The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-04-10
Correspondence Received BY
Judge Stanton Shows
Situation Is Muddled
McNAIR BENCH MARK
SHOWS CORRECT LEVELS
Maximum Water Level Must
Be Set BY This Bench Mark
to Benefit Settlers

The matter of fixing the water
level of Red Lake is now before the
department of the interior, which
situation during the past few days
has become most alarming.
Congressman Harold Knutson adj
vises Judge C. w. Stanton to the eff
feet that Engineer Reed of the In
dian Bureau in consultation with en-
gineer Meyers of the Red Lake Con-
servancy Board has decid Jed to fix
the level at between 1173 and 1174,
which if based on the monument
stationed at the mouth of the Tam
arac River, known as the McNair
Bench Mark, would be satisfactory.
Mr.. Reed further informed Con-
gresham Knutson that the highest
stage of water ever attained at Red
Lake, Of which there is any record,
WAS in 1916. when the maximum reg
istered 1l76.5 and that the lowest
level was 1173.
1t is evident from these figures
that the> engineers are not using the
McNair Bench Mark from which it
will be observed that the low water
mark was 1174,S in 1912 and the
high water level was 1179.5 in 1916.
Unless the McNair Bench Mark is
used by the government in establish
ing the water levels, it is hard to
predict at this time what the out
come will be. In case, they used Il
bench mark at Red Lake or Redby,
which is not in, harmony with the
McNair Bench Mark at the outlet.
and which is the only.on the settlers
know anything about, the level Of the
Lake might be established entirely
in the interests of power companies,
disregarding entirely the purpose for
which such level was intended, which
was to bring the lake down to level
so that the ditch waters would be
carried away and thus improve the
vast acreage for agricultural purposes
The correspondence carried on be-
tween Congressman Knutson and
Judge c. w. Stanton regarding this
matter will perhaps give to the public
Il more vivid conceRtion of the matter.
The following is an answer to Con-
gresham Knutson's letter, in part:
"March 20,
"Dear Mr.. Knutson:-
"Since receiving your letter of the
IOtH nave DcSJ) uiiSSilV Ill ODLdlulHS
all possible information from the set
tiers near Red Lake and others.
"Our great concern is that the
maximum height Of water be so
fixed that the lands contiguous to
Tamarack River and other tributaries
of Red Lake will not be inundated
as they are now at frequent intervals.
"Fixing the levels at between 1173
and 1174 will be very satisfactory,
provided the bench mark used as the
basis for these figures is the same
bench mark that we have in mind and
which is commonly used here. There
is the bench mark at the mouth Of
Tamarack River placed there by E.
l.. McNair in 1907 and is 1182.6S
(top Of monument).
"Am enclosing herewith copy Of re-
port made to me today by Mr.. W. M.
Everts, ditch engineer, showing eleva-
lions Of water in Red Lake from
1912 to 1920 with this McNair bench
mark as the basis. You will observe
that the low mark was l174.S in
1912 and the high mark was 1179.5
in 1916.
"This report is quite convincing
to me that Mr., Reed, engineer for
the Indian Bureau, and Mr.. Meyers
are not using this McNair bench
mark at 1182.68 and that a maxi
mum Of 1174 on the basis used by
them will leave the water level much
Continued OH Page Three)