Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-11-22
About THOSE LAKES
An Interesting Article on the Rise and
Fall of the Lakes in the
Great Northwest.
The Quantity of Water Has F%luctuated
From Time to Time in the
Years Gone By. .
Predicted that the Near Future will See
a Rise of Volume in these
Reservoirs
The Water Supply.

W AAA ~ ~ -
this year have come reports Of dimin-
ishing water supply, and while
lakes and streams are stated to
have fallen considerably, and in some
instances to have dried up altogether,
this condition Of things is by no means
unprecedented. The supply of water in
the lakes of the northwest huctuates in
quantity, and one of the members of the
United States geological survey, F. H.
Newell. throws light on the subject in
IN interesting manner
From the statements Of the oldest in
habitants and traditions of the Indians
this is not the first time there has been
a decrease in the water supply, and the
facts observed confirm these statements.
It is said that at various times within
the historic period these bodies of
water have been as low or lower
than at present, and in the lowest part
Of the depressions there are to be found
stumps of trees, bones Of the buffalo,
and other indications that at one time
or another the shore line has been far
out toward the center of some of the
lakes, or that these lakes have been
marshes.
The data of the geological survey
shows that there is a regular and math-
ematical huctuation in the volume of
water in these lakes. 1t is not, as stat
ed, due solely to the influence of cult
walton. While the cultivation of the
land doubtless causes more of the rain
to be absorbed and less to run off into
the streams, it must not be forgotten
that only a very small proportion of the
area tributary to these lakes is thus
affected. For example, in 1890, in
Minnesota the census figures show
that one fifth Of the land was improved;
IN South Dakota, one seventh, and in
North Dakota only one tenth. TheNarea
of land cultivated was far less, perhaps
a half, Of these figures. 1t is therefore
to be doubted that, even if no water ran
bff from the cultivated land, whether
the effect would be noticeable,o n account
of the very smallness of the area
affected.
The increase or diminution of water
surface is stated by Mr.. Newell to
to be the resultant not only of the in
crease or diminution of rainfall but also
of the changes Of temperature, of aver
age humidity, and of wind movement,
resulting in greater power of absorption
of the water by the atmosphere. The
irregular fluctuations in intensity of the
forces of nature are sufficient to account
for all of these phenomeon.
AS to the future prospect,say the geo.
logical authorities, it will probably be as
in the past. The larger lakes will fill to a
height equal to that of the average of
high waters in the past, and the smaller
lakes, where not permanently drained,
will probably reappear, and for a series
of years increase and again shrink. AS
to when this increase in water will be-
gin to take place or how long it is i'm
possible to predict, for the fluctuations
as shown by the Oldest records, some
times are short and sharp; at other
times long continued and apparently
regular. 1t is. fairly safe to assume
however, that what has happened many
times before will probably recur again,
except in so far as the works of man
may have, to a small extent, modified
the effects of natures forces.