Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1897-02-25
FIVE FEET on THE Level.
Records Indicate That Depth
of North Dakota's Snow
Blanket.
The Oldest Inhabitants Have
Seen Nothing Equal to
This Winter.
Means a Period Of Good Crop
Years and Renewed
Prosperity.

-
Prosperity.
The present depth Of snow in North
Dakota greatly exceeds the recollection
of the oldest white inhsbitant. The
snow in the northern part OF the state 10
even greater in depth than in the central
and southern parts and here, it is the
deepest ever known. From the last of
October up to the present time storms
have been Of frequent occurrence. Falls
OF snow have accompanied them of
greater or less extent and the wind has
been uncessing in bringing down vast
quantities of snow from the north. As
consequence there are places on the prai.
rie of mile or more in extent where the
roads formerly ran, that are now from
five to six feet deep in solid snow over
which teams travel without difficulty.
Gullies and coulies are packed even with
the prairie level.
The oldest residents of this part of the
state rack their brains in vain to reco]-
iect a similar winter. A. w. Kelley OF
this city, who is perhaps the Oldest set
tier in this part of the state, dues not
remember any such snowfall during his
residence either in western Minnesota Or
Dakota. He states that never before has
there been much over half the amount Of
snow now seen. He looks for very high
water. Other old timers OF Is and 20
years residence confirm Mr.. Kelley's
observations. All expect either very
high stage of water or il the snow melts
slowly that the ground will be thorough
ly soaked and contain sufficient moisture,
in all probability, for several successive
bumper crops. One reason to believe
that the water will mostly sink into the
ground is because there is very little
frost to prevent it. Where the snow has
not been disturbed 1t is found that the
grass is az green 90 when left in sutmn.
The frost is not over three or four inches
in depth. There have been no long
continued periods OF cold although the
temperature has been for short time as
low as 80 degrees below. In digging
graves it is found that where the frost is
usually five and six feet in depth it 10
this year but two. On exposed knolls
where the snow has not protected the
ground tho usual depth Of frost is found
The snow fall certainly means very
high water in spite Of any manner in
which it can be melted. The Red River
valley is likely to be flooded as deeply as
IN 1882 when from Cssselton to Fargo
and north to Pembins was mostly one
sheet of water.
As showing the Immense snow fall in
the Red River valley the Grand Forks
Herald reports that grove Of trees 25
feet high in a barnyard three miles south
OF that city has been drifted over and
is now concealed. Horses can walk
from the barn yard to the top Of the
barn roof, and the snow drift can be seen
from the city.
There have been high water years in
the Red River valley when the steam
boats paid no attention to the chsnpel
of the river, but ran out on the prairie
and this may be one OF the years when
this can be done. Notwithstanding the
inconvenience and loss likely to occur to
some farmers this year, the snowfall is
one OF the greatest blessings that could
happen to the Dakotas. 1t will restore
moisture to the soil and water to the
lakes and ponds that has been absent for
several years.
The amount Of snow fall as given by
tho Bismarck local weather bureau was
4O9 inches during November, December
and January OF this year. In compari-
son with the snowfall OF other winters
this season is far ahead. As recorded at
Bismarck the snowfall Of winters OF 1885
was 1873 inches; 1886, 2S9; 1888, Il 2;
1889, 1863; 1890, 9.5; 1891, 1872; 1892, II. );
1893. 1876; 1894, "a; 1895. 27.7. The
snowfall since January and the future
precipitation must be added to the above.
John McElroy, the local weather OBJ
server at jamestown states that 1911
inches have fallen in February, making
full five feet OF snow fall on the level in
this part OF the state, which ie probably
exceeded considerably IN the northern
part.
A curious feature OF this snowfall is
that it is almost entirely confined to
North and South Dakota and to that
belt of country between the Mississippi
river and Missouri river. Travellers
from the eastern states say there ls little
or no snow in northern New York, H.
inols, Michigan and Wisconsin and very
little in southern Minnesota.