Warren sheaf., 1916-10-11
DRAINAGE AND
WEEDS DISCUSSED
Enthusiastic Meeting of Red River
River Valley Development Asso-
citation at CrOOkstOn.

River Valley Development Asse-
ciation at Crookston.
Marshall county was we'll repre-
sented at the meeting of the Mime
sofa Red River Valley Development
Association held at the N. w. School
of Agriculture, Crookston, on Mon
day evening. The meeting was one
| of the best and most enthusiastic
ever held by the association. The
occasion was also the tenth anniver-
sary Of the founding Of the school
and teachers and students had been
doing little Celebrating on that ae-
count prior to the arrival of the
guests. Where ten years ago was
nothing but the bleak prairie is now
located thrifty school village with
a dozen or more building and 800 to
400 Students President Selvig as
we'll as this entire section of the
state may we'll be proud of the
growth of the institution.
An elaborate farmers dinner
was served by the regular culinary
staff Of the school assisted by the
young men and young lady students.
An appetizing menu fit for a king had
been prepared and the orderly and
graceful manner in which it was
served speaks highly for the charac-
ter of the class of young people who
patronize the institution. The spacious
dining hall was artistically decorated
with richly colored autumn leaves
and vines, fruits and flowers.
Drainage and weeds were the two
problems discussed when the speak
ing began. Senator O'Neil of Thief
River Falls, who is an expert on
drainage and also possesses facil-
ity of expression and presentation
that is remarkable and graceful, told
of the needs of people in the Red
Lake River valley. He advocated
dredging Red Lake river at it's source
a short distance and the construction
of controlling gates so that the lake
may be drained during the winter a
few feet below it's normal level and
then when spring opens up, the gates
be closed The lowered lake will then
be able to receive and impound the
waters of it's drainage basin. until
later in spring or early summer,
when the spring flood in Red River
has passed and that stream capable
s of taking care Of the additional
7 water turned into it. by Red Lake
river The gates can also be opened
at any time that the cities and viz
lages down stream need water for
sewerage or domestic purposes. The
plan is said to be feasible and not
very expensive.
The state drainage engineer was
present and in an address urged
making complete topographic surveys
Of entire drainage areas so as to
secure adequate outlets and efficient
drainage systems. He condemned all
lpiece meal methods Of doing the work.
Representatives from Fargo, Moor
head and Breckenridge voiced their
urgent needs as to drainage. A Pc
;culiar condition has arisen in the
upper course Of Red River. So many
large and small drainage bitches.
. have been turned into the river and
it's tributaries that the channel can
not carry away. the water fast
enough. Hence the best lands close
to the streams are flooded in the
spring and during seasons of ex-
, cessive rains How to remedy this
matter is a big problem. One plan
suggested was to turn part of the
water from Lake Traverse south into
Big Stone Lake and the Minnesota
river, which might be done by dig
: ging channel connecting the two
:. lakes and constructing a dam. But
there may be serious objection TO
, this plan by residents along Mime
. sofa river. +.
5 Congressman Steenerson, who has
/, given a great deal of attention to the
;, drainage question, said the represen-
! tatives in congress from this state
: as well as from North and South
Dakota were more than willing to CO.
operate with the people in this mat
ter and hoped that some practical
$ plan can be worked out by which the
: desired ends may be attained
0 Strange as it may seem all drainage
:. work by the government is in charge
. of the war department and it i
:, necessary to get the ear of the de,
= partment if anything is to be done
Mr.. Dugan, an army engineer,
:. now at work making survey of tn.
7. Red Lake and Red River channell
: and from his remarks we surmis.
/ that he realizes fully the importance
h of this matter to the people in th
! states affected.
! The weed problem was also dis
= cussed briefly by several practica
. farmers.
! Resolutions were passed authoriz
e ing the appointment Of a drain
o age committee of one from eacl
o county in the territory affected an
i recommending that a topographi
! survey Of the state be made.
;. resolution recommending Legislation
q Il nf .xzood