Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-10-07
SURVEY 2THI
Professor Hall Of the State Agricul-
tural college Tells Of Geologi.
cal Survey. IA
Movements Inaugurated by the Legis-
iature Last Winter viii Bear
Good Fruit.
Government cooperates with State
in Practical Work for the
States Good. ssF55

Prof. M. Hall of the state agricul-
tural college, gives the following out
line line of the work done under the Iegis-
latiye appro opriation of last winter fol,
a geographical survey: 5.5;ss .35Sss
During the present year, under the
photographic division of the work,
gage stations have been established at
Fargo, Grand Forks and Pembina on
the Red river and at Crookston, MINI,
on the Red d, Lake river, for the purpose
OF keeping record of the. discharge
OF the streams and the daily rise and
fall of the rivers at these points. There
has also been determined, where pos
sible, the exact height reached by the
water during the different destructive
foods of the Red river, provisions
being made for accurate records in the
future IT is the purpose to show by
these observations, and the records Of
the rainfall, the percentage: Of o,,a.
rainfall which is carried off by drain
age during different seasons and ,ln-
der different conditions; the rapidity
with which the streams act in draining
the the land after heavy rains; the ability
OF the different portions of the stream
to carry off surplus water; where the
greatest danger lies in times OF flood !;
where artificial means can best be en-
ployed for Increasing capacity OF the
stream; also when it is most practical
to hold back. the water by means OF
dams and reservoirs when its influx
with the Red river would cause dan
gerous floods. In connection with
this work systematic studies have been
begun on Devils Lake, in the way oil
observing the flctuation in height,
and alt data are also being collected for
the purpose OF obtaining its past his
Tory a as near as possible from the ear
liest settlers and from the traditions
5of ct .ltE the Indians. gage will: be kept
,1.r II h the b lake hereafter, which will ac-
5curately l:II record its rise and fall.
nder the geological division OF
the survey, the study of the strait
graphy OF the waiter bearing rocks or
formations & ttsEa m nderlying North Dakota
has been begun along the eastern part
OF the state, where they come nearest
70 the surface. .A careful mapping of
the eastern limit Of this Dakota arte-
sian basin is being undertaken, and
with very satisfactory results. This
basin had been clearly shown to under
lie the greater part OF Cass and Rich
land counties, where the Investigation
i has has been pursued, and promises to be
found q valuable source OF water to
many districts to the northwest, and
south OF this district. n. =.3;.zz VI. IA
Under the soil division, the work
begun has consisted of "a collection of
q great variety Of soils, representing
the typical areas under which the soils
have a similar geological origin. This
feature OF the survey will be enlarged
during another year. ss$s $}5 $25=s. NJ
The results OF the preliminary work
of this year have been most gratifying.
3It has brought to the attention Of the
federal surveys the great importance
of North Dakota as an agricultural or
food d-prodneing state and OF the re-
sources Of the Red river valley, the
most fertile valley for Its area in the
western hemisph phere; also Of the neces-
sity for inyesti cations aleag the Red
river properly to- direct the efforts
made judicionsly to use and control
this stream. Again the great artesian
basin which carries vast quantities. OF
water from the Rocky Mountains well
into the Red River valley is attracting
much attention. The possibilities for
profitable irrigation are being brought
out to an extent surprising even to the
people Of North Dakota. TOO much
value can hardly be placed On the effect
that such advertising has on d new
state Already letters of inquiry are
being received concerning our re-
sources due directly to the knowledge
throughout the east OF these invest
igations conducted largely by the s.lp-
port OF the federal surveys.