The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-05-23
THE RED RIVER.
HydrOgraphic Investigations in the
Red River Valley of Minnesota and
X North Dakota.

Red River Valley of Minnesota and
North Dakota.
Ii The Red River Of the North and its
valley occupies unique position among
the streams and valleys of the United
States. Collecting the waters from be-
tween the two great northern arms OF
the Mississippi system, this river takes
Its course almost directly north, unit
Ing with numerous streams draining
the lake region Of Central Canada, and
finally reaching Hudson bay through
Lake Winnipeg and the Great Nelson
river system.
The Red River valley, besides bring
ing the arctic slope for a distance OF
over 200 miles within the United States,
represents an equally unique position
among the agricultural districts of the
West. 1t is safe to say THAI no equal
area within the four Northern States,
lying on the Great Plains, Immediately
west of the 9th meridian, possesses a
more productive soil or has such prom
Use Of rapid future development. The
Red River valley, originating at Big
Stone lake with a width Of only few
miles, spreads its T-shaped valley
Eorthward in broad, level plain at
tanning a width of no less that seventy
or eighty miles at the international
boundary. The Red River of the North
takes it's tortuous course for its length
in America The valley lis not "a valley
of erosion, but the bed of an ancient
glacial lake built up by a Lacustrian
deposit to a thickness of thirty to sew
enty feet. The stream represents the
very youngest type OF river develop
ment. Indeed, on each side of the main
stream large areas lie with such gentle
slope that definite channels have been
unable to develop: ard the heavy clay
soil, with the impervious clay beneath.
preventing underground drainage, has
given rise to extensive areas where the
water stands late into the summer
months, unless artiflcially drained.
The Red River of the North has erod-
ed channel varying from 100 to 300
feet in width and from twenty to sixty
feet deep, and which has an average
fall of only six inches to the mile. The
capacity of the river, however, is sufft-
Gent to carry off the surplus water
from the summers rains and the spring
waters from the melting Of an average
winters snowfall, or when the snow
melts suddenly, with the aid CT rain,
the river is incapable of caring for the
surplus water. and the resulting flood
has been known to extend over the mid
die of the valley in places for width
of from ten to fifteen miles. When the
early settlers came into this region the
uEdrsined surface presented an aspect
most forbidding. but by perseverance
IN draining, through bitches, and road
making. the aspect has altogether
changed.
The Red River Valley of the North
tas been apt'y called the mile of
America" True, it flows northward;
its broad. fertile valley is formed Of a
Lacustrian or alluvial deposit; and 1T
is, in a sense, still subject to occasional
inun6ations. The total area within the
Urited States covers between S,000.000
and 100000 acres, OR is considerably
greater than the productive area of the
Nile. The Red River valley is located
in region having cold winters, which
renders thu land unproductive for one
half the year. The Red River valley
lies on the border of the semi-humid
area. receiving an average annual pre-
cipitation of about twenty inches, suf1l-
Gent to produce the large crops for
which this valley is famous, even
though the moisture is very uncertain
in its distribution. However, depend
ing upon variable oyclonic storms for
it's rainfall, which varies from fifteen to
thirty inches. it is seldom that condi-
tons favor a maximum crop yield of
which this rich soil is capable.
AS the country develops a. & intensive
and diversified agriculture results. the
question is not alone that of drainage
rid nf t1a c,1r,,111c 1vcta,. 7,
wet seasons. but also that of equal i'm
portance, how to conserve and utilize
this water during dry seasons, or dry
periods of each season. The Nile valley,
with productive area only three
fourths the area OF that of the Red
River valley within the United States,
and with crude methods Of irrigation
and agriculture. was able in 1890, to
support a population Of about 100000
people; While the population of the Red
River valley is less than One-thirtieth
of that number. The Red River valley
Cor climatic reasons, can never hope tic
equal III productiveness that Of the
Nile, yet, with intensive agriculture,
which is rapidly developing, who will
dare predict what the future shall be,
when it's natural resources are fully de-
SG1Opeu. Liz cl-C question: Ill GllllSI vi
the areas above compared has been that
of the natural development and the
water resources The demand has been
growing Tor a number Of years that
some efforts be made to determine
whether better control Of the surface
waters of the Fed River valley could
not be accomplished. In response to
these demands, and recognizing their
Importance, the United States govern
ment has. thro Ugh the photographic di-
vision of the United States geological
survey, taken up the work in the Red
I'iver valley, with the view Of deter
mining the annual discharge and ca
,acity of the principal streams, the To-
cation Of possible reservoir sites, where
water may be stored not orly to relieve
the spring floods, but to be used later
for power and irrigation. Guage sta
lions are being maintained along the
Red River and on its principal tribu-
taries, and the results of these investi-
cations will be published each year, as
a. part of the annual report of the
United States Geological Surveys
FLICkERTAIL FIREMEN.
Valley City Preparing to Entertain