Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-11-28

washington, Nov 28.-The Setting
apart of $55O,O0O for the Buford-T ren-
ton and Bismarck pumping projects
in North Dakota, marks the commence
ment Of reclamation operations in that
state. Other appropriations are to be
made from time to time as the oppor-
tunities offer, until the government has
done all for the state that cam be done
without neglecting more inviting prof.
ects elsewhere. The Investigations
leading to the recent appropriation
were made during the past summer,
under the direction of H. A. Storrs,
electrical and mechanical expert. A
hasty reconnaissance of the state was
made, the report of Professor Frank
A. Wilder of the North Dakota geologi-
cal survey, and the maps of the Mis-
souri, river commission were studied
and field work was begun. A party
was organized at Williston about Sept.
4, and has made preliminary surveys
of the Buford-Trenton and the Nesson
flats, and will continue working at
Williston until the season closes.
Near the last Of September James A.
French, assistant engineer, was direct
ed to assist in this work with his
party, and spent the remainder of the
season in field work in the vicinity of
Bismarck. The field work of the pres
emit season has been devoted chiefly to
certain localities on the banks of the
Missouri river included between Fort
Buford and Bismarck. The distance
between these two points by river is
300 miles. The average fall of the
river is about 8 feet a mile. Along
the banks, especially the left, are
large areas of low flats which can
easily be irrigated by pumping from
the river. Their elevation above low
water ranges from 20 to IS feet. Back
of these are bench lands ranging from
40 to 200 feet above the river.
Thus far 1t 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-
tions are favorable to the use of steam
pumping plants, it having been found
that large tracts can be supplied by
single plants with comparatively low
lifts and short canals The supply of
water is abundant and fuel is cheap
and plentiful. ~, &c.,. ,, H..
The Buford-Trenton Project.
On the north side of the Missouri
river series of flats extends from the
Montana-North Dakota line to about
four miles east Of Williston, total dis
lance of twenty-eight miles. The larg-
est of these, that at Buford, extends
from the state line eastward about
nine miles and covers $4,000 acres,
which is the extent Of the Buford-
Trenton project. The next fiat, that
at Trenton, is fifteen miles long and
contains 1000 acres. The area Of the
Williston fiat is undetermined, as it
depends upon the height to which #
is deemed advisable to raise the water.
It may be roughly taken at 1000 acres.
OF these the BufordlT Trenton fiat is
the most important From the river
these fats extend north from two to
four miles, to where they meet the
hills. At the base ;sof these runs the
Great Northern railway. These hills
contain the local supply Of Ignite coal
III veins from two and onehalf to four
i feet thick. Several small creeks run
onto the flats from the hills, and it is
% said by local Tresid dents that these will
furnish water enough, II properly dam,
med, to supply the first irrigation. It
is proposed to dam all the creeks OF
coulees and store as much OF their
i spring foods as possible, this water ia
1 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 d
Buford railroad station Is Garden
Coulee. II IS proposed to dam this at
a its mouth and to erect the main pump.
ing station Just west Of II and All the
reservoir thus formed III pumping fl
u to It with twenty foot lit. As
4 nearly three fourths Of the Buford flat
IL below this elevation. the low line
canxl tor watering IT can be taken out
of this reservoir by gravity
/. with some excavation the reservoil
Garden Conlee will allow the watei
Is extend north Tor 1000 feet to 7
point where : nearly vertical lift may
81 made q about thirty feet Tor a. n