The Press., 1897-05-27
NORTH DAKOTA LETTER.
Oberon, N. D., May 13, 1897

Ober0n, N. D., May l3, lST.
 We are pretty we'll passed the food time, and what VIC have to say may be somewhat out of date; but we wish to record a few facts as they will help in the formation of right ideas of this Dakota country.
 The principal suffering from floods this year has been confined to the Red River valley The great body of snow melted so gradually, and there was so little rain accompanying it, we had but little incon- venience getting about outside of the overflow of the Red River. Even along the James and the. Cheyenne the waters expected. Travel through the country was less impeded than last year. At this date the roads are in good shape, save in Impressions where the water settled and formed little lakes. These are very nu- merous all over the country and some are quite surprising in their size- The land is more favorable for seeding than year ago, and the weather could hardly have been better for it, and as a result seeding is much farther along than the last season at this time. Wheat seeding is quite done with and much grain is up.
 It is not every year this state has a severe flood; but when they come they attract attention. The Red River valley is so formed that when high water does come, and the second banks do overflow, a vast area of land Is submerged: The val ley becomes one great island sea. The waters rise so high houses are flooded or covered up. Hundreds of people are driven to the upper stories, if they are so thence on to the roofs of buildings or into the tops of trees. Cattle and horses per ish by the thousand and destruction reigns everywhere. There is, of course, great loss of property and great consequent suf- fering.
 The farther north you follow the river the greater is the submerged area. In 1S49- -50-51, the valley was flooded almost it's entire length. Then the water rose thirty-one and thirty-three feet. There were put lew S0LClemenLS.
 Earlier still, in 1S24-25- -26, the greatest floods known occurred. The last of those years the waters rose sixty-six feet and drowned the whole country completely out. Quite naturally these floods have kept back settlements; and where they were formed in more favorable years they have been driven out.
 Were it not for this overflow of the waters this entire valley would have been long ago a thick settlement, for it has a rich wheat soil which can hardly be sur passed any where. There are some nice towns along the river, but every one re- ceives a set back in the time of high water. It cannot be otherwise. How ever, the people know they are in "a splendid country, and that the land is en- riched by the floods, though they do so much damage; and being full of energy they hold on and repair the old wastes their chances.
 There Is before me a letter written to a member of the family who spent the winter in Fargo, and only left there just a few days before the flood came. Extracts from it may be of interest. The part of the city described is very nicely located, and pleasantly built up, and, apparently out of the reach of much damage from high water.
 The writer says "For a week we could not step from either porch except to get into a boat. The water reached our yard from the east on the morning of the 4th (ApriD, Sunday, and at ten o'clock the cellar filled and put the fire out. From then until the 18th, we had no fire except in the kitchen-so we lived in the kitchen and dining-room, except at night.''
 We were very anxious for two days for fear we would have to move our goods ul stairs and search other quarters; but when the water was within a foot of the floor the tide turned and we were happy. dc not know when spent jollier week than that one, notwithstanding the anxiety and worry. There was much excitement and we could not settle to do anything but eat.
 On Monday, Miss M remained down stairs and did not do much but run from one window to another-so we called her