Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1920-03-18
The Silver Mine Dam.
tFredericktown Democrat New.

| (Fredericktown Democrat-News.)
Sheriff John Chapman was aston
ished last week to receive from Tim
Birmingham, State Game and Fish
Commissi the following letter
under date of March 3D.:
am writing you to ask you to look
up and have in mind man who un-
derstands the use of dynamite,as ex-
pect to be there some time in the near
future to blow out an opening in the
Silver Dam. l may be go situated
that I will not be able to stay until the
work is completed, and, if not, will
want to leave< the matter in your
charge and the men you have in mind
to do the work. Address me at st.
James and will be there the next
few days.
Mr.. Chapman promptly wrote Mr..
Birmingham at st. James as follows:
Yours of the Sd inst. received. In
reply desire to say that I decline to
have anything to do with the blowing
out of Silver Mine Dam, for the fol-
flowing reasons: in the first place it is
wholly unnecessary to do SO as fish
can and do easily get above the dam.
| The best fishing in the county is in
what is called '.The Narrows," some
miles above. If you will make inqui-
ry at this ploce among men who are
in the habit of fishing, like Judge An
thony, you will find that my state
ment. is true. In the second place the
dam was built for commercial and
business purposes and might be used
for electric power purposes. Why not
compel the owner to erect and main
tain proper ladders, If necessary, ,rath-
er than ruin his property? Then do
not feel that | have authority without
an order or writ of proper court. /
would advise that before taking this
drastic step you should advise with
some of our citizens. They should be
heard
Up to date Tim Birmingham cas- not
appeared and nothing further has
been heard from him.
There is widespread indignation in
Madison county at Birmingham for
this last move, a move evidently de-
signed to destroy property that should
cost $1O0, 900 to replace without giving
the people of Fredericktown and Mad
ison county, to say nothing of the
owners, any opportunity whatever to
be heard.
The efforts of the Fish Department
to destroy the dam are generally un-
derstood to have been inspired by st.
Francois county interests. A few
years ago candidate for the Legisla-
ture from that county had the de-
struction of the dam as the principal
plank in his platform. Petitions for
the destruction of the dam are sent in
regularly. Old Silver Dam is even
said to figure as a consideration inpo-
litical deals.
, The indignation locally is intensified
by the fact that the only time Birm
ingham ever saw the dam was when
he made a hurried trip down from
, Pennington in company with Farm
ington men, and made no effort to se-
cure any evidence from local fisher
I men as to whether or not fish are able
to pass the dam, dozens of whom
would swear they had seen fish 60 ov'
or. Recently Mr.. Byington, q deputy
; from Pennington, drove out anc
: made a superficial survey Of the dam
We have never heard of his inter
: viewing Judge Anthony, F. J. Parkin
Roy Roberts, DR.. Jenkins and dozens
of other fishermen.
The whole thing looks like con
cocted scheme to "get" Silver Dam
: Evidently the truth is not desired by
: Birmingham for certainly he has no
Q sought evidence locally, and he ha
r planned his onslaught with mel
and dynamite without informing the
n owner, Mr.. .Handlan, of his intentions
ri A telephone callto MI. Handlan by tn
" Democrat News was the first intima
j. tion Mr.. Handlan had of the matter.
l. Mr.. Chapman is receiving tie hear
= ty commendation of all the citizens Q
,r Madison county for his firm stan'
IN against the contemplated action Q
Birmingham. And when Mr.. Birm
lg ingham comes to Fredericktewn, If b
st ever does, he will find that we hav
Or courts yet in Missouri that will max
at ii impossible for any one man, how
N ever exalted he may be In his own es
Re timation. to arbitrarily destroy thous
q. ands of dollars worth Of propert
Of and spot Of beauty cherished b
is thousands Of people.