The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-05-11
WILLOWS
SAVE The SHORE
PECULIAR REVETMENT WORK
ALONG MISSOURI RIVER is .r
OF GREAT VALUE.

Williston, N. D., May 1.-THE con-
slant undermining and the consequent
wearing away of the bank Of the Mis-
souri, river at this place, occasioned
by the annual heavy June rise of the
river, necessitated the work Of revet-
ment of "rip-rapping," which has been
in progress at this point for the past
two years.
The gradual encroachment Of the
river upon the tracks, yards and sta
ton of the Great Northern railroad
as we'll as the threatened danger to
the station of the reclamation service
and the setting basin, which feeds
the canal of the irrigation project, de-
mand prompt and heroic action. Rep
resentatives of the war department of
the federal government investigated
the conditions and an agreement was
reached by which the work of revet-
ment was begun.
The federal government set apart
the sum of $4,000 for the work and
this amount was supplemented by an
agreement by which the Great North
ern railroad was to furnish the rock
necessary to the proposed construc-
ton, and the Great Northern further
agreed to build any required spurs
for the transportation of material to
| the scene of operations. The Com
mercial club of Williston in connec-
ton with the reclamation service,
agreed to furnish the willows or
brush" for the construction of the
mats" or basic fabric of the rip-rap.
In accordance with this agreement
between government officers, railway
officials and the local authorities,
work was begun in December 1908,
and during that season more than
! 5000 feet of work was completed.
Result Encourages Workers.
The efficacy of the construction was
so apparent that the following year
the government duplicated it's allow
ance and the other parties interested
continued their arrangements. In
1909, therefore, the work was aug
mented by the addition of nearly g.
600 feet, which was built up stream
from the end of the unfinished work
| The work will be continued next
year as 1t is agreed that about 1000
| feet are still necessary Illustrating
the magnitude Of the undertaking,
there were engaged, on an average,
more than 100 men and twenty five
teams. John Penson of this city fur
nished over 1900 cords The rock
was purchased by contract at SO per
cord, the Great Northern accepting
for free shipment any rock received
on their right of way within fifty miles
| Of
rock have been used up to date. In
addition to this, 5000 feet of wire ca
BILE have been necessary in the under
taking. To transport the material the
railroad has constructed over 5000
feet of track.
Can be Done Only in Winter.
The work itself furnishes an inter-
esting story. Labor is only practic-
able during the winter months when,
the river Is frozen over. At this time
a mat" of willows is woven, compos-
ed Of brush from three quarters of
an inch to two inches in diameter.
This mat is sixty feet in width and
| extends from twenty five feet on the
bank out on the ice to an additional
distance Of thirty-five feet Wire ca
| bles from dead me-" on the bank
connect with the mat" at intervals OF
sixteen feet. After the mat has
been woven, a layer o. rock averag-
ing twenty five to fifty pounds each. is
laid to a depth of one foot. The ice
along the edge is then blasted with
dynamite and the weight of the rock
sinks the mat" and holds. it in place.
| The unusual mildness of the past
w cnrfnr 1alv Io,1 II
work because the ice was not strong
Ienough to support the weight of the
mat until the proper depth of rock
had been laid
After the mat" had been sunk the
silt of the river Sits through the
| rocks and settles in the mat" rend-
ering 1t absolutely immovable Where
the bank presents a vertical or steep
aspect, susceptible of easy undermin-
ing, the bank is graded before the mat
Is woven by blowing and scraping I'M
til an even slope of two and onelhaIf
to one degree is obtained.
Total Cost $4,000.
The total cost of the work in frs
still incompleted stage may be esti-
mated to be S75,00O OF this sum The
Great Northern has contributed ap-
proximately $4,000, the federal gov
eminent has appropriated $50, 900 and
che city of Williston the balance.
The actual work of the revetment
has been under the direct supervision
of Overseer o. P. Lilly of the corps
IF engineers, United States army. as
listed by Chief Engineer Hogeland of
he Great Northern railroad and city
ID
1t is expected an additional 5000
feet viii be added to the work during
he coming season.