The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-26
itissdA Rsnin,sesns and Ass,s
Z, S!!ss 81 ~ - * M III q
~ our oID1sr. 1nHA1lrA1sT. IN

lOT several Wl0toIO 0OO t000 t0ofe
was no 6o0d. Another says there IL
no danger because the ground % not
frs,zen and will take up most OF the
water; every man Of them has his theo-
~ and Ill know more with their feWop-
portunities Of observst ion, than "Old
Bill" and myself who have spent the
hest part Of halt q century 10 this
northern valley and have carefully
studied the high water and the foods
OF the raging Red; from the FOODS OF
1852, and 1851, through the seventies
and eighties down to the present
time.
And now let me tell you right here
that under certain conditions, we will
have high water, flooding the first
banks; while under other conditions
we may look for q food, ii not equal
to those OF 1862 aud 1851, we will have
enough to drive those who have Y
second story, to 60 up the stairs, while
those less fortunate will have to try
for the roofs And be you prepared
for 1t, for there are odds against you.
However. it may al come out right
and I hope you may have the pleasure
Of calling me an old crank Of the first
water.
Both of the floods Of 1862 and 1851
were made with less snow than We
now have. In both years the spring
opened late ana the snow went OF
quickly with rain; the snow on both
sides Of the river melted at the same
time and the valley was flooded from
Fergus Falls to Lake Winnipeg, q
perfect lake frum fifteen to twenty
miles in width and at some places
more. Only four places were knuwn
to me to be out Of water and for five
weeks ut Pembina and eight weeks at
St. Boniface we did not see dry land.
In the other numerous high waters
and small floods Of later years the
snow on one side Of the river came
first and then the snow on the other
side came after the former had spent
its force. The. waters Of some Of
these floods coming upin Our cutters
and ID one of them within thirteen
inches Of post Office door, and one Sun.
day the steamer Selkirk landed
freight from the street onto the side.
walk at the corner now. occupied by
the Pembina Bank.
The reason of the difference In
melting on either side OF the river
Is because Of the difference ID, the
growth OF timber. $500 : s. =
It is my observation that IL the
large body Of snow that we now have,
should melt on both sides Of the river
at once, and suddenly with rain, that
we may expect flood like that Of the
old times I have spoken Of.
1 would advise all who are near the
river to prepare for 1t, and IL it does
not come you will be fortunate and II
it does come YOU will oe ready. Pre-
paratton means, q supply. of wood, pro-
visions, etc., for about four weeks, II
means to get your cellars clear Of
vegetables and such stuff, and when
you find the flood coming on you, get
your furniture. carpets, etc. up stairs.
open the doors SO that they cannot
swell shut, board up windows so that
waves will not break the glass. Cat.
tie should be sent out west with a
herder to high ground and this before
the water gets too high as the banks
OF the river are usually higher than
the land back in the immediate vIcini-
ty.
It is also matter of discussion as
to the amount of water contained in
the snow. Here we have about five
feet Of snow on level. Take bar
rel of snow, melt it and 1t will make
three-quarters Of q barrel Of water;
more than I have ever seen In the
forty.seyen years Of my sojourn In
this country. My observation Of the
usual melting of snow ia the spring is
it melts at the surface. runs down in
to the bottom and there forms ice
from dveinches to q foot thick. Then
when the real thaw comes, the upper
snow runs over this icy foundation to
the coulles and streams, and very lit
tie Of 1t gets to the earth until the
ice formation has melted to the sur
face.
Though the surface water may soak
into the ground, the drift Of the soak
age is to the river, into which 1t runs
at 6 distance of five or six inches
above the level of the water, be the
river high or low.
I see theory broached By some
one, who proposes boring hole with
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