The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1916-11-14
LEAD FOR
STATE AID
INPROJECI
Engineer Willard of Mime
sofa Isn't Sanguine as
to Federal Aid
BARNES URGES STUDY
Noted Expert Advises Care
Big 1897 Flood Gould
Have Been Averted
Today'st developments of Flood
Control congress, page 1.

Control congress, page I.
| Suggestions galore were put forth
at the opening session yesterday aft
ernoon of the Tri-state Flood Control
congress in this city, and when the
convention adjourned at o'clock, to
meet at $50 o'clock this morning,
delegates had been presented with a
remarkable array of proposed meth
DDS for the handling of valley HOOD
conditions.
These ranged all the way from the
construction of a system Of impound,,
ing reservoirs to handle the head
waters Of the Red Lake river the Wild
Rice river. the Ottertail river and the
Red river itself which were agreed, by
mutual consent. as the greatest Of
tenders against the valley land owners,
to the construction of tile system Of
drainage to replace the open system,
declared by DR.. Sarderson, of the
University of Minnesota, as obsolete
and in reality a hindrance to the real
hetterment of land conditions.
When the convention was adjourned
there was a pretty we'll defined senti-
ment that to obtain real relief for the
Red river valley means the practical
elimination of the federal government
as a probable aid in the movement.
And. too. it was quite generally
agreed among the delegates. that the
three states-North Dakota. South
Dakota and Minnesota-working to-
gether. probably would have to take
up the burden of handling the pro-
iects essential to the elimination Of
flood dangers. the cost of such pro-
1ects as NAV be determined upon, be-
ing borne by assessment against the
land benefited.
Urge Careful Study.
Prominent engineers, among them
d. Barnes, consulting engineer in
charge of the great Mohawk canal
project in New York state, who now is
engaged in making a general study of
the Minnesota drainage problem under
the direction of a joint commission
formed at the instance of the All
Minnesota Development association,
spoke today. Mr.. Barnes advised care
full study of the projects.
IA study the causes of your flood con-
ditions. Do not build reservoirs till
you know that the reservoirs will give
the relief you need, Go over the entire
field before you spend money in con-
struction work." he advised.
-.- Sees States As Agency.
F. v. Willard of st. Paul. state en-
gineer Of Minnesota, emphasized the
idea that any progress in handling
LD0 pGODlSHl WOulu nave TO come
through the states-depreciati the
possibility of any material federal aid.
Mr.. Willard pointed out that the
u. S. department of war is limited to
the aid of projects Of benefit to navi-
cation, and while the valley project
may be placed under that head, such
steps as the government might take
would not bring relief to the flood
problem.
Flood Could Have Been Averted.
Mr.. Willard declared that with a
system of properly impounded head
waters, the disastrous food of 1897
from which date flood data is largely
reckoned-would have been avoided.
Engineers statistics have shown
that during the height of the April
flood, the volume of water passing
Grand Forks was $4,000 cubic feet a
second, and the same engineer placed
the excess water, above the flood line
passing Grand Forks during the
flood. at 1S,400,000,000 cubic feet.
These statistics have since been
challenged, and it is now generally
accepted that the early estimates were
approximately SO per cent too great.
Mr.. Willard said this would bring
the excess water that flowed past
Grand Forks. at about 10000. 600. 900
cubic feet.
By properly handling the Red lake,
impounding water there. the engineer
said the flood would have been re-
duced 3,O50,000,000 cubic feet, and Red
lake would have been raised four
inches.
Headwaters of the Wild Rice river
would have retained 777.670 cubic feet
of water, with a raise of only about
two feet; headquarters of the Otter
Tail river would have handled 1885,
600, 900 cubic feet of the excess water
and would have raised five feet. while
Lake Traverse, headwater- of the Red
river. would have retained 100000, =
600 cubic feet Of water. and been rails
ed only two feet
erly controlled, would have cared for
the peak of the crest of the food
and the valley would have been spared
the ravageS of the tremendous flood
Engineer Willard questioned the
propriety or advantage of attempting
an arrangement by the three states
with the government. contending that
it probably wouldn't work to the best
advantage of all concerned.
The engineer pointed to a great
many complex problems involved in a
project SO gigantic in it's nature as
that of handling the food waters.
Can't Wait For ". s.
A. L. Crocker of Minneapolis, presi-
dent Of the All Minnesota Develop
ment association. maintained that the
states couldn't wait for the government
to take action-or it would be waiting
long time. He spoke of the Mimi
sofa movement. where forces have
been combined for a study of the
drainage and flood problems.
In Minnesota. the Minnesota valley
situation is very serious. There thou
sands Of acres have been drowned out
from time to time. and no relief in
sight.
Engineers. however. are studying
the problem, and ultimately it is ex-
pected to work out a bill which will
go to the Minnesota legislature, pro-
viding the necessary aid for handling
the problem.
Double Production.
DR.. Sarderson, Minnesota geologist,
maintained that the proper handling
Of Minnesota's water problem would
bring a doubling of the states pro-
duction.
The speaker maintained that tile
drainage is proving real benefit iii
the Minnesota valley, and that its
adoption will be necessary to handling
the Red river problem.
A tile drain delivers clear water In
to the stream, instead OF filing 1t with
mud and aS the CLEAR ua for rya oh q I,