The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-12-09

formally set aside the sum Of $3.50, 900,
or as much thereof as may be neces-
sary, from the reclamation fund for
use in connection with the Buford-
Trenton and Bismarck pumping pro-
jects in North Dakota. This approval
Is based upon the recommendations OF
the reclamation engineers: who have
spent part Of the past summer inves-
tigating the feasibility of irrigating
lands by means of water pumped from
the Missouri river. =:
The investigations were commenced
about the middle of. August BY" Mr..
H. A. 6torrs, electrical and mechan-
ical expert. the intention being to de.
termine II 1t is feasible. to irrigate
portion Of the state by pumping from
the streams in the western part OF the
state. using Ignite coal as fuel.
Thus far it has not been deemed
feasible to divert water from the river
and distribute it by gravity to. these
flats owing to the low gradient of the
stream. Fortunately the local condi-
tons are so favorable to the use of
steam pumping plants, it having been
found that large tracts can be sup
piled by single plants with compare
lively low lifts and short canals. The
supply of water is abundant and the
fuel is cheap and plentiful.
The Buford-Trenton Project.
On the north side of the Missouri
river series of flats extend from the
Montana-North Dakota line to about
four miles east of Williston, a total
distance of twenty-eight miles. The
larger Of these, that at Buford, ex-
tends from the state line eastward
about nine miles and covers $4,000
acres, which is the extent Of the Blu
ford-Trenton project. The next fiat.
that at Trenton lis fifteen miles long
and contains 1000 acres. The ea-Of
the Williston fiat is undetermined, as
It depends upon the height to which it
Is deemed advisable to raise the wa
ter. 1t may be roughly taken at 1000
acres.
| OF these the Buford-Trenton fiat is
the most important. From the river
these flats extend north from two to
four miles, to where they meet the
hills. At the base of these runs the
Great Northern Railway. These hills
contain the local supply Of Ignite coal
in veins from two and half to four
feet thick. Several small creeks run
on to the flats from the hills, and
it is claimed by local residents that
these will furnish water enough, if
properly damned, to supply the first
irrigation. 1t is proposed to dam all
of the creeks and coulees and store as
much of their spring floods as posi-
BILE, this water to be used for the first
Irrigation and to be distributed by
gravity.
The main supply, however, will be
furnished by pumping. About two
miles west of Buford railroad station
there is a coulee called Garden Coulee.
It is proposed to dam this at its mouth
and to erect the main pumping sta
ton just west of it and fill the res
ervoir thus formed by pumping into
lit by a 25-foot lift. AS nearly three
fourths of the Buford fiat is below
this elevation, the low line canal for
watering it can be taken out OF this
reservoir by gravity.
With some excavation the reservoir
Ion Garden coulee will allow the water
to extend north for 1000 feet to-
point where nearly vertical lift may
be made of about 80 feet for all inter-
mediate canal and GO feet of high line