ORIGIN OF THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM IN 



THE UNITED STATES 



By THAD, C, POUND 



WHAT is known as the reservoir 

 system was projected prima- 

 rily for the improvements of 

 river navigation, other anticipated 

 benefits being regarded as incidental. 

 Subsequent observation and experi- 

 ence have proven other results of equal 

 value. The employment of this system 

 presents three distinct benefits, either 

 of them justifying the expenditure re- 

 quired to construct, operate, and main- 

 tain the works required. 



First. — By the erection of dams upon 

 the headwaters of navigable rivers, for 

 the creation of vast reservoirs in which 

 to impound and control the super- 

 abundance of waters produced by rains 

 and melting snows in the springtime, 

 disastrous floods occurring annuallv 

 may be restrained. The destruction of 

 ]:)roperty from such cause is beyond es- 

 timate, while the loss of human life has 

 in many instances been appalling. 



Second. — Those vast bodies of water 

 so stored and controlled may be dis- 

 charged as required during the low- 

 water season, so as to maintain an 

 equable volume for navigation. 



Third. — By thus controlling and 

 regulating the flow of water, improved 

 water-powers upon the rivers and tribu- 

 taries constituting an interest of great 

 and increasing value, will be rendered 

 safer and operated with greater regu- 

 larity and efficiency. Engineering 

 demonstration and actual use have al- 

 ready established the practicability and 

 value of the reservoir system and 

 placed it beyond the experimental stage. 



The initial legislative movement to- 

 ward the inauguration of the reservoir 

 system was made at the special session 

 of the Forty-fifth Congress, in the year 

 1877. by Representative Thad. C. 



Found, -of Wisconsin, in the presenta- 

 tion and adoption of the following joint 

 resolution : 



"Be it resolved by the Senate and 

 House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America, in Congress assem- 

 bled, that the Secretary of War be, 

 and hereby is, requested to make such 

 preliminary examination of the head- 

 waters of the St. Croix, Chippewa, and 

 Wisconsin rivers, in the States of Min- 

 nesota and Wisconsin, as is consistent 

 with his service to determine the ex- 

 tent and practicability of reservoirs 

 upon the same, and report to this Con- 

 gress the result of such examination, 

 together with a compilation of all in- 

 formation and reports in his office 

 bearing upon the subject of reservoirs, 

 by February 15th proximo, or as early 

 thereafter as practicable, and that he 

 also report the estimated amount and 

 character of the lands which would be 

 submerged by such reservoirs." 



Mr. Pound was prompted to take this 

 action by reports theretofore submitted 

 to Congress by the War Department, 

 relative to examinations and surveys 

 of the sources of the ^Mississippi in 

 Minnesota, and the practicability of 

 constructing reservoirs thereupon for 

 the improvement of navigation of the 

 Mississippi River, the "Father of 

 Waters." 



The work required by this resolution 

 was promptly undertaken, and by au- 

 thority of Congress, continued to com- 

 pletion upon the rivers named and other 

 sources of the Mississippi. So en- 

 couraging and satisfactory were the re- 

 sults as submitted by the War Depart- 

 ment to Congress, that an appropria- 

 tion of $75,000 was made June 14, 

 1880, for the construction of an experi- 



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