The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1901-10-18
PROF. HALLS work.


The Director Discusses the Artesian
| Basin Survey.
Prof. G.. M. Hall. of the North Dakota
Agricultural college, and director Of
the Cooperative Survey of North Da-
kota, in an interview in the Fargo Fo-
rum, says:
| Having just returned from Wash
ington, where 1 have been in the inter-
ess of the cooperative survey of North
Dakota, which was organized last win
ter, feel greatly pleased, both overt the
results of the years work and the
pr aspect for the future.
ANY undertaking of the nature Of
| long -continued investigations, such as
come under the head of this survey re-
quires some time to become thoroughly
organized. Considering this fact the
| results of the first seasons work. Sc
| cured with but limited assistance, are
most gratifying.
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, Min
| nesota. on the Red Lake River, for the
| purpose of keeping a record of the dis
charge of the streams and the daily
rise and fall of the rivers at these
| points. There has also been deter
mined, where possible the exact height
reached by the water during the diff
| ferent destructive floods of the Red
river, provision being made for accur-
ate records in the future, 1t is the pur-
| pose to show, by these observations.
and the records of the rainfall the per-
| centage OF our rainfall which is car
| ried off by drainage during different
1 CO nCAt \ 4 i:
the rapidity with which the streams
act in draining the lands after heavy
rains; the ability of the different por-
| tons OF the stream to carry OFF surplus
water; where the greatest danger lies
in time Of flood; where artificial means
| can best be employed for increasing
the capacity OF the stream: also, when
it is most practical to hold water back
| by means of dams and reservoirs
| when its influx with the Red river
would cause dangerous floods. In con-
| nection with this work, systematic
| studies have been begun on Devils lake
in the way of observing the tluctuation
| in height, and data are also being col
| lected for the purpose of obtaining it's
| past history, 2S near as possible, from
| the earliest settlers and from the ira
| dltions of tine Indians. A gage will be
kept in the lake hereafter, which will
accurately record it's rise and fall.
Under the geographical division of
the survey. the study of the strait
graphy of the water-bearing rocks or
| formations underlying North Dakota.
has been begun along the eastern part
| of the state, where they come nearest
the surface. A careful mapping of the
eastern limit Of this Dakota artesian
basin is being undertaken, and with
very satisfactory results. This basin
has been clearly shown to underie the
| greater part of Cass and Richland
counties, where the investigation has
been pursued, and promises to be found
a valuable source of water to many
districts to the northwest and south of
this district.
Under the soil division, the work
begun has consisted of collection of a
great variety of soils, representing the
typical areas under which the soil.
have similar geographical origin.
j This feature of the survey will be en-
larged during another year.
The results of the preliminary work
of this year have been most gratifying.
1t has brought to the attention of the
federal surveys the great Importance
| Of North Dakota as an agricultural or
food-pr oducing state and Of the re-
sources OF the Red river valley, the
most fertile valley for it's, area in the
Western hemisphere: also, of the ne
cessity for Investigations along the
Red river, properly to direct the efforts
| made judiciouSly to use and control
this stream. Again. the great artesian
basin. which carries vast quantities of
| water from the Rocky mountains we'll
| into the Red river valley, is attracting
| much attention. The possibilities for
profitable irrigation al being brought
out, to an extent surprising. even to
the people of North Dakota. Too much
value can hardly be placed on the eff
feet that such advertising has on u
new state. Already letters of inquiry
| are being received concerning our re-
sources. due directly to the knowledge
throughout the East of these investi-
cations, conducted largely by the sup
| port OF the federal surveys.
| THE help which this survey has re-
ceived in inauguratirg this work in
North Dakota is most highly appreci-'
| ated. The federal departments at the
national capital have responded freely.
| making allotments for this work far
| exceeding the small appropriation
| made by the state, and the manage
ment Of the Great Northern. Northern
| Pacific and 500 railroads have, through
| their assistance, made it possible to
extend the work further than it would
| otherwise have been possible The
work for the coming wear will be
| broadened and much extended It will
| he conducted under four divisions. I'm
der the photographic division, the gag.
stations along the Red river and on
| Devils lake will continue and be made
| permanent.
THE geological division will continue
| Investigations for the geology and stra-
| tigraphy of the Dakota artesisn basin,
and publish a preliminary report of the
area already mapped in the southeast
ern portion of the state.
THE soil division CT the department
of agriculture will probably have
party in the state for time, making
special investigations and ma piping of
soils.
THE topographic survey. under the
INT n1 Cfoto