Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-01-31
Explanation of Same In Paper Read
Before the Cow ention at Crooks
ton Jan. I8, 1901.

gether with number Of minor local
examinations, guagings, guage reading,
etc. to supply additional information,
made at times during the period
mentioned, but more particularly and
Systematically during the past two
years, practically covers the work that
las been done in this connection.
lie result of the survey of 1873 was
he adoption of a plan for the improve
nent OF the main river by dredging
nj the removal Of distractions, and
he proposed construction of two locks
nd dams on the section of the river
.nown as "Goose Rapids" The plan of
Jlstructing locks and dams was, how
YER, abandoned, and the entire i'm
rovement of the river was carried on
dredging and the removal of OBJ
IructiOns.
This work was commenced at Moor
cad in 1879 and has been carried owe.
e entire river to the boundary line
kept for few miles on Goose Rap
is.
The dredging was done with a view
f making available a three feet low
7ater channel from Moornead K
irand Forks, and four feet low wat
channel from Grand Forks to the
oundary line, and this was accom-
'lished several years ago. 1t has, how
.ver in some localities been found nee
,ssary to redredge the bars several
lines, as the sliding river banks fire.
luently cause the bars to reform.
The duration of the dredged channels
,ppears to range from three to five
years. Owing to this movement of the
river banks and the gradual disap-
pearance of the excavated channels,
to keep the river open for steamboat
navigation at low water stages, it will
be necessary for the government to
maintain a dredge for practically con-
tinuous work OH the Red River bars
The stretch of river now open for
steamboat navigation is only about $50
miles in length, from 81 miles south of
Grand Forks to the boundary line, the
remainder of the river between Grand
Forks and Moorhead having been clos
ed to navigation by the construction of
number of pile bridges, for roadway
purposes erected without legal war
rant during period in which there
happened to be no steamboats, running
on that section of the river.
Under the plan Of improvement by
dredging and the removal of obstruc-
tons the work done to the close of
the year 1900 was as follows:
Dredging, 500, 229 cubic yards.
Snags removed, 731.
BOulders removed, SIT cubic yards.
Overhanging trees removed, 1923.
Stumps removed. 2O4.
Piles removed, %.
Drift piles, 8.
Length of channel excavated, 1SS,159
lineal feet, a little over 35 miles.
Wing and training dams constructed
with the dredged material, 231.5S2 lin
cal feet.
In 1886 NE Red Lake river was inclu-
ded in Tie project of improvement of
the Red River Of the North, particular
ly that portion between Thief River
Falls and Red Lake, with the view of
benetitting navigation on that stream
by the removal of the distractions
from the banks and channel Up to this
time mainly between Thief River Falls
and High Landing, the following has
been accomplished:
INSTRUCTIONS REMOVED.
Overhanging trees. 2,S58.
Boulders, 2,414 cubic yards.
Snags, $40.
Stumps, III.
In 1900 the lower portion Of Red
Lake river, between East Grand Forks
and Fishers Landing, was added to
the work, and during the past season
176 snags, II piles, IA stumps and two
bOulders were removed from the banks
and channel of that section of the
river. .. ...- -..-
Up to this time $3O3, 900 has been ap-
ropriated by congress for the improve
ment of the Red River and it's tributa.
ries, of this sum, $9,174.7O has 80 far
been allotted to the Improvement of
Red Lake river. -
The survey of 1897, Big Stone and
Lake Traverse, was made for the
purpose of determining the practicable
ity and probable utility of making
those lakes into storage reservoirs, and
of connecting the said lakes by lock
and canal, and thus making available
some sixty miles of lake navigation.
This examination resulted in plans
and estimates being submitted cover
ing the suggested Improvement, rang
ing in cost from $3.50 900 to $745, 900, Of
which sum by the way, it was estimat-
ed that from $75, 1000 to 1925, 900 would
w AN4uAAOu w phy AOA LIC lulu CldC
would be OverfOwed or damaged by
proposed reservoirs.
No action has been taken by congress
n connection with this matter since
the plans were submitted. AS result
Of this examination, Big Stone lake
was found to have an area of 81, 31O,-
600 square feet. and Lake Traverse an
area of 386,33O, 900 SO. feet, with IL
feet range on Big Stone lake and a
three foot range on Lake Traverse, the
holding capacity Of the two lakes being
estimated to be 1886, 10000 cubic
feet, 6,2O7, 10000 and 1,15s, 800, 900
cubic feet respectively.
The water shed Of the lake Is esti-
mated at 2,215 square miles, 1,232I
square miles for Big Stone Lake basin.