The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1915-01-21


times would be more than double
through this very lowest portion of
the Sioux Valley. The country at
this section is so very fat that unless
the waters are given the most direct
route and the greatest possible Fall
per mile and the friction of the banks
be reduced to a minimum, the present
difficulty from flood waters canno: be
obviated.
Just a few words in regard to the
size of the ditch and the type of ma
chinery that should be used in its ron
struction. After a careful considera-
ton, | believe that this ditch should
average 40 feet wide and 10 feet deep.
Its banks should have a slope of about
l on l so that the bottom of the ditch
would be 80 feet wide and its top so
feet wide, making it on an average
40 feet wide and have an area of
cross-section of 400 square feet. Ow-
ing to the variation in the level of the
country, it will, of course, be neces-
sary to dig this ditch at places greater
than 10 feet deep, but | believe that a
ditch that has 10 feet available for
carrying water will have an ample
discharge. A, ditch of this size will
require the excavation of about 1922
cubic yards to the mile. If the entire
length of the ditch is IA miles, the
total yardage would be about 1,095, 10S.
| would estimate the cost of this work
at about 8 cents per cubic yard, which
would amount to about $S7,6OS. If on
account Of the variation in the land
scape we should estimate that the
ditch might have to be on an average
II feet deep, the cost would then be
increased to about $1O5,13 Taking
into consideration that $4,000 acres or
more would be benefited, the neces-
sary assessment per acre would be in
the neighborhood of SO. In this in.
stance | believe that a dredge should
be used having a dipper capacity of
2R cubic yards. The records show
that in the kind of soil with which we
are likely to have to deal, such a
dredge would be capable of excavat-
ing about 10000 cubic yards per
month. At that rate, it would require
to complete the work from about
twelve to fifteen months of actual
time, working day and night.
After having thought the matter
over carefully, L have come to the
conclusion that the type of dredge
that is best suited for this work Is
what is known as the floating dipper
dredge." On account of the low
swampy lands it would be almost ont
of the question for anything but a
boat to o about, and for that
reason a floating dredge is about the
only thing that is practical and econ
omical in this case. The simplest
form of ~excavator is a steam shovel
mounted on a hull and so arranged as
to be stable under all conditions. 1t
will not do as nice and neat work as
some other classes of dredges but it
has so many advantages over the
other types as to make the use of
almost anything else out of the ques-
ton. The dipper dredge is really a
remarkable piece of machinery; it
can raise it's spuds, and move in a
minutes time, excavate all kinds OF
soil from silt to loose rock, pull stumps
remove boulders, bridges and various
other distractions, drive pile, erect
simple structures, and build %earthern
dams and the like. The dimensions
of the hull Of such a piece of appar-
atus as will be suitable for the work
in the Sioux Valley would be about
90x30x7k feet, and the total cost of
the whole apparatus would be in the
neighborhood of ten to twelve thous-
and dollars.
In connection with the copy of the
petition which has been filed in this
Office there is also mentioned a lateral
ditch to commence at a place on the
creek at about the center of the south
west quarter of Section s, Bookings
Township, running thence to the most
accessible and practical point on
either the Sioux River or the main
ditch herein proposed. While the in
%spection of this part of the work was
necessarily somewhat hasty, there.can
be no doubt of it's feasibility, and il
desired, / would also recommend that
a survey of this portion of the work be
accomplished at the same time as the
other.
Trusting that the above information
may meet with your approval and hop.
ing that I may be of further service to
you in the future, l remain,
Very truly yours,
Homer M. Derr,
Oxoko En-suoa.