The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-28

by the weight of ice and water up.
stream has caused the lower part Of
the jam to buckle" he said. Some
OF these big cakes may be seen stick.
ing out OF the jam to q distance Of
20 feet or more.
"Other cakes were forced down.
ward when the ice pack buckled and
these have partly buried themselves
IN the river bottom, making natural
dam which impedes the flow OF
water"
Dams Cause Action
These natural dams. Regain said
account for the peculiar action OF
the stream In causing a sudden flood
at one point and q sharp drop at an
other almost simultaneously.
At one time yesterday the river at
Bismarck dropped a foot in a few
hours. At the same time it was max
Ing . proportionate rise in Apple
Creek. only four miles below the city.
The explanation that one Of the ice
dams In the upper part Of the lam
let go. releasing a large quantity of
water which was subsequently held
back by another invisible DAM
somewhere below the mouth Of Apple
Greek.
It was impossible to get near the
base Of the Ice jam from the east side
Of the river today but Regain and
Major g. r. Young, commanding the
engineers here. hoped to approach 1t
from the west side and blast out
enough Ice to open part Of the old
channel. Il this is done the rush Of
water through 1t will widen the
breach.
Dynamite will be used in the blast
Ing operation as was the case yester-
day when the engineers worked from
the east bank.
Six airplanes were at Fort Lincoln
today. including a huge bombing
plane which arrived late yesterday.
There were no bombs on hand, how
ever, and none Of the army men had
any Information as to when they
would arrive. The only definite in
formation available was that the
bombs were shipped from an arsenal
IN Illinois five days ago.
Because Of the emergency It was
assumed here that they were coming
by express. The army men learned
yesterday. however, that it is illegal
to carry explosives in a car attached
to . passenger train and the opinion
today was that the bombs were coming
by freight. Officials Of the North
ern Pacific railroad had agreed to
furnish . special train to bring the
bombs here as soon as the car con-
tanning them is turned over to that
road.
O. w. Roberts, federal meterologist
here, said today that the flood danger
here Is past II the channels which the
river has opened through the bottom
lands can b kept open. The river
% clear Of leo upstream and engineers
had no further cause for worry from
that quarter. All they have to deal !
with Is the fifty million tons packed |
n the river bed downstream.
Probably Is Worst
Roberts, who has been federal |
weather observer here for IS years,
aid the jam Is probably the worst in |
MS experience. II 1t had occurred |
loser to Bismarck and Mandan, he
aid, the worst flood in the history
y this section would have resulted.
'ie estimated that more water has
loue downstream during the last Is
layS than In any similar period Of
line IN the recorded history OF the
liver.
Major q. r.. Young and Regain,
Engineers In charge Of the army'S
fort to cope With the stream. said
10 Forge Is didntesrating under the
le4vy pressure from upstream but
hat the process Is slow and unless It
peeQs up Of Its own accord or sorne-
hing II done to speed It up It may
mpede the flow OF water for days.
Observers ct the foot Of tho gorge
vt night said the roar Of the stream
ould b heard for half q mile and
bat . Tremendous flow Of water was
scapane 1rom below the eoree.
Major Young and Mr.. ae9an said
hey would fly over the Ice pack to-
~ and determine where they will
~ % attack It With dynamite
hAreeg On their next attempt,
The process was difficult and hax.
rdouS yesterday, every man engaged
the enterpfise risking his life In
2 effort 10 paace dynamite charges
hefe tl5oy would 70 the most eu6d.
And Il was discouraeing. No soon-
: would tl1ey ct = charge 81 position
IAN the jce tortured river would
IQke auott1er twist which either
lrried the charge awAy q rendered
!. ~ y. * II