The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-01-14
RODS STATE Of ITS LAKES
Drainage Program Will
Wipe Out Water
DRIVE AWAY WILD GAME
Statement Field Secretary La
Duo of Minnesota Game
Protective League
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

IT6SS DlSpaICn.l
st. Paul. January S.-Proposed
drainage programs in Southern and
central Minnesota threaten TO rob
Minnesota Of its slogan, THE State
or 10000 Lakes" and to turn into
ard districts, similar to those of
western North Dakota, thousands of
acres or rich, productive lands, &C
cordlng TO Harry J. LaDue. field sec
retary OF the Minnesot& Game Pro-
tectlVe League, in formal statement
ISSUED tonight. Not only would the
eIalnage OF lakes in Southern and
central Minnesota result in a loss of
moisture which would be detrimental
10 the productiveness of the land, but
the wild game of the state would be
sent 10 other sections, Mr.. LaDue
said.
From a careful study of the future
plans for huge drainage projects in
the Northwest" he stated, "one
would imagine that modern man still
ture. all that he has to do is to appeal
to the gods. who will turn on the
water. He will not live to realize
his fallacy. Only the children OF the
third and fourth generation will suf-
Ter from his thoughtless tampering
with nature. Without water. sue
Ceeding generations will not follow.
Minnesota Land Area
Minnesota has a land area of so,
691, 200 acres and a water area OF
2,662,400 acres. Statisticians report
that approximately 2S,000,000 acres
are used for crops and live stock
raising. The balance of 100000
sibly some timber. Two thirds of
the idle area can be developed to
produce foods, cattle and fur bearing
animals. Heretofore the only pro-
test against this ruthless program
has come from the sportsman and
aside on the ground that they were
merely prompted by selfish motives.
They resent, however, the accu-
sation that they are prompted by mer-
cenary principles and point with
pride TO the mighty efforts they have
for the use and enjoyment of the peo-
pie of today and tomorrow. We are
today beholden to him alone for all
the conservation accomplishments Of
the nation. We are on the threshold
of an era which will bring to Mime
sofa golden flood from every state
with the automobile and good roads
for transportation to our state of Ten
Thousand Lakes. Millions of persons
from other less favored states are be-
ing attracted to the beautiful wooded,
lake studded landscdne of Minnesota.
"nSI NiSiIOTS SDenC HcTe
"A few years ago the Ten Thous-
and Lakes of Minnesota association
was formed and statistics show that
through the efforts of the association
in advertising the state. the influx Of
visitors increased by the association
was as follows.
I'm 1916. $4,000 visitors in Mime
sofa snent $3.50 900.
"In 1917 1000 visitors in Mime
sofa spent 1897 500.
I'm 1918 10000 visitors in Mime
sofa spent 81 100000.
"In 1919. $4,000 visitors in Mime
sofa srent s6 100000.
I'm 1920. 2On. 600 visitors in Mime
sofa spent s10,O00000.
Carlos Avery, state game and fish
commissioner, estimated that the
intrinsic value of wild life taken an
nually in Minnesota is s13, 100000;
pelts 81 100000: commerce depending
on wild life, exclusive Of tourist trade
SO 100000: value of birds to agri-
culture, 81 $1,000 and an incalculable
esthetic value to persons. Add to
this amount the $4,000 O0N from
tourist trade and the total is s23.50O,-
"Drainage experts have been care
eul to say they do not CONTEMPLATE
the destruction Of lakes of sufficient
depth to furnish boating and habi,
tat for fish. They have onlv in mind
the dra inage of marches and shallow
lakes the natural habitat of wild
water fowl and manv furbearing ami
mails. They studiouslv avoid men
tioring a fact which other states have
realized to their sorrow. The grad
ual and persistent drain of marshes
tends to lower the underground wat
er level Of the state. Thus has the
water level of Iowa been lowered
more than nina feet in the mast few
years. The effect on the remaining
lakes and streams is disastrous. to
saw the least. In Southern Mime
sofa thousands Of tons Of fish perish
in lakes nf this character DURING per-
iods of extremely low Temperatures"