The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-11
NEWS OF THE NORTHWEST
MISSOURI RIVER May .
FLOOD This SPRING

Though some precaution should be-
taken to guard against fresh airholes
in the ice, it is still considered rea-
sonably safe to drive across the Mis-
souri, river between Bismarck and
Mandan, as the ice is still thirty-fou,
inches thick, and there is SO far but
little surface water on top Of the ice
Sunday one or two rigs going be.
tween these twin cities are reported
to AVE had their horses cut through
the ice, but the instances were not
serious, and no accidents resulted
Where horses went through was where
new airholes had formed close to the
shore, and the animals were easily
removed.
There are no signs yet of either
the Missouri or the Yellowstone riv-
ers breaking up. The Missouri is still
solid, and official information states
that the Yellowstone is also still SOL
Id practically all the way through
Montana.
While the Missouri river froze over
last fall probably as low as in any
season in the history Of this section
OF the west, there Is almost as much
danger this year Of spring foods as
any other spring, and it would be
Well for property living In
close proximity to the river to be on
their guard for the protection OF
their property. Should a. gorge form
in the vicinity Of sibley island, the
water through this section would be
blocked for several days, and a seri~
GUS flood might follow for miles.
Director Roberts OF the local wealth
er bureau station is keeping a con
slant watch on the situation, and
when it is remembered how close his
forecasts were last spring, people
can feel safe in taking his reports
OF river stages as being accurate and
authentic. He Is now preparing a
statement of his views of the river
situation which will contain valuable
information regarding local spring
prospects.
The weather bureau at Washing
ton has been watching the situation
through the Ohio and Indiana dis
tricts, where the floods last spring
where the most severe in history, and
the following from Washington would
indicate that at present that section
Is in no Imminent danger from foods
this spring. The view taken Of the
Ohio situation Is as follows:
That the United States weather
bureau sees no reason for any repeti-
ton Of the great floods of a year e
In the valleys Of the Ohio and Missis-
sippi, Is the statement Of DR.. Charles
F.. Marvin, director Of the bureau.
Although 1t has been prophesied that
these districts are very likely to suffer
through the melting Of the heavy
SHOWS that have fallen within the last
week or two. information received at
the weather bureau from Prof. J.
Warren Smith, director of the Column
BUS, o., station, gives assurance to the
lnhaoltants Of those localities hal in
undatlonS are not liable to occur this
spring.
In the first place. while snow and
ice at present cover the greater por-
ton Of the northern half Of the United
States, there are no present prospects,
Of heavy rains in any of the snow
covered sections. Moreover. Professor
Smith says he does not believe that
snow o. the depth at present covering
Ohio, ABOUT four inches, would. be re-
garded as menacing: The only chance
for a 1ooo, ne thinks. would be a
heavy rain Of from three to Ave days.
such as preceded last years overflow,
and as this is unlikely, the snow will
probably pass off naturally.
THE records of more than half q,
century cited by Professor Smith
show that when the rainfall Is def
cient in Ohio during January it is
more apL 10 De deNclent In March,
also, and when excessive in January
it Is probable that March will be a wet
month.
I'm the last sixty years." he de-
clares, there have been only two cas-
when a rainfall of an inch or more
below the normal in January has been
followed by a rainfall in March of an
inch or more above normal. This is
also true of the months of February
and April. In the last fifty years there
have been only four years when a dry
January In OHIO has been followed BY
SO much as a. single day of food con-
ditions In the Ohio river ut Cincin-
natl during the months Of February,
March and April.
January just passed gave about
one inch less rain for Ohio than usual.
Instead Of this being a condition fav-
orable to subsequent floods the oppo-
site is true. The probability Of floods
In Ohio this spring is much less than
though the rainfall In january had
above normal
"Dr. Marvin, whose home is in CO.
lumbus, Is Of the opinion that what is
true of the Ohio valley Is true, also,
Of the Mississippi. into which the
Ohio river empties. and also of the
rivers from the western ountr
where there is at present but little
snow.