The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-10
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
Grand Forks, n D.. Jan. 10-The state drain
age convention began at the Commercial club /
rooms today. It was called to order by E. J. |
Lander, president Of the Commercial club. Mayor |
George E. Duis delivered an address Of welcome
and an adjournment was taken until the after
noon.
Drainage Work in Minnesota was the sub |
ject of an interesting address by George A
Ralph. of Crookston, engineer of the Minnesota |
state drainage commission. State Engineer A. |
l.. Fellows of Bismarck gave an address on the
relation Of state engineer to drainage prob
lens. He was followed by Attorney Scott Rex,
with address on North Dakota's drainage law.
One Of the most interesting and practical adj
dresses was that of Senator J. l.. Cashel of
Grafton on "Plans, Cost and Results Of Drainage
in the Red River Valley"
Mr.. Cashel discussed the state from the
standpoint Of its three great natural divisions,
the James and the Mouse rivers and the
Red river valley In the Missouri district the
great river and its tributaries should give a
good supply of water for Irrigation purposes. In
the central district the speaker pointed out that
the Mouse river could be diverted to flow thru
channel Of small lakes into Devils lake, tho this
might not be feasible because Of international
complications, the river rising In British terri
tory, and returning there. The waters of Devils
lake could be made to flow south thru the Shey-.
enhe and James, and thus furnish abundant
water for irrigation where it is needed.
Has Too Much Moisture.
While the western districts need more moisture
at times, the Red river valley occasionally has
too much Of it, and how to get rid of the surplus
Is the important question. Mr.. CasheI recon-
mended the construction of east and west drains
two miles apart, running back an average of
seven and one-ha1f miles. North Dakota meas
ures 212 miles from north to south, and this
system of drainage would require about 795
miles of large drains. In some sections por-
tion of this work has been done and allowing
for this, there would be needed about 700 miles
Of drains. These bitches would average sixteen
1eet In width at the top aud six feet at the
bottom, by about four and one-quarter feet Deep
giving $3.50 cubic yards of excavation per mile
This at II cents a yard would cost 81 160 per
mile The total cost is estimated follows:
100 miles OF ditch commandments. $S12 900
600 bridges at $125 ............. 10000
ZOO culverts at $50 ................ $4,000
| nlgne VI way .....'.................. $4,000
Engineers, etc OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $1,000
Making total Of ......... 81 900 900
| This is less than one-fourth of the fund now
available for irrigation purposes, and represents
a cost Of about 81 an acre for the land bene-
| deposited the road, the sides should be sod.
ded, and the result would be that in short
| time the state would have the best system of
earth roads In the land The money for this
work, in the opinion of Mr.. Cashel, should be
| secured as loan from the national government
/ from the reclamation fund. of which approx.
mately $4,oo0,o0o has been derived from the
| that congress be induced to appropriate from
this fund the sum needed for drainage purposes
which sum should be secured by u lien the
| property benefited in proportion to benefits and
should he repaid III twenty annual installments
at per cent interest.
Cost Per Quarter Section.
! The total cost Ter quarter section would hi
S193. go. The increase In the value of the LAND
would easily be So an acre, and the increase II
prcauetiEeness call! $500 in the twenty years
making total Of 5000, or $25 an acre, which
i is about the average brice Of land in the dis
4 trics now
Another plan the spealer said met with gen
eral approval among formers was the construc
The cost of this tie had computed as $500, 600
}, The money for this plan could be raised In tn,
same manner. and the benefits would be cor
resnonding1y great.
the valley for number Of years past, and h.
found that in the years, 1891, 1892, 1896 1900
| 1901, 1902 and 1905 there has been partial fail
; ure Of crops in various sections of the vale.
! due to flooding either In the spring or in tn
summer. This makes seven partial failures fl
; fifteen years, one about every other year
Computing the loss due to this cause at fou
bushels of wheat an acre, the sneaker Shove
that there has been lost in these seven year
5000 900 bushels of wheat, which at so cents
bushel equalled S14, 200, 900, or about 81 600 90
year, which is the approximate cost of drain
age for all time. He showed in the same man
ner that this increased valuation would yiel
, the state $4,000 each year in taxes an
the railroads twice as much each year 1
freights.
To Dam Pembina River.
+ A further recommendation was the partia
4 Strengthening Of the channel Of the, Red rive
by cutting off some Of the big bends and til
= damming OF the Pembina river SO as to witt
. hold great portion Of the spring freshet unit
it could be released without danger.
I The principal address at tomorrow's sessio
: : will be delivered by President James J. Hi
: of the Great Northern who is credited wit
constructing the first drainage ditch in th
' Red River valley many years ago at poir
i near Fisher, and which is still used in drainin
e large section of land in that part of MINI,
d sofa. Before the final adjournment OF the COZ
/ yention state league will be formed with
e view Of Systematically draining the Red Rive
valley section Of the state.
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