New Ulm review., 1922-05-24
NE W ULM LOGIC CAI
site / FOR A DAM.

ISONoENvAINN1l 1lOMMlSSlONAN
ENGINEERS FOR LOCATION I
AT THIS POINT.
60, 900 ACRES OF LAND WOULD
BE RECLAIMED AND LAKE
FORMED.
That New Ulm IS the only logical
location for the erection Of dam on
the Minnesota river in connection with
the proposed drainage project to pre-
vent flooding of thousands Of acres Of
valuable farm lands in this section Of
the state, was the .gist Of an impress
sive talk delivered at an open meeting
for the citizens Of New Ulm at the
Commercial Club rooms Wednesday,
morning by a. F. Meyer Of Mime
apolis, member Of the firm Of Shannon
& Meyer, specialists in hydraulic en-
Egineering. The proposed dam would
be erected Immediately below the city
where the Cottonwood river flows into
the Minnesota. Mr.. Meyer strongly
urged the location of the dam here as
being Imperative, when making COM.
parsons with other proposed sites
along The river. !.
Opposition aat First.
Much opposition on the part Of New
Ulm citizens was manifest at previous
meeting when the project Of a dam and
the flooding of about 1900 acres OF
land near the city, as well as some son . E
property in the city, was discussed. !.
Engineers at that time presented a pre-
iminary report to the executive COM
mittee Of the Minnesota Drainage and
Conservancy district. Since that time
additional surveys have been made
and sites for the location Of reservoirs
along the river considered. The en-
gineer in charge is now more than ever eve
convinced that New Jim is the one
logical site for the reservoir in this
district 4.tsss
Would Flood 1000 Acres.
The dam if erected at the so-called
New Ulm site would flood several
thousand acres Of land, but it is esti77
mated it would improve from 10000
! to rs, 600 acres Of land which is now
periodically flooded. There would also al
Ibe created an artificial lake which
might be Of considerable value to the
city. Those in favor of the project
claim that the objections OF citizens M IS
here could be met by building dikes
to protect the Eagle Roller Mill Go.
and other property oweners in the loW7
lying district and divert the drainage
| from the city so there would be nosin4
convenience.
New Ulm Only Real Site.
Mr.. Meyer stressed the Importance
of locating the dam at New Ulm by
comparisons with other porposed sites;
He stated that building a dam at the
| mouth Of the Cottonwood and another
at Redwood Falls had been considered
for the purpose Of avoiding the placing
Of an artificial lake in front Of the city
Of New Ulm, but that from investiga-
tions and calculations made it was
conclusively shown this would not pro
wide enough reservoir capacity to pre-.
vent flooding Of lowlands in this sec.
tion during high water, and the Cost
would be at least fifty per cent higher
than if the dam were built near this
city. IA large amount Of arabic lanS
along with buildings would be flooded
1 in the vicinity Of Redwood Fails
which would add tremendously to tht
cost.
. New Ulm citizens were given t
understand at this meeting that unles les
i the members Of the, committee, mem
Il DGfS OI IuS OOllSSlNduCy SAioGAACG5 SsAASS
!! the engineers had the support Of ou
citizens in thier plans for q dam AM
lartifcial lake in New Ulm, the who'll
project would have to be abandoned.
Z The plans as outlined by Mr.. Meye
q would 3provide for a dam at poin
l Inear Redstone which would be sdffi
4 Z . 81 :. e<r<ag
a GENTLY high at all times to stem foeot.
n waters, even if rising a few feet highElet'
i than during the highest flood mark 3
,EI881. The dam here would be pro
Wided with gates 50 that the waite
could sbe released rapidly Wheneve
occasion should require it. The pro
posed dam would food about 2, 90
a acres Of land at all times to q dept
4 Of about five feet. Trees in the foo
area would first be razed, 50 that # IA
lake were used for boating or othe
sfpurposes later this danger would lb
] removed. Assurance was also give
] that with dam there would not Is
any more mud banks or swamp land