The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-01-02
GOOD MEETING
IS HELD HEP !

HaA Vey ana states DrainagSl Engi-
<Qeec f'erbert A. Haad who is secretary
9th organizatiGr.. The latter issued
about $ 10 per nal invitations to bus
ness mess:- "a farmers and good rep
resentation from all over the valley
was present in spite Of the influenza.
Some Of the leaders Of the movement
telephoned and wrote the secretary re-
GREETING that sickness alone was
keeping them from attendance.
a good snappy program had been
laid out and it was carried out with
dispatch and enthusiasm. It consisted
of several short addresses and execu-
tive sessions that accomplished what
the meeting had been planned for. The
temporary organization effected in
Fargo in October was converted into
a permanent one, and in addition to
above officers, ]. B. Eaton, Fargo, was
elected first vice president, Mayor Moe
second vice president, and F. r.
Strong, Minor, treasurer. County
chairmen were chosen for each Of the
16 counties draining into the Red river
and it's tributaries.
The object of the association was
pointedly stated by the executive COM
mittee as being that 'of promoting the
work of drainage and flood control in
the valley of the Red River and of it's
tributaries" AS outlined by the sew
eral speakers this is to be accomp-
ished largely through the construction
of reservoirs in the valley of the Shey-
enne, Wild Rice, and Pembina rivers
in North Dakota, and at the outlet of
the Minnesota lakes. Some work
must also be done to improve the chan
nels of the Red and it's tributaries by
way Of cutoff and dredging.
The little crooked channels of the
Red and it's branches down in the val
ley are usually able to carry off what
water falls in the flat valley. But
disastrous floods have been caused, as
in 1915 to 1917 when the average an
nual loss exceeded Is million dollars,
by the "second flood" caused by the
water from melting snow and spring
rains up in the higher counties along
the Sheyenne and other rivers. Some
years of greatest flood the Sheyenne
contributes nearly half of the water
passing Grand Forks. Other years
the Lake Traverse, S. D., basin gath
ers the waters to cause the havoc, as
in 1916. Still other years the Mime
sofa lakes country send the devastat-s
ing floods.
& Usually all tributaries add to the
damage, and the federal and state en-
gineers all agree that controlling dams
and reservoirs will be the solution of
the trouble. f't:1x lily all these inl-
pounding dams will be built up in the
higher counties State Engineer Hard,
who has made the preliminary survey
told the location and advantages of
the different reservoir sites, along the
Sheyenne, Wild Rice, and on some of
the Minnesota lakes which he has been
called as consulting engineer to ex-
anime.
Since the work was primarily start
ed to relieve the flat Red valley coun-
ties of floods causing millions of dam
age, the question naturally arises to
people in the higher counties as to
what benefits they could hope to de-
rive. This was clearly explained by
President Blanding, Engineer Hard
P. F. Trowbridge Of the agricultural
experiment station and Mr.. P. E.
Simons who is the engineer in charge
of the work now being done by the
u. S. department Of agriculture in the
Red valley. This work was secured
from Hon Carl Vrooman, assistant
secretary of agriculture at the solicit
tation of Engineer Hard and a fund
was raised by him in many Of the val
ley counties payable to the govern
n1ent to secure the large work Of pre-
liminary engineering. Three federal
engineers are at work with office in
Moorhead.
AS to advantages, while it was
frankly stated that while the primary
purpose was to relieve the lower coun-
ties, many great benefits will readily
accrue to the counties in which the
dams are to be- built. While some
land will be damaged and need to be
condemned, the amount is small. On
the other hand it takes no great imag-
ination to see the numerous benefits
to be got by the people along, say the
Sheyenne, is semi-permanent lakes or
reservoirs are built by the state or
These will be stocked
with fish. Lac qui Parle lake in Min:
nesota yielded 100000 worth Of rough
fish alone last year. The small lakes
about Ortonville did as well. Harvey
and other towns require additional
lIlCIllClpdl WdCC4 supply. q SSAAot ~
reservoir built there would solve the
water question for all time. Ice could
be cut in winter, yielding large rev
enue, and each reservoir would become
a beautiful Jake resort.
The states engineer pointed out the
fact that six or eight small dam sites
exist below Valley City where dams
but is to 20 feet in height can be
built by private individuals for gener-
ating each a few hundred horse power.
Practical example of this exists in the
Bemmels Milling Co. dam at Lisbon
where practical millers use no power
but that Of water for about five
months in the year. The rest Of the
time auxiliary engines generate steam
power The 200 horse power from
water are clean velvet. These dams
are too small to count in flood con-
troll and much larger ones must be
built to get capacity. Good sites are
thought to- exist near Baumez bridge
north of Valley City, and at several
points in Nelson, Eddy and Wells
counties.
The war department called a meet
;rr IN CT paul Nov IL at which were