Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-07-02
The Silver Mines Dam,
(From the Pennington Times.)


FARMINGToN, Mo-, June %, 1914.
Editor Pennington Times During
the past three months of this year, as
well as during the past two or three
years, the undersigned has done his
best by means of correspondence with
the State Game Warden and Deputy
Game Warden of this district, trying
to have removed the Silver Mines
dam across the st. Francis river in
Madison county, so that the various
species of fish could pass upward in
said stream during all seasons of the
year. Without wishing to censure
either one of the officials mentioned,
the fact that no passageway, such as
needed, has been in said construction
according to reports of different indi-
viduals, and in order that the readers
of the Times, and especially those in
terested in the sport, or, rather, rec
reation and avocation of fishing, may
know what has and what has not been
done, the writer is pleased to give
letter in answer to one he wrote to
Mr.. Ward of Bismarck. Mr.. Ward is
broad minded citizen and joins with
the writer and scores of others ask
ing justice be rendered to the citizens
of st. Francois county, and, in fact, to
all that live above said Silver Mines
Dam. Mr.. Ward is probably the cham
pion bass fisherman of Southeast Mis-
souri,, and here is his letter without
comment. Respectfully,
G. W. MooTHART.
BISMARCK, Mo-, June %, 1914
Prof. G. w. Moothart,
Pennington, Mo-:
My Dear Sir and Friend-I have
been so busy of late that | have not
had the time to answer your last let
ter promptly, but will now try to
write you the facts, as understand
them.
know that you have been corre-
spending with Mr.. DeLassus, the Dep
uty Game Warden of this district, in
regard to the Silver Mines Dam, and
conditions, generally, regarding our
fishing streams and bodies of water in
st. Francois county.
Now I was down at the Silver Mines
Dam last week and made close in
spection of said dam, and if anybody
tells you there is an open passway,
just say they are badly mistaken.
Whilethey have done some work on
the dam in the way of opening small
hole, and on top of the dam, on the
east end, it is SO steep that shere is no
chance for fish to get up to it.
I think if Mr.. DeLassus would go
out there and see the work himself
he would be ashamed of it. There is
a chute about 40 feet for them to 60
| up, and at 25 degrees angle, and / un-
derstand that about a 15 degree angle
is what bass can really climb, or get
over, at most not over II degrees, and
then he must have resting place, or
he will go back. have been at the
, Silver Mines dam at all seasons of the
4 year and have been familiar with the
dam ever since it was built. lived
at the Silver Mines when 1t was build
ing, and say frankly that there new
or was fish went up over that dam
!, for have seen them in the act Of try
ing to 60 over, but about ten feet was
their limit. Surely some way or plar
I should be followed in order to remove
!, this obstruction; for once removed il
( will permit fish to come up the river
and all the streams would be amply
i replenished with all kinds OF fish com.
ing from the Southeast Missour
streams.
J Count me with you IN trying to So