Submitted by A.E.
Simpson
There is a big scheme being talked of at the present time
that has interested a lot of people who have always regretted that a city so
magnificently located as Cranbrook is has no close facilities for boating and
bathing.
Just west of the city there is Elizabeth
Lake which is a large swampy slough that is surrounded by hills in such a manner
that it makes as natural reservoir, providing that a little work is done on a
few of the outlets. Many people have looked at this flat and remarked on the
geographical conditions, saying that it should be turned into a beautiful lake
for the benefit of the people of Cranbrook.
Presently this wasted area is only benefiting several ducks and a few
turtles. The great difficulty has been the lack of sufficient water to give the
lake a respectable start. There is a small creek flowing in from Jim Smith Lake
that would keep the water in splendid condition after the lake was once formed,
but not large enough to create the original
lake.
Building areas around the lake can be
purchased at prices worth considering, and a proposition has been made to
furnish the water by drawing on the waters of Upper Moyie Lake. The distance
from the swamp to the head of Moyie Lake is about 17.71 km and the altitude of
the lake is 913.49 m, while the altitude of Cranbrook is 903.43 m, just 10.06 m
lower. The plan is to lay a 15 cm pipe from the head of Moyie Lake to Elizabeth
Lake just west of Cranbrook, and thus form a siphon, larger than any that has
been built in the world. Just east of the apex, which would be near Rhoda
Siding, a connecting standpipe would he erected, and the end of the long pipe at
Cranbrook be plugged. The pipe running from the apex to Cranbrook would be
filled with water, and this could be secured from the pipe that used to furnish
the East Kootenay Mill. It is a scientific fact that with the lower portion of
the pipe filled with water and then the top of the stand pipe plugged, and the
Cranbrook end of the long pipe opened, the flow of water would draw the water
from the Moyie end of the pipe and start in action a natural siphon that would
continue to flow until the marshy slough at Cranbrook would be filled, and
Cranbrook would finally have a decent lake.
There could be no serious objections on the
Part of the people of Moyie, as the taking of the water from the upper Moyie
Lake would only lower the southern portion for a short time. Then the water in
the upper lake is not the property of any individual or corporation, and can be
taken by Cranbrook as well as not. The cost of the pipe at $5.76 cents per metre
for 17,710 metres would be $102,009.60 and the cost of laying not over $100,000
more. The pipe-could be left position, and whenever the new Elizabeth Lake got
low, as it might in July and August, the reserve in the upper Moyie Lake could
be drawn on at will.
This scheme will give to Cranbrook a fine
summer resort, and could mean the formation of boat clubs with handsome
clubhouses and summer homes along the lake shore, the buying of boats and
canoes, and giving an opportunity for a grand annual aquatic carnival in this
city. Furthermore, the new Elizabeth Lake could be stocked with fish and within
a year or two be transformed into a regular piscatorial paradise. We trust that
the proposition will have the full support of the citizens of Cranbrook and a
syndicate formed to handle the matter in a business like
manner.
Makes for an interesting read on April 1st!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is really silly idea, and costly. A more reasonable alternative would be to start filling it with our garbage. Given the amount that the City produces, I suspect it would only take a few years. Plus we would save the costs we current pay to the RDEK to deal with our garbage. It's been done throughout the world already. Once filled we would have a large, flat space to build a really excellent golf course.
ReplyDeleteYour idea is terrific!
DeleteWhat a great idea!? Fill in one of the last nature-friendly areas in and around the city and produce a water-guzzling golf course.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time you hit your ball out of the rough and checked the fairway. This is the 21st Century!!
Amen to that... the last thing we need in the Kootenays is another golf course! And the garbage dump idea would attract rats, vermin and an unholy stench. How about enjoying the 'swamp' just as it is...
DeleteEnjoyed your April Fool's joke..!