The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1916-05-31
URGE LOWERING
OF REQ LAKE AND
4!nFNINGnE 1!l!F.l !; RIVER
Historical Society
Committee Makes Trip From Red
Lake Reservation to Thief
River Falls.
BELIEVED ONLY WAY
TO STOP BIG FLOODS
o. L. Dent, Ditch Referee, 1nspects
Ground With Thief River Falls
Representatives.
BELIEVED ONLY WAY
TO STOP BIG FLOODS

Thief River Falls, Minn., May 81.
That the lowering of the Red
Lakes, the erection Of retaining
works at the outlet and the deepen
ing and widening of the Red Lake
river for a distance of at least 80
miles from it's mouth, is the only
solution of the flood problem in the
territory along the Red Lake and
Clearwater rivers in the opinion of
the special committee made up of
Senator D. p. ONeill, Gay Halvorson
and M. G. Cutter of this city, who
with Indian Agent W. F. Dickens of
the Red Lake agency and o. L. Dent,
civil engineer and ditch referee Of
Bemidji, who have just returned
from tour of investigation along the
river and alkes.
They found the great basin of the
Red Lakes bank full and even run
ming over at the outlet and the rivers,
unable to carry the surplus waters,
backing up and flooding a fertile and
cultivated farming country for miles.
Settlers are becoming discouraged
and that definite steps must be taken
soon to insure their lands from flood
was made apparent to the committee.
Travel 100 Miles.
The party left the Indian agency
at Red Lake in power boat, crossed
the lake and traversed the Red Lake
river for a distance of 100 miles, in
terviewing settlers and making care
full and exhaustive notations of con-
ditions which will be used in connec-
ton with the work of the govern
ment engineers who are to make the
survey made possible by Steenerson's
bill, passed at this session of congress.
The trip was made at the invitation
of Agent Dickens, who is strongly IN
favor of the project as outlined in
Mr.. Steenerson's bill.
| Project is Large. -.-z.=--.-..----
The magnitude of the proposed
project is indicated by rough esti-
mate of the cost, made by experts on
the trip. They put it at a million
dollars and cite the benefits to accrue
to settlers and municipalities along
the river as many times that amount.
The conservation of the waters OF the
lake is most important, as there are
important water powers at Crookston,
Red Lake Falls and other towns along
the river south, and again, these Clues
which derive their water for domes-
tic purpose will be deeply interested
as it will insure a steady flow the
year round, where under present con-
ditions, flood conditions exist in the
spring, making the handling OF the
water a big problem and later, in the
dry season, the supply is often insuf-
ficient, or obtained at extra expense
to the municipalities.
/ Very Important.
The work of the Commercial CLUB
and Congressman Steenerson in tax
ing an active interest in the problem,
was freely commented by Settlers
who at last feel that they see solu-
ton and hope ahead. While the flood
conditions of the past two springs
may, not occur again in years, 1t Is
pointed out that when they do oc-
cur, the damage is of such magnitude
as to make it imperative that steps
toward a permanent remedy are vi
tallv important. With the river wild
ened, Strengthened and deepened ano
the retaining works at the lakes
u crested, not only will settlers and wa
ter power interests along the r1ve1
. profit, but Indian lands, now In dan
. ger of being flooded by the overho"
= of the lake itself, be made more Valu
able. The proposed project is consld
cred by engineers to be one OF TN
u most important in the history OF tn
. reclamation Of Northern Minnesota