The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-06-10
Widen Stream.

W1den stream.
The petition reads as follows:
I'VE, the undersigned land OWL
ers and tax payers in the Red Lake
Valley watershed, located in kOochi-
ching, Beltrami, Clearwater, Pen
nington and Red Lake counties, re-
spectfully petition you under the
state drainage law to provide the
proper means and ways for widen
ing, deepening and strengthening the
Red Lake river from it's outlet at Red
Lake to point at or near Highland
ing in Pennington county, in town
ship 153, range 40, for the relief Of
flood conditions as they existed in
1915 as we'll as they are existing at
the present time in 1915.
Entitled to Outlet.
"The large area of low lands in
western Koochiching county and
eastern Beltrami county that are, or
should be drained into the rivers flow
ing into Red Lake, must have, and are
entitled to a proper outlet into Red
Lake, according to the lakes normal
high level of 1,175 feet above sea
level. The present level of the lake
is now between four and five feet
above it's normal, and is choking up
the outlets for the present bitches,
as we'll as new bitches that might be
built, and in the Tamarack river val
ley alone, hundreds of settlers lands
are entirely flooded, driving the set
tiers from their homes on account
of the high stage of water in Red
Lake. This high stage is caused by
the more rapid run-off flowing into
the lake on account of the present
drainage bitches, and the outlet
through the Red Lake river is not
adequate for taking care of this rush
of water.
Ask Cooperation.
"Therefore, we pray for you to take
on the methods of fair cooperation
between the land owners in the Red
Lake valley, the state of Minnesota
and the Federal government for the
deepening, widening and straighten-
ing of the channel of the Red Lake
river from its outlet from the lake
in Sec. 2S, Township 152, Range SO,
approximately 27 miles to a point just
above Highlanding in Sec 29, Town.
ship 153, Range 40, Pennington
county. This will mean about 10
miles of new channel caused by the
Strengthening of the river and II
miles of deepening of the present
channel, at an approximate cost Of
1000 which, as it is navigable
river, one-third should be borne by
the Federal government for better
navigation purposes, one-third by the
state government and One-third by
the land owners, and under the twen-
ty-year state drainage law this would
mean, at the end of the fifth year an
appropriation by the state of $4,000
per year and interest. BY the Fed
eral government, from the river and
harbor bill of $4,000 per year and
interest, and by an assessment
against the lands benefited, whether
private owned or Indian lands, of $5,-
900 per year. And by the deepen
ing of this channel in such a way,
it would provide for the lowering of
the main body of Red Lake during
the winter time, to such an extent
that the waters brought in by the
bitches from the spring flood would
not overtax and raise the lakealike it
has this spring.
Hearing Requested.
eff at a proper hearing in your
court, it is found that special legis-
lation is needed by the state or Fed
eral government to carry out this
work, and furnish this relief as out
lined, we respectfully petition you 10
determine as quickly as possible what
state or Federal government is need
ed and to communicate those wants
to congress and to the state legisla-
ture at this winters session, SO that
needed improvements under your jur-
isdiction could be commenced not
later than the spring of 1917