The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1902-04-25
But Jefferson has been dead number Of
years; came to think Of it, though, has
always been the democratic habit-to
rally around something dead even if it's
only an issue. Fargo Forum.
ALKA11 LANDS.

weeks Hamilton Independ ent deals
with the subject of .sAlkali Lands" in
much the same manner as that which
follows. and from nearly the same pre-
misses deduces about the same con-
clusions. Editor, Sherart's article has
more of science and chemistry than ours,
in which we attempt rather to show the
results of actual experience, which, how
ever, agrees practically with the scientific
views of Prof. Sherarts. We may add
that this article was prepared for our last
weeks issue, but was left over on ac-
count of press of other matter, otherwise
both articles would have appeared the
same week, though neither writer pre-
viously knew of the theme of the other.
We note il some local papers some
strong criticisms in reference to the So
called 'alkali" lands in this county,
situated in parts of toilette, Carlisle and
Lincoln townships. The criticisms re-
ferred to, practically accuse certain land
firms-in one case at least, by name-of
buying up worthless land and selling it
to new couers as the best. The methods
and business Of any special firm are not
intended to be criticised in what follows.
II new conner desires to purchase a
farm, and knows nothing of lands, there
are plenty of honest and comparatively
disinterested people who can and will
give him reliable information as to the
market value of lands in their immediate
locality. A man who buys any property
unseen, must not grumble if the seller
gets the best of the bargain.
But the writer has been familiar with
the ''alkali'' lands referred to, for twenty
five years. He has had farm in that
section tor more than fifteen years,
which, while not badly afflicted with al
kali, still had some spots-and naturally
has had some knowledge of that kind of
soil, and we think little discussion on
this question to be of general interest
just now.
First, we. would go back into the
probable recent geological and topo-
graphical conditions OF that locality.
Evidently, within the last century a
large lake occupied shallow basin, some
six to ten miles wide and perhaps twenty
miles long, whose eastern shore was
from four to ten miles back from the Red
river, and whose shallow waters covered
the central part of the eastern half of
what is now Pembina County.
A peculiar Typographical condition
common to all streams and water cour-
ses, in this valley is, that the bank OF the
water course is higher than the land next
back OF it and in many instances there is
a sort of lagoon or bayou basin behind
the high banks. This being the case, the
lake referred to could not discharge its
waters eastward by short channel to
the Red River, but had to flow out north
ward, by the regular dip or decline Of
the land, through what are now known
as the Carlisle and the Iceland coulees to
the Tongue and Pembina rivers.
Like all shallow lakes, rank and coarse
vegetation probably grew luxuriantly up
on its shores and about its numerous
islands and probably in time over most
of its surface. Then, sometime, came a
series of dry years, and with years of de-
caying vegetation filling the bottom,
much OF the lake became dry. Then
came fire, and the peat-like turf compos-
ing the bottom burned deep and left the
whole surface bed of ashes.
Mr.. Charles Cavileer we'll remembers
this latter condition and states that the
Red River cart caravans feared to cross
it, as sometimes great holes were burned
beneath the apparent surface. into which
a pony and cart would disappear when
attempting to cross what seemed bed
of ashes.
When the U. S. surveyors came to this
county in the seventies they returned the
5plats OF, their surveys to the land Office
with great oval circle bounding this
land, inside and across which was wri.-
ten, "The Burnt District" and all the
copies Of plats sent out to applicants
during the early days, had the same
legend written across the face, while
most maps Of the county in some way
or another, still show the outline of the
shores of the lake and the subsequent
fire. ..a,
Since the time Of the survey, and in
deed, within very few years after, the
land again grew green with grass and
even to the irst settlers, in the later
seventies and early eighties, the term on
the plats Of 'The Burnt District seemed
strange and without any apparent reason.
But While some open water remained in
places, such as the Midland and the
:Glasston slough, and some smalierslakes
in toilette and Carlisle townships, the
basin as whole never again filled with
waters to remain, and for the last twenty
years to the personal knowledge Of the
writer, has been drying up. That is, =