams would deepen the river aud
hold q lot OF water that could he
lifted out Of the stream during the
hot and dry season OF the year and,
by means of great reservoirs and ian.
mense pumps II could he showered
upon the earth or run into ditches and
the land would be Watered, and the
earth would yield an abundant harS
vest The horse power that could be
developed atSthese great dams is mar
Yelous to contemp ate, and the figures
We're SO great that the speaker could
not carry them In his mind. This
horse power could be utilized In fur.
8nishing electric lights for towns and
cities, and even the farms In the
state could be illuminated Six mil
lion acres of land would be watered
from the great reservoirs at these
immense dams What would that
mean to the state? No one can esti4
mate the wealth it would bring to-
the people. The actual cost OF such
an enterprise was figured, and 1T ran
UP into the millions, hut the federal
government could take care OF that
till the people could pay it back. This,
Very briefly stated, is Doane Robin
sons plan for harnessing and utilizing
the Missouri river. He should pub
ilish the speech and scatter it broad
cast over the state, for it is interest.
ing and contains d great deal of most
valuable information
It can never be done. 1t can never
be done! It is the dream of a Wild
mans Il would bankrupt a nation to
do such a piece OF work! These and
other declarations were heard on ali
sides as the students left the auditor.
illrl. But what about it,? Can it be-
done? Yes, 1t can be done, ana some
time It will be done. The ocean Has
been crossed by swift vessels that
We're once thot only dreams and they
are talking Of flying over the Atlantic
to the other side. And that will soon
be done. The Panama canal has been
dug, and that was only dream once
Upon q time. The great achievements
were once only visions, dreams III the
mind Of an enthusiast. Doane Rob-
lnson is q prophet. He is a dreamer,
out dreamer Of the practical kind
Tho sees the needs OF the hour and
he remedy that can be applied toll
'ring relief Some day the historian
= South Dakota will chronicle the
larnessing ard damming of the Mis-
'ouri river for the purpose Of water.
ng and lighting millions of acres
md many towns and cities, and On
hat page Of history the name of