The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-08-21
BRIDGES MAY
: BE LEFT AS
HIGH AND DRY.
,&~G
Further Changing Of Channel
Would Also Cut Washburn
: Off River
u. S. ENGINEERS INSPECT
Federal Government May Do
Some Revetment Work
y This Winter
u. s. ENGINEERS INSPECT

,.Bismarck-H -HanAaa bridge and two
as st'dss: ss:n..s "a eni:sssssa' sssSa
ehanee Of being isolated
from the M,ssou.i river. un-
less steps arc taken IN the near fu.
ture to keep the river from wander
ing farther from its course. Ri
road. avigation and A'""way OFF,
-als and federal engineers are OF
hat -pinion. aftes an investigation
Of tie situation, the latest part OF
which was trip undertaken this
/, week along the west bank from Man.
dan to S{nish. With local men and
officials from the Twin Cities were
Major c. d. Gee and Captain H. l..
Robb, United States engineers corps,
with headquarters at Kansas City.
on whose report the United States
government undoubtedly will decide
what proportion Of the cost for the
necessary improvements along the
river it should bear.
Project Affects Many
It is contended that inasmuch as
the State of North Dakota built the
one bridge and is building the two
others, on the understanding that
,aavigaton should be a continued as
surance. it has q primary interest
in their protection; that the bridges
be not left "high and dry" with the
stream elsewhere needing to be cross
ed. The towns adjacent to the
river. railroad companies, utility COM
panies and others interested like
wise, are involved in the project,
with the federal governments appar-
emily willing to help what It can. :.
The federal government will spend
$4,000 this year in snagging work
along the upper Missouri but it is
wet prOblematical what it will do
about revetment work. which. is the
most important part to be done TO
hanr the channel, in its present
"of course, I can only .mske recom-
mendations." said Major Gee. 1T
will be up to my chief to decide wnat
the government will do up here. We
IRE Spending $4,000, 900 this year in
improvements along the lower Mis-
souri,, with companies affected con-
tributing their share Of the expense.
That sum has already been allotted
for the work there but it is n0ssible
that . small part of 1t might De
: Inverted to the work necessary mere
this year. Next year. of course. the
appropriation could be divided to
allow bigger share for improve
ments in this section. On that point.
however. l repeat | can only give
an opinion. not promise.
Only Initial Expenditures
"In my estimation. it will cost be-
tween. $4,000 and $4,000 for re-
yetment and other work necessary
to protect the three bridges. This
!. would only be an initial expenditure;
the expense kept down to the mimi
ynum -
Major Gee said there is real
need of doing something to protect
the channel in the vicinity of Wash
burn. It is estimated that the river
has changed it's course about 200
feet within the past year, at . point
near the so-called Mandan lake, which
is about. six miles northwest OF
Washburn. The channel Is now only
about 900 feet from the lake. 1t is
said. At the present rate OF chang
ing. the river channel would compar-
I Ativelv cut into the lake, with the
result that the town OF Washburn
and the territory around would be
cut off from the river. This would
mean, it is urged, that Not only
would Washburn be deprived OF its
water supply and navigation no lon
ger possible to its docks, but that
It would be hard blow to the $4OO,-
900 steam power plant, now under
construction near Washburn by the
otter Tail Power company. This
phlant is being built in that location
because Of the water afforded by the
river for cooling purposes, big eco.
nomical saving. in the operation OF
The plant.
The Washburn Community club APP
ro;nied q committee to meet with
...S;t;n~ da1aUakinn Nf engineers
!, ,,and others and the need Of revet-
ment work was discussed. The visit
nrs also met with q number OF men,
representing Sanish and surround
;rrs. The trip did not take in Will
ston this time, for the army engin-
aers mad made = previous investi-
cation OF the situation there.
Busy at DeapOlis
The trip also included Deapolis,
where there has been heavy rock
like work to prevent the destruc-
!. 1tion of the landing and the marine
leo extended. The government may
extend the dixie there and do other
work. ., i
bismarck Mandan sttuation, wth re-
spect to the channel, - thrsAtenlng.
improvements are necessary not only
4. fnr nrotection Of the bridges but
aiso 10 safeeuard the water supply.
The Northern Pacific has already de-
cided 10 lengthsn its intake pipe.
while Il is considered - only, mat
Tar al 4 short time before the City
~ Mandan would have 70 make .
similar extension. Bismarck seems
tn be fully equipped In that regard.
l~hlthoueh it, mere interest In the
BRIDGE warrants attention to the con-