The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-27
R0HERTY
DISCUSSES
LAKE HERE
Talks to Rotary Club at
Regular Weekly
Luncheon
WOULD DAM CREEK
Tells of Advantages of Such
a Lake in Other Cities
X, Ctn<n
WOULD DAM CREEK

Inc possibilities OF Bismarck hav.
ing lake all her own was discussed
this noon by J. N. Roherty before
the Bismarck Rotary Club at their
regular MONDAY luncheon. Tho
lake would occupy what is now Ap-
pie Creek Valley southeast of Fort
Lincoln. just to the right of the
bridge crossing Apple Creek on the
road running south from Fort Lin
coin there is q high bank that ex-
tends about six hundred feet in a
southerly direction. The proposed
dam would be located from the
southern end of this bank across
the valley to what is known as the
Falconer Hill.
The proposed dam would be en-
tirely of earthen construction and
wide enough on top for twenty
four foot roadway. The dam would
be about quarter Of mile long
on the top, with the overflow
through channel across Fort Lin
coin bench. II would be of such a
height that it could not overflow
and would be located on a heavy
clay material that would prevent
any seepage.
This dam would impound lake
about two and a half miles long and
with a depth as high as Is feet on
the bottoms toward the east Til
lake would have 5A miles of shore
line that would be suitable for
parks, drives and summer homes.
The shore line, being steep and rug
ged, would not leave any places for
weeds to grow or muddy flats to
show up, should there be any vari-
alton in the lake level. Prof. Chand
Ter of the University of North Da-
kota, who is also District Engineer
for the U. S. Geological Survey, es-
Inmates that the average annual
run-off Of Apple Creek is sufficient
to fill the lake twice. Once the lake
is filled and the ground saturated
the only loss would be by evapor
alton, which would require not over
one-tenth of the annual flow. A
launch drawing four feet of water
would make trip five miles long
around the lake.
This water supply is sufficient and
the quality of the water is such
that it would sustain fish life, and
Mr.. Roherty stated that he antici-
pated no trouble in having a fish
hatchery and game preserve made of
the upper end of the lake where it
would not be SO suitable for lake
purposes.
At one point in the lake an island
would be formed about 400 feet in
length and about 100 feet wide. At
present there is gravel nit loca-
ted at the place and it is planned
that the sod could be removed and
a gravel swimming beach easily
built there.
The advantages of the project
were pointed out to be parks, sum
mer homes, and drives, with all the
sports that 90 with any good lake,
such as swimming, boating, fishing,
skating and ice-boating. There are
low sufficient good roads leading to
he lake site and it would be only
ZEN minutes drive from the city. At |
Spiritwood Lake which is located
about nineteen miles from James.
own there are now between 200 and
100 homes, according to estimates
,iven.
When one considers the amount of
money that other cities of North
dakota have spent for parks the
'alue Of this lake to Bismarck is
eadily seen. Minot has over $780,.
100 invested in parks and Mandan
as invested more money than would
e required for this project when
he features other than parks are
onsidered.
Aside from the usual attractions
hat are inherent of any lake it
vas pointed out that the lake is the
irst and most necessary step to-
Yard an irrigation project. Mr.. w.
!. Black, State Engineer, has made
survey of the project and the re-
'ort Of the State Engineers Office
$ favorable. The lower flats below
bismarck can be reached by gravity
rom this lake and by having a SUD-