New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1917-01-17

hands with our fellow sufferers in the
common cause for relief that will be
backed up by such public sentiment and
power that cannot be thwarted.
Flow Into Minnesota River
q These basins from the lowest area OF
the three states named, the dividing line
being at Browns Valley between Big
Stone and Traverse Lakes, the latter be
ing about eight feet higher than Big
Stone Lake, and in extreme high water
the waters thereof frequently flow south
into the Minnesota valley.
s'It will therefore be observed that
Traverse Lake, lying at the summit OF
beth the Red and Minnesota river valleys
is an ideal location for one Of the largest
and most useful reservoirs of the entire
sytem, of which there are many, so con-
venientiy placed by nature, and OF
ample capacity to take care Of all Of the
surplus water, as the waters Of this
reservoir when completed can be emptied
either northward into Hudson's Bay or
southwark into the Gull Of Mexico
The Little Minnesota River, which
is really the source OF the Minnesota
River proper big Stone Lake being
really an enlargement Of the Minnesota
rises in the Dakota Hills probably fifty
miles northwest Of Big Stone Lake, and
passes within about a half a mile OF the
upper end OF Traverse Lake and then
flows on down into Big Stone Lake. It
is proposed to turn the Little Minnesota
into Traverse Lake and connecting
Traverse and Big Stone lakes by canal
with controlling works, and at the south
end Of Big Stone Lake at Ortonville a
similar condition exists with reference
to the Milestone River, which it is pro-
posed to turn into Big Stone Lake.
Both the Little Minnesota and the
Milestone Rivers rise in the hills named
at an altitude of about a thousand feet
above the lakes, and in case Of heavy
rains Or melting SHOWS, under present
conditions, these waters rush into the
Minnesota River valley unrestrained.
Would Straighten Stream.
1T is also proposed to construct a
reservoir at Lac qui Parle Lake with a
capacity of thirty billion cubic feet.
This would be water enuf to cover over
six hundred thousand acres of land a
foot deep. Another reservoir of like
capacity could be constructed at Red
wood Falls. In addition to these reser-
volrs it is proposed to deepen and
straighten the Minnesota River where
ever necessary. ],
1t may be interesting to note that the
Red River Of the North is a marrow,
sluggish stream with a fall OF but about
six inches per mile, yet it has drainage
area Of 1000 square miles or 33 ,28O, 900
acres and on either side Of the valley
are immense natural storage reservoirs
that can easily be made sufficient to
take care of all Of the surplus water at an
elevation of from $50 to 400 feet above
the valley.
THUS the possibilities OF saving the
valley lands from overflow, and in adj
dition, using such reservoirs for both
irrigation and Waterpower development
is very apparent.
Mr.. Kaercher, after relating the great
number of times that the valleys involved
have been flooded, and Of the millions of
dollars damage that has resulted, dis
cussed the f11tility Of the millions OF
ollars that the government is spending
in hurrying the flood waters into the
Mississippi River valley, so as to make
sure that. the flood periods the waters
of all it's tributaries will reach the channel
at the same time and then spend hundreds
of millions of dollars on the lower end of
the river to keep this food from over
flowing its banks by building dykes
mountain high, thus converting one of
the blessings of nature into an element
Of destruction
Wipe Out New Orleans.
If this policy is kept up some day New
Orleans will be wiped off the map he
said.
1T does not require an engineer to
understand that the only way to prevent
the destructive overflow Of cur streams
is to commence at the source and OBJ
struct the flow of the water in every Wav
possible, using it over and over again for
irrigation and waterpower purposes. -
Former Senator Charles A. johnson
of St. Peter, related the experiences OF
the Minnesota River Improvement
League, organized several years ago, and
which so far has been unsuccessful in
accomplishing anything tangible. Senator
Johnson was one Of the originators q
plans seeking for relief from the fooc
stricken district along the Minnesota
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