The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-05-28
LAKE PROJECT
NEAR!BISMARCK
IS APPROVED
u. S. Engineer Declares Con-
diticns Are Ideal For
SakakaWea Resort
BIG BENEFIT TO CITY
Advises Proposition Should
Be Handled BY Means
of Bond Issue

A. l.. Fellows, senior irrigation en-
gineer, U. S. Department of Agricul-
ture, Of Denver, Colo, has expressed
his approval of the proposed Lake
Sakakawea Project for the creation
of an artificial lake on the. old Fort
Lincoln site near Bismarck. Mr..
Fellows was state engineer of North
Dakota during 1905, 1906, and 1907
and is thoroughly familiar with all
soil, water. and climatic conditions
affecting the success Of the proposed
project.
In correspondence commenting on
this project Mr.. Fellows said:
Value To City
"Thc project will possibly be of
very great value to the city of Bis
marck as an adjunct to its proposed
park system, the lake to serve as a
pleasure resort for the surrounding
region, providing boating, bathing.
and available summer cottage sites
in the summer time, and skating, ice
boat sailing and other winter sports,
together with ice production on u
large scale in the winter time, and
possibly, fishing at all seasons. The
plan is undoubtedly very attrac-
tive one in many respects for the
city of Bismarck and, if carried out,
will undoubtedly be great asset
to that city"
Regarding the feasibility Of the
project Mr.. Fellows said: "a study
of the runoff of the stream (Apple
Creek) convinces me that it could
almost surely be depended upon to
furnish water enough to keep the
reservoir surface at the desired lev
I, ell, but in dry years it would be
found impracticable, in all probabili
ty, to draw off water for irrigation
without materially lowering the level
of the lake, thus affecting to some
extent it's aesthetic features. In the
term aesthetic do not intend to
exclude the thought of utility for
the reason that it is important in
this connection that the lake be
made as beautiful and attractive as
possible in order to enhance the
value, both to the city of Bismarck,
as an adjunct to the park system
and a pleasure resort for the sur
rounding region, and, further, in
connection with the improvement of
suburban tracts of land for cottage
purposes along the shores of the
lake and for boating and bathing. All
of these have their utihtarian as
we'll as their aesthetic features and
the utility is not to be minimized.' y
Advises Caution
Mr.. Fellows cautioned against
over-emphasizing the irrigation pos
sibilities of this project and gave
as his opinion that in all probability
other storage reservoirs would have
to be constructed to care for this
need when it became urgent. He
felt, however, that this was not an
immediate need.
Summarizing my conclusion of
the Apple Greek reservoir problems y
Mr.. Fellows continued. II will state
that I am of the opinion that the
Sakakawea Lake project is warranted
at the present. time, that an earth
embankment of the general type
suggested in your office Estate En-
ginecr) can be so constructed as
to be entirely safe, and that suitable
materials for the embankmeht, the
necessary concrete structures. and
for riprapping the upstream face Of
the dam with rock are obtainable
within reasonable distances. 1t re-
mains for the best engineering prac-
tices to be followed. As to the best
method of financing the project, l
incline to the opinion that the City
of Bis2arck should handle it as a
| park proposition, by means of a
bond issue, reimbursing itself in
part by selling building sites along
the borders of the lake, under pro-
per building restrictions, and in the
| sale Of concessions of various kinds
properly supervised. It's chief re-
turn. however. should and would be
in the general upbuilding of the city
and the surrounding territory that
would ensue. In planning for this
project, however, the possibility of
using surplus water in irrigation
should not be lost sight Of, although
it would probably be several years
before this could be expected to yield
material financial returns to che
city unless the upper reservoir for
storage be constructed at as early a
date as possible. I do not think that
the construction of the upper stor-
age reservoir (irrigation reservoir)
is warranted at this time, however
even though the physical conditions
should be found to be very favorable
, Eventually it will be needed, but the
great part of the cost should be
borne by the agricultural interests
united probably in an irrigation OF
conservancy district, and I am Of
the opinion that the time for that
has not yet arrived"
CARES FOR POE'S GRAVE