The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-02-28
chairman CASHE['S
ADDRESS TOCOMM7TE
Strong and Concise Discussion Of the Subject Of Overflow Of Red River
vaeu Lands and Possible Methods to Eliminate the Evil bu the
Leader Of the Drainage Movement Meeting Of Delegates
Last hiQht Of Deepest Interest to General Public

from the National Reclamation fund
to be loaned the counties of Pembina,
Walsh, Grand Forks. Trail, Cass and
Richland in this state for drainage
purposes, to be returned in ten equal
annual installments, without interest.
1t was thought desirable to make some
amendments to the senate bill, oonse-
quently Representative Gronna intro
duced substitute bill in the house,
embodying the amendments. which is
now in the hands of the committee on
irrigation of arid lands with pros
poets of favorable consideration. 1t
has the endorsement of Secretary Will
son of the agricultural department,
who says in substance that the Ma
tional Reclamation fund should be
used for drainage as we'll as irrigation,
the object and results are the same.
Should this bill fail, which we trust it
will not, it will only increase our eff
forts to push the work with greater
energy. The ball is now in motion and
we expect its momentum to increase
rapidly as it moves onward We will
learn from the discussions and oppo-
sitions to the bill, where to strengthen
and fortify in introducing another ut
the opening of the succeeding con-
gress. We will not rely upon this
source alone for relief, although we
feel confident that it. will produce it,
We will call another drainage conven-
ton next fall to consider drainage in
general and the drafting of drainage
bill i'll particular, to be presented TO
our next legislative assembly for it's
consideration. We will examine the
drainage laws of different states and
Manitoba, which law is highly recon-
mended, and employ able legal talent
to prepare the bill We should be fully
equipped to commence the drainage of
the valley actively one year from the
coming spring, either through national
relief or state enactment Manitoba
and Minnesota are pushing the drain
age of their low lands with good re-
suits.
Admitting that universal system
of drainage will be established in the
Red River valley in the near future
that will bring us face to face with the
all important problem of how to take
care OF the waters running through
several Thousand smooth, straight
bitches varying from five to fifteen
miles in length. The water that now
slowly passes over fiat cultivated fields
will pass rapidly down these bitches,
having fall of from two to four feet
per mile, which with its tributaries,
will overflow the Red river rapidly I'M
less proper steps are taken to prevent
it. AS our drained area increases our
liability to greater floods and greater
damage will increase correspondent
and the water from the river backing
up in the bitches will escape through
culverts and over low banks, thus flood
ing greater districts that will be dam
aged for cultivation and over-run with
foul seed producing noxious weeds,
besides the great damage to improve
ments and personal property. The
cities along the river will be subject to
serious damages to buildings, pave
ments and other Improvements, the
greatest to suffer. from it's location,
will be that city, the coming giantess
of the north. Winnipeg. Its location
near the mouth of the river will re-
ceiye all the accumulated waters from
above including those of the Assina-
boine, which united will make mighty
torrent in flood time, rushing furiously
onward endangering life and property.
The Red River valley must be drain
ed for its prosperity and the success
of the cities and towns located therein.
AT the same time the drainage of the
valley means greater destruction of
property, periodically, by floods, I'M
less the overflow of the Red river is
prevented. Now what can be done?
Each one has his own theory, but what
we want is a practical, scientific plan
that will accomplish the object, which
should be done by both governments
interested, then appropriations should
be extended under the supervision If
skillful and experienced engineers af-
ter proper Typographical surveys and
Typographical tests have been made.
We can discuss here ways AID means
that to us may seem practical and ar
rive at some conclusion as to our rec
concentrations to parliament and con-
gress. In this connection, one of the
first things to be considered is, do we
want to preserve the navigation of the
Red river that decended to us as leg
acy to be transmitted as a heritage 10
PROSPERITY? 1 would say yes, if pos
sible, providing its waters can be con-
tanned at all times within it's banks,
but If they cannot, 1 would then say
no. let science and art improve on ma
ture, so as to give adequate protection
to the inhabitants along its banks.
In our government all navigable
highways are under the control of the
war department, which is very reluct-
ant to pursue any course that will in
terfere with their navigation. It's OBJ
ject is to improve it rather than to de-
stroy, providing the benefits will war;
rant the outlay. In conversation with
a government engineer few days ago
In St. Paul, he questioned the propriety
of asking congress to make any appro-
priation for the Red river, unless 20
improve its navigation, and incident
ally to prevent its overflow. In 1899
there was appropriated by congress rs
follows: For surveys having in view
the improvement of navigation of the
Red river with a secondary object of
preventing its overflow and for the
improvement of navigation In the
Minnesota river, 5000; for Big Stone
Lake and Lake Traverse, VS. 900; for
Rod oLn ond Dod ol>n rs.,o, 90 nnn.