The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1947-06-19
Expansion OF Recreaiional Facilities
AT Seneca Lake Approved By District
Court. S6OO,OOO improvements Ordered
Noble County Assessed S24,36O29, But Actual Money
Will Come Through Income Derived At Seneca Lake

Expansion of recreational faciI-
tiles at eight of the lakes in the
Muskingum Watershed conservancy
district, including Seneca Lake in
Noble county was approved Thurs
day by vote of 1871 of the district
conservancy court of the appraisal
of benefits in each of the 18 coun-
ties of the district. The cost to Noble
county is $24,360.29.
Attending the hearing from Noble
county were Judge L. B. Frazier,
who serves on the conservancy
court, Commissioners w. c. Davis,
Charles Rayner and H. G.. Williams,
Prosecuting Attorney Leo Carter
and Arthur Rich of Seneca town.
ship.
The commissioners had previously
filed an objection to the assessment
against this countv but according to
Judge Frazier, approval of this
recreational expansion was "cut and
dried" as far back as November,
1916.
The court with II of the Is jurists,
including Judge Frazier, met in the
Tuscarawas county Common Pleas
court room in New Philadelphia
with Judge Frank Cope of Carroll
county as the presiding jurist. In
addition to accepting the appraisal
program, a contract between the
officials of the district and the state
department of conservation was ap-
proved by voice vote. Under the
program the conservation depart
ment will pay the district the sum
of $3.50 per acre of water in the
eight lakes starting July and con-
tinuing for seven years.
There are approximately 10000
acres of water in the eight lakes in
volved.
Thursdays approval of appraisal
benefits will open the way for a
bond issue of 100000, which it is
estimated is the cost of the improve
ments under the official plan of the
watersheds board of directors.
Plans for increasing and improv-
ing recreation facilities at the lakes
were completed by officials of the
district sometime ago.
Drinking water, improved access
roads, auto parking areas, shelter
houses, picnic grounds, toilet facil-
tiles, bathing beaches, vacation
cabins, boating concessions, boat
landings, stores on the lake shores
for the purchase of supplies, ETC., are
planned. While the new facilities
are estimated at 100000, this is less
than one-half of the total appraised
benefits. There will be no costs to
residents of the areas as the sums
needed in the recreation program
will be furnished through income
at the lakes.
According to Bryce G. Browning,
secretary of the district, the limited
facilities for fishing and boating are
now earning in excess of 5000 per
year and with the completion of the
Improvement program this will be
greatly increased.
Water values were placed on each
of the lakes proposed for improve
ment. The value placed on Seneca
Lake was 100 percent; it being con-
Sidered the most valuable of the
entire chain of lakes; Tappan 80
percent; Piedmont 80 percent; Pleas
ant Hill 70 percent; Atwood so per-
cent; Charles Mills so percent; Lees
vile As percent, and Clendening Is
percent.
The appraisal board consisting of
E. M. Hustled, superintendent of
parks in Cincinnati; D. w. Arm
strong of GAINESVILLE and John Fish
er reported the benefits to accrue
to the various counties of the dis
trict as follows: Ashland $90,228.55;
Belmont $50,675.42; Carroll S32,-
l06.16; Coshocton $11 ,625.72; Guern-
sey $93,173.80; Harrison $40, ,766.85;
Holmes $17,876; Knox $25,749.92;
Licking $l8,06091; Morgan $3,841.2
Muskingum $46,762.65; Richland
$195,710.45; Noble S24,36O.29; Stark
$294, 4,213.27; Summit $122,185.80;
Tuscarawas $131, ,438. Sc; Washington
$14, 1921; Wayne 7,384.8O.