The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-10-01
NEW U. 5. SURVEY
| in NORTH DAKOTA
KNOWN As transformations
DISTRICT AND BECOMES A PART
or THE GEOLOGIC ATLAS OF
THE UNITED sTATEs-Is 2,4so
MILES SQUARE.

A new folio ono 1881 in the geologic
atlas OF the United states has Just
been published by the United States
geological survey. the ..utnlor being
Daniel Il. Willard. The area covered
is known as the Jamestown Tower
district and lies In the southeastern
part Of North Dakota betweens s7-30
and 80 west longitude and parallels
$3.50 and At north Aatitude. the total
area being about 2.460 square miles.
The principal towns are jamestown.
Valley city and Tower, named in
order OF size. All three are on the
main line OF the Northern Pacific
railway.
A Gigantic Prairie Region.
This district is in the great plains
province, its surface being a gently
undulating plain, in places nearly fiat,
that lies at elevations OF about 1000
to 1900 feet above sea level.
The greater part OF the area has no
surface drainage whatever, the preci-
pitation being absorbed or evaporated
The continental watershed between
the Hudson bay drainage basin and
that OF the Gulf OF Mexico crosses
the area. The undrained character Of
the glaciated prairies and the delicate
balance between the drainage systems
that do exist are well illustrated by
this divide. Although Sheyenne and
James rivers, the two principal
streams OF this area, flow in nearly
parallel courses FOR 1870 miles and the
relief of the land between their valleys
is generally not more than twenty feet,
the Sheyenne ultimately discharges
into Hudson bay and the James into
the gulf. The drainage area of the
Sheyenne covers about 10000 square
miles, yet the volume CT water dis
charged into Red river is estimated to
be less than that which flows through
Valley City, nearly $50 miles upstream.
The loss is due to evaporation and
absorption as he stream meanders
sluggishly over its valley.
This area was affected by the con-
tinentaa glacdation and its surface Ia
thickly covered by glacial DRIFT. The
description Of the distribution OF
glacial material and the history Of the
events OF glacial time make up a large
part OF the text of the folio which is
consequently OF great interest to ali
students Of giaciology. The rocks un-
DERIVING the drift are shall and the
widespread water-bearing formation
known DO biologists as the Dakota
sandstone.
Water Resources.
The most important resource of this
area La underground water. The sur
face water is in general either unfit
Tor domestic use or too scanty in
amount, but underground water is
abundant and is reached by MANY
wells OF different types. shallow dug
Wells from six to twenty-four feet
deep have been put down in most
portions Of the district and yield
water in ample amount but OF vary
ing quahty-in some places unusually
pure, In others very inferior. Tubular
wells from 40 to ESQ feet deep form
one OF the principal sources OF water
supply. They derive their water from
rain that penetrates the earth at some
distance away and In some OF them
the water rises above the surface.
These wells yield water that Is usually
palataible and wholesome. Many wells
ranging in depth from 500 to 1870 feet
have been sunk to the Dakota sand
stone and nearly all obtained a flow of
70 to 300 gallons q minute. Most OF |
this water Is slightly salty. but in |
general 1t is suitable for domestic and
farm purposes.
Maps Of the District.
Thds folio contains nine maps show
ing the ropograph ard geology OF the
district and the depths to Q Dakota
sandstone in all parts Of 1t. The folio
Is sold by the geological survey for
20 cents, the cost of paper and print |
ing. and may be obtained by remit
ting that amount TO the director of the
survey at Warrington.
BIG WAGE TO GOOD GIRLS