The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1909-04-23
MILLIONS LOST TO
NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS
Startling Statement Issued by the Government-Poor
Drainage Responsible for Heavy Loss
to Wheat.

10 w
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
The startling statement that that
$2,G63,407 was lost to the farmers Of
North Dakota in wheat alone because
of the flood conditions in 1907 in the
eastern part of Cass. Trail, Grand
Forks, Walsh and Pembina counties,
and when, as matter of fact, these
floods could have been prevented by
the average expenditure of less than
81 an acre, is contained in a govern
ment publication recently made public
and devoted to drainage conditions in
North Dakota.
1t is estimated that 1924 acres
could not be seeded in this particular
territory because of the wet, that TO-
1877 could not be summer fallowed.
that 87035 acres, although seeded,
were not worth harvesting; that 1867
625 acres were too wet to be plowed
in the fall and 171,492 acres. although
representing a crop, were too wet to
be harvested.
1t is pointed out further that add
ing the amount seeded but not worth
cutting to that which was too wet to
be harvested, there was a total loss
of crop on 253,660 acres which, esti-
mated at the average production of
fifteen bushels of wheat per acre and
at 70 cents bushel, gives a loss in
the wheat crop alone of the two and
half million dollars enumerated
above.
Benefits to Be Derived.
Officials of the department of agri-
culture declare that these figures show
the possible economic value of drain
age to this valley and suggest that the
land owners can afford to pay it. AS
further encouragement, say the Off
Gals, it should be observed that
wherever land drainage has been car
ried out elsewhere on an extensive
scale and in a thorough manner some
of all of the following benefits have
been obtained:
The greater certainty of full
crop.
Increase in acreage and also in the
yield per acre.
A permanent increase in the market
value of the land.
Benefits to the public roads.
Benefits to the railroads because of
increase tonnage of freights.
Benefits to nearby towns because Of
increased business.
PlnafitC tn rub1io hao1+l, o,x1
al welfare.
Continuing, the report says: Every
large drainage proposition presents
three sets of problems of equal impor-
lance, each of which must be care
fully considered. The first of these is
the legal problem which will arise
during the organization and establish
ment of the drainage district The
second comprises the problems relat-
ing to the provisions of funds for pro-
scouting the work and maintaining an
economical administration of the af-
fairs of the organization. The third
involves the engineering features,
which include the size and location of
the bitches, their grade, slope, con-
struction and maintenance, and engi-
neering data essential to the planning
and costructio of draiage bitches.
Open bitches Are Helpful.
1t is the consensus of opinion
among experts that stagnation of
water in the soil is always injurious,
1t will be seen that the North Dakota
soil will contain larger percentage
of water than many others before it
becomes saturated, but when once in
this condition the prompt removal of
the excess is more urgent than it is
for the soils with less water capacity.
Drainage, as far as possible, should
prevent complete saturation of the soil.
open bitches assist in doing this by
removing the excess from the surface
before 1t passes to the lower soil.
This process supplies the lower soil
with such moisture as is necessary.
and at the same time removes quart
OF the surplus so that the surface is
kept in friable condition under the
ordinary amount of precipitation.
There are times in North Dakota when
the precipitation is so heavy and con-
tinuous that both soil and subsoil be-
come fully saturated, producing condi.
lions that necessitate providing for the
surface flood run off by ADEQUATE
bitches.
The following figures are furnished
by the bureau of irrigation and drain.
age investigation of the government
showing the number of acres EN-.
braced in each district per acre:
Pembina County.
Walhall adistrict. $4,000 acres, cost
Sl.SS per acre; Pembina district. a..
900 acres, 1922 per acre; Neche dis
trict, 1000 acres, lying between the
Tongue and Pembina rivers. 1901 ner
acre; Halson district, 5000 acres, cost
SEAS; Macarthur district, $4,000 acres
lying between Tongue and Red rivers
$1.54 per acre; Bathgate district. -. |
600 acres, lying in the bend of the
Tongue river $1.53; Hamilton district
Finds Lost Sister.