The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-01-07

IkvCE 6llU Ot0A ACt0AAA WAAS AAWs~oS
of the Missouri through this city.
Lake Drying Up For rs Years
For the last 26 years, Kennedy SAID.
Devils Lake has fallen at the rate o.
five inches q year. Some years II
has even risen a little, but the down.
ward tendency always continues.
Last summer 1t fell Is inches.
Engineer Kennedy went into q E
scription Of his work, explaining Inc
division Of 1t into Investigations OF
irrigation, hydrometry. flood control.
river and lake improvements ana
meterology, Kennedy said irrigation
has proved to be q practical failure N
this area because Of the short season,
limited choice Of crops and the desire
Of many farmers to take q chance on
rainfall. With lis private water
rights issued, only eight persons Era.
Gated In 1928 q total Of 634 acres.
Flood irrigation, which consists OF
damming q small stream and permiS.
ting It to overflow the land may
proye more successful, Kennedy SAID
Canadian UAtS EAeApAuA
six Canadian weather stations are
furnishing reports on snow ana otner
Conditions on the Mouse river water
shed which are valuable In studying
flood in that stream, Kennedy SAID.
He added that the army engineering
corps at st. Paul IS preparing z re-
port on the problem TOR review 0y
congress.
Commenting on = protest by Bis
rarck and other Missouri river points
arainst diversion Of the flood waters
81 the stream, Kennedy said the the
NV that diversion would interfere
With NAVIGATION are unfounded ana
that navigation interests Is = whole
have only benefits to reap from any.
thing that is done to the MISSOURI
pointing to the creation Of small
lakes At Beulah and New England by
dammine small streams, Kennedy said
similar projects could be Launched
elsewhere to advantage. A little re-
arranging Of the flow In the streams
anal iakes Of the Turtle Mountains
would make that region . fine recre-
alton center which would compare
fayorably with out-of-state resorts,
he said.
Fears Unwarranted, He Says
or the Missouri river diversion
project he said:
"The Missouri river dtversion mas
been 50 amply promoted that the heat
Of discussion Is still quite abundant.
But 4 new note Of discord has ap-
neared In Missouri river towns. which
Is rather interesting to say the least.
Nayisation interests now appear an
taronistic. assume their objection
IA that II q small amount is allowed
for these eastern Dakota cities. when
they need more water they Will con.
tinue to increase their appropriation
until navigation might be actually
affected.
Il rise to suggest that that y an
entirely unwarranted apprehension.
The average June flood In the Mis-
souri, river is 5000 cubic feet per
second on q 35-year record. The ~
craze minimum flow Is 1000 cubic
feet q second. The amount physically
possible to divert to the James
sheycnnc watersheds depends upon
the feasible reservoir In which 70
store It. These ~rerserviors must first
take care Of the storm and snow VA
ter flow in their own streams. Excess
capacity avilable for the Missouri
river has not yet been worked out
but It Is my opinion that not to ex.
coed 500 cubic feet second. or about
one.half Of 1 per cent Of our ordinary
June flood can be diverted and stored
In these local reservoirs. This would
not be Q continuous ataour,t, nor even
an annual diversion. It would oil b
oncrated under q general unified
ulan. Navigation interests, ~ q
whole. have only benefits to reap from
anything that Is done. to the Missouri
river.
New Impetus to River Navigation
.sThN Missouri river development
commission Is the result Of q rathe!
unique piece Of legislation. In that y
assigned no duties aside from that
inferred In the title. No compeusa-
iona is allowed, aside from Necessary
travclinx expenses. II = Z result Of
tho agitation over tho diversion
scheme.
.rausation on the Missouri river
has. receiyod . now impetus since thu
SinIand waterways convention at 81
Louis. November lila. te2e. At leass
two tangible results came from y
first, the necessary impetus % cause