The Bismarck tribune., 1929-03-28
Thousands Of Acres Of Farm
Land Inundated and Ruined
by Racing Waters
FISH AND ANIMALS KILLED
New Siblsy Island Created;
Countless Trees Cut Down:
New Channels Formed


Countless Trees Cut Down;
New Channels Formed
Thousands of acres Of farm land
inundated and ruined. other thou
sands washed away, new islands
formed and hundreds OF dead fish
and animals. countless numbers of
trees cut down by icy axes. damaged
roads and highways. That Is the toll
exacted by the mighty Missouri.
Wednesdays precipitous rise at
Bismarck and Mandan was reflected
for many miles along both sides OF
the river.
The ice came down first, grinding
and chewing away at the sand and
clay banks. gurgling gleefully 1t the
damage wrought. Followed the ram
paging currents. slicing and carving
their fill Of cultivated fields In Bur
leigh and Morton counties.
No bottom-lands farmer along the
Big Muddy Is ever sure that what he
farms this year will be farmed next
year. He knows that his neighbor
across the river may be cultivatin9
MS soil next year, or, as the vaRaries
OF the brown flood may choose, add
his neighbor's soil to that of his
own. It is true today as It was so
years ago when the river first played
is tragic prenkS on unsuspectinx
pioneers.
Watches Farm Disappear
At HUFF where the great gorge
first formed 10 days ago. stude
woodward has watched his corn and
wheat fields disappear. Across the
river, the story Is the same. Seeking
It's way around the ice blockade, the
mao stream cut new courses at the
expense Of woodward and his neirh-
bors.
Bismarck has q park on siblev
island. Spoken OF in the sinoular.
there are really three islands south
% bismarck. That Is. there were
three islands until the Missouri start
ed on Its annual spring hiking trim
70 the Mississippi. Now there are
TOUR islands. say residents Of the
wooded lands there. The river cut
through = bayou on the north side Of !
the island. chopped its way throueh q !!
road and formed the new island.
Great swaths have been cut throrvh
he cottowoods, elm and oaks on Sin
~ Island. The death cries Of tho
aliing trees could be plainly heard on
ne bluffs overlooking this paradise
4 woodland and Wild life AZ the
usgernaut ice field and Arctic berrs /
raSned and knitted their vay
through.
River Gobbles willows
Other trees and the river bank vil.
ows nave been gobbled up by the
7orlo's longest river. As soon rs
he ice melts they will form snars.
odse against sand bars to start the |,
OF new islands and clog the
iouths OF small streams Of the Mis-.
ourt watershed. l.
Apple Creek, In summer a brook
aat Tennyson has described. became
oerserk torrent Wednesday. backing
3 Ior many miles. engulfing in its
atery nav. hay and straw stacks.
9 cabins, chicken. hog. and cattle
lrns.
Thousands Of fish unable to swim :
round or under the gorge, followed !,
'e backwaters into the creek. AS
lddenly as the flood rose. It fell and
~ the fish floundering on the banks.
Horses Left to Drown II
Horses. once the most cherished /.
almal OF the farmer. are worth little :
DAY. Many horses have been re- :
'rted drowned In the valley fields. =
'eir owners too busy removing live
ock and poultry to think of saving :
d Dobbin, fenced in.
Foachers and violators of the game !.
ws have taken . heavy toll Of deer.
q game wardens say. Forced out
the bottom lands. the frightened :
'er have proved easy targets for the :
rifle.
Rabbits, raccoons and Wildcats have
en- seen floating to their deaths on :.
lge cakes Of Ice.
Ihere are some blessing that have :
mo, With the floods, the bottom y
rmers Will tell you. Pocket gophers. =
purge Of cultivated land and corn p
|bs. have been drowned BY thou-
nd9. The dregs Of soil that will be 9
9 ~ the flood. and the water Il. q
4. VIII cultivate and provide q
lervtor Of moisture that win last for u