Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1907-05-02

1C IeeC.
These values are conservative. 1t is
believed the velocity and discharge is
some greater than the above computa-
ton shows.
AS an additional safeguard we have
designed sluice way to be built at the
head of the Spooner ditch, at its inter-
section with the Soldier Cutoff chan
mel. This sluice way is fitted with
gate that is ordinarily closed. The event
of the water reaching dangerous
hcight in the Soldier channel it can be
Iopened 1t has the capacity to dis
charge into the Spooner ditch about
400 cubic feet per second or about %
per cent of the maximum capacity of
the Soldier channel.
| The maximum carrying capacity of
/ the two channels is above 1000 cubic
fleet per second, which is believed to be
ample to take care of the severest
| floods.
There can be no evading the fact that
the only self cleansing channel for the
Soldier river is one laid along the short
est route to the Missouri river The
fall to be secured in any other direction
is not sufficient to prevent the deposit
of sediment. 1t is also evident that
smaller channel will be required to car
ry the floods straight out than to carry
the water a longer distance down the
valley | find no valid reason for
changing the location of the Soldier
River Cutoff channel as laid down by
| Mr. Wattles.
1t is the natural route for the channel
in that direction. There is nc objection
to its entering the Missouririver at that
point. Its presence will not change the
action of the currents of water in the
Missouri river, nor in any way affect
the action of the current on the banks
find that it is necessary to extend
the Soldier River Cutoff channel as
laid down by Mr.. Wattles about three
fourths of mile farther up stream to a
point where the natural channel is
straight for a considerable distance and
has the same general alignment as the
cutoff channel. The fall of this part
lof the channel is greater, being about
five feet to the mile, and produces a
velocity of about twelve feet per sec
ond. The channel required will be
II thirty feet bottom width
| Having provided for the waters of
the Soldier river, it remains to provide
for suitable channels to carry off the
surface waters and afford drainage for
the fiat lands. These channels do not
need especial mention The abandoned
Soldier River channel renders it neces-
|sary to have north and south bitches
both east and west on the abandoned
river channel.
The east one or East Soldier Ditch
will receive some hill drainage, princi-
lpally thru the Nelson ditch which is
extended to intercept Stere creek. 1t
is not thought best to tap the Stere
4 creek channel so as to take its flood
water directly into the Nelson ditch
but to allow the flood waters to over
flow considerable land at the head OF
the Nelson ditch and to draw the flood
waters off after the sediment has been
\ deposited
| The Spooner ditch is extended to a
junction with the mann Soldier river
channel through the masonry sluice
way Water can thus bc admitted to
the Spooner ditch at any stage of water
in the Soldier river.
The fall per mile of Spooncr ditch is
l.3 feet which will produce velocity OF
~ feet per second. Practically the en-
tire low water flow of the Soldier river
can be passed through the Spoonef
ditch il desired.
Smith lake is t5o deep to be drained
Smith, Willow and Elm lakes are
natural basins receiving surface drain
age from the hills and fiat land adjacent
The Soldier river channel crossed this
chain Of lakes at the head of Elm lake
The height of possible floods in the
Soldier cutoff is such that il not re.
strained would fill Elm lake and over.
flow its banks and would raise the level
of water in Smith lake. 1t is necessary
then to build dykes across the head oi
Elm lake on either side Of the Soldier
channel The waters draining into these
lakes are admitted into the Soldier
channel through inlets fitted with gates
which close automatically against
water in the channel and open to water
from the outside. Elm lake will be
drained practically dry and Smith lake
will be lowered about two and half
feet
The land west OF the c. & N. w. r.
drain naturally into series of depres-
sions or lakes These lie so low that in
the past high water in the Soldier over
flowed into them filling them up for a
long distance We have laid out and
recommend the construction of two
lateral bitches designated as the Bur
cham Lynn lake and the Pratt lake
ditch.
Surface water from the fat land will
carry very little sediment.
The Nelson. East Soldier, Spooner,
Burcham Lynn lake and Pratt lake
bitches will contribute considerable
volume of camparitive1v c1ear wotor +o