Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-09-18
Plan to Eliminate In
slightly Mud Flats And
Improve Sanitation And
Doubly Safeguard City's
Water Supply; Mentions
Problems Involved.
PAGE SIXTEEN

supply. and to transform the river
and it's banks from a point two miles
below the city to several miles above
1t into a veritable fairyland in COM
parison with the present appearance
of the river bottom is the dream of a
number Of local citizens who are ad-
vocating. the construction of a dam on
the river a short distance below the
town.
The proposal has aroused consider
able interest in Grand Forks of late
lied President j. R.. Carley to act as a
committee of one to investigate the
matter.
Professor Elwyn f. Chandler, pro-,
fessor of civil engineering at the Uni
versity OF North Dakota. has made an
exhaustive study of the Red river. it's
history and eccentricities and is
strongly in favor of the suggested
dam project. Just recently Professor
Chandler vas requested by President
Carley to make a rough estimate OF
the cost of building a dam across the
river and is working on the matter at
present. He expects to have the fig
ures ready In the near future.
IN an interview with a Herald
representative Professor Chandler
went into a discussion which included
mention of the several factors which
must be considered in drawing up
specifications for a dam.
Early History of Red.
"Originally the Red river was a
navigable stream" said the professor.
land was used constantly during the
spring months by boats plying from as
far south as A~bercrombie and Wahpe-
ton-Breckenridge to Winnipeg. Prior
to the coming of the first railroad in
1891 the river was the only means of
access to this section Of the country
other than wagon trains. Wagon
trains were the mean of t~ransporta-
tion from St. Paul to the upper river
towns and from there the journey
north was completed by boat.
1.-THE constant use of the river for
navigation purposes meant that 1t was
an impossibility to dam the river in
those days. The federal government
Of course classed the Red river as a
navigable stream, forbade the con
struction of dams or any other OBJ
structions across the river and pro-
vided that all bridges be of the draw
variety.
Even after the railroad came grain
was carried from towns above and
below Grand Forks to this city by
boats during the late eighties and
early nineties. There were six grain
elevators at different points along the
river and two on the Grand Forks
river front used in this traffic. Since
that time all of them have been torn
down.
Ideal Site for Dam.
For the past several years and at
present there is absolutely no naviga-
ton on the river, however. 1t is not
likely that boats other than small
pleasure. crafts will ever ply the
stream again. This difficulty, which
was once unsurmountable, has dis
appeared.
1.-The consent of the war depart
ment to, build a dam is of course nee
essary unless the river is declared Of
fcially to be a non-navigable stream
which is the more logical course
Steps rave been taken to have this
done but as yet the department has
not acted in the matter.
1.-THE ideal spot for the location of
a dam would be a mile or two down
the river from Grand Forks. The
fall of the river valley is about six
inches pei mile which means that a
10 foot dam would back up the river
for a distance Of approximately 20
miles. 1t is questionable whether or
not a dam higher than 10 feet would
he advisable.
THE fact hat there is no solid
rock foundation under the river for
a distance of several hundred feet
down ean that the dam would have
to be anchored in the soft mud OF
the river bottom. The result is that
the cost of a dam would multiply very
rapidly as the height of the dam Is
Increased. Certainly q. dam 20 feet in
height would be almost prohibitive in
cost while M is feet high would en-
toll a considerable expenditure
Again, the higher the dam the great
er would be the danger Of bullying
washing out and drilling under the
structure during the flood perio6
which occurs each spring.
1T is probable that a dam 20 fee
high would add to the danger Of pos.
sible damage at flood time also. while
one about half that size would MOI
increase the flood danger to a notice
able extent. Moreover, the lower dar
would be better able to resist the
rush of water during the food tim,
without being damaged.
There are numerous advantage.
that would result from the construc
ton of the proposed dam. In tn
first place and probably most import
ant Of all the appearance of the river
which Is most unsightly al the pres
ent time. would be attractive durin,
the entire year. The backing up O
the water for several miles would O
course raise the level of the river g.
that 1t would never get below tn
height of the dam and the mud bank
Objectionable at present would b
eliminated. 1t would become possibl
to construct small boat landings an,
docks and I think / am safe in tn
assertion that the number Of pleasur
craftTsuch as canoes, rowboats an,
small gasoline launches on tn
stream, would be increased ten fol-
within a short period. Grand Fork
needs some sort OF a presentable bod
OF water here in order that peopl
will not be forced to travel SO mile
or more to paddle canoe
The results of the construction
q small dam at Fargo where the rive
it but one-fourth the size 1t isLher
have been astonishing. During til
summer months the river there
dotted with pleasure craft and ha
! e entransformed into a veritable gaI
den where formerly It was as mise1
able mud nat al In this vicinity.
I'm the second place the ~construs
ton Of 4 dam would reduce the hydro
statacypressure and diIninish the slit
hi OF the river banks. In all prOl
ability the sliding would not DO 81
TREY 6topped but q material improNa
mi would he effected.
ssThifdly, the supply Of water bacl
"a M by the structures would be
safeGaAtd against AnyEpCss4bflity of
shbrtG1e IN TN city w&ter 3upply IN
MouId ~guarantss nre ~pEeteetioH ~ I
~ ssss -. ~ ,@A