The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-05-14
GOOSE Pond SAC COUNTY

I 4
GOOSE POND" SAC COUNTY
Goose pond, over at Wall Lake, sc
long known as a sinking, filthy, mos
quito breeding marsh, where frogs and
muskrats thrived both winter and sum
mer, marsh which many predicted
would always remain a marsh, is soon
to be a land where fields of grain will
wave, where growing crops and vel
vety meadows will take the place OF
dismal swamp. where herds Of cattle
will replace fiecks of wild fowl, where
highways will take the place of row
boats and hip boots, and where orna-
mental trees and shrubbery will take
the place Of the cat tail and tough
Z slough grass, and all because human
ingenuity has stepped in and reclaim
ed this vast area Of waste.
Messrs. Charles Voss and Frank
WOolston, of Denison, some time ago
conceived the idea of retaining this
now famous goose pond, and purchased
the swamp. Many have thought they
were trying to accomplish the impos-
sible, and that they would reap naught
for their trouble, but it would seem
from the following article taken from
the Wall Lake Blade that these gentle
men are to be amply repaid for their
.forsightedness. The Blade OF May
Sth tells of the undertaking as fol-
lows: ts a 81. raj Ii
All doubt about the successor the
great engineering feat in draining the
goose pond seems to have vanished!
Prior to this great undertaking there
seemed to be much skepticism ex-
pressed as to it's feasibility. and many
of our older residents booted at the
idea:'of attempting anything so rash,
This project was not undertaken UNI
til many careful surveys had been
made and these surveys submitted to
some of the best national and state
engineers; many of renown who had
served years in the reclamation ser.
vice.
After all plans had been approved
this great work was undertaken and
proves the wisdom of the men who
devised the plan The magic key to
this great puzzle was Strengthened
and decpened channel for the Boyer
river This fact is now so apparent
and simple that we all stare in amaze
5ment that no one had ever conceived
of this idea before. BY Strengthening
and deepening the river channel it
gives the same sufficient capacity to
carry all water in flood times. None
now flows into the goose pond making
1t a huge reservoir requiring days to-
drain out again. Another thing the
bitches do: They gather the waters OF
the creeks flowing into the pond, con-
Quoting all these waters directly
through the pond and not allowing any
Of the same to spread out over the sur
face! n. s%,g va, rs ) s,,:, j
That the reclamation service is
proving successful one has but to be-
hold the teams and tractors at work
upon either side of the goose pond road
and note the area now under cultiva-
ton. Not only is this soil in fit state
for cultivation but it is actually more
dry and mellow than the average farm
land surrounding us.
Many predicted it was marsh and
would always remain SO, but it seems
thattth impossible has happened. We
now not only have submarines and fly
ing machines but we also have dry
goose. pond which lis daily becoming
more valuable. i
ut certainly is going to prove a benz
efit and a blessing to this town to have
this swamp reclaimed; to have fields
OF growing crops, waving grain and
beautiful meadow land where we for
merly had but shrinking, filthy, mos.
quito breeding marsh full of frogs.
vyh N ~ e.
project have not only enriched them
selves but have been benefactors to
mankind, adding to the valuation of
taxable property and increasing the
value of adjoining property as we'll;
not only this, but they have increased
the productiveness of our country and
improved the sanitary conditions of
this vicinity. 5#
AS one gazes upon the rich black
earth of this land and muses. over the
productive qualities of. it he recalls
the accounts which Herodotus wrote,
centuries ago, about the valley, of the
Nile and the fields of Babylon, where
the soil produced three to five hundred
fold; we wonder how many fold this
soil will yield under proper cultiva-
ton and if it will ever become impov-
,erished. From the appearance and
depth ofsthe soil we doubt il any now
living will see it exhausted even
though it be never ferti Iizsd.
Within, a few years this land will all
be under cultivation. This great tract
OF land will be divided up into farms.
Highways will traverse it, farm build.
ings will dot it's surface, fruit, shade
and ornamental trees will break the
monotony of its vast expanse. Coming
generations will sit at the knee OF