The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-09-25
ENGINEERS DECLARE
SCHEME PRACTICAL
IN SPECIAL REPORT
Outside Cost Of Water Conser.
walton Project Placed At
$65,376,50o
WOULD RAISE LAKE ~ FEET
Giant Dam Near Garrison in
Missouri Would Back Wa
ter to Williston

FORT which they said declared the
Missouri diversion project not only
feasible and practical but vital ne
cessity to North and South Dakota
and parts of Minnesota, officials Of
the Missouri River Diversion associa-
ton returned here Sunday to prepare
a draft for presentation to Washing
ton.
The report was drawn by q Kansas
City, Mo-, engineering firm and was
presented In preliminary form at Far
60 Saturday to F. w. Murphy, region
al director Of the federal public works
program, and to 8. J. Doyle. Henry e.
Holt and Thomas H. Noodle. members
of the North Dakota public works adj
visory board.
Outside cost estimates for the prof.
ect were placed at SIS ,376, 500 the re-
vised plans propose dam In the Mis-
eouri river south Of Garrison. N. D.,
c:lly 40 feet high instead Of 100 feet
as previously planned.
This dam, the officials said, will
provide complete flood and navigation
control on the Missouri river and pro-
duce as high as IS 900 horsepower for
use on lines now existing In the d.
Fotas as q hydro-electric development.
This power development, 1t was point
ed out, would pay the entire cost and
maintenance and operation Of both
the power plant and the diversion
works.
Raise Lake Il Feet
Under the new plan. the level Of
Devils Lake would be raised about "a
feet and could be raised higher II de-
sired. Plenty Of water would be fur
rished for the James and 6heyenne
rivers and several lakes In their val
leys with consequent rise In water
tables of the surrounding areas.
Total acreage to be improved by the
project was estimated at 10000 900,
exclusive Of Minnesota acreage near
the Red river OF the north.
The report said q large portion Of
the money spent on the project would
be paid for unskilled labor and that
It would be possible to begin work In a
very short time, II and when approved
by Washington. The project could be
attacked from several points at the
same time.
Water In the Missouri river above
the dam would be stored In q lake ex-
tending to the outskirts of Williston,
and q constant flow Of water would be
maintained below the dam In the river
by automatic spillway gates, prevent
Ing channel shifting and flood dam
tt&A ~ AR fAv TIA SSAHNsftN
Of the Missouri.
It was pointed out the project would
dovetail with federal plans for con-
troll Of floods on the lower Mississippi
and, with other projects existing OF
contemplated. would greatly minimize
danger Of flood damage in southern
states.
In Line With Program
The project is entirely In line with
other all-federal projects. contributing
to the nine-fold federal program al
ready under way. diversion officials
said. Phases in which the proposal i
declared to be logical Is a fedora
project are: conservation Of natura
resources, power development, irriga.
ton and reclamation, forestation. pro-
lection and propagation Of wild game
life, public health. social welfare. un.
employment relief. and conservation
and relief Of valuable urban, agricll.
tural and industrial areas.
The proposed dam was described II
the report Is an earthftll construction
impounding 10 million acre feet o
water. so feet thick at the crest. ant
crying paved road across the val
ley. At the base It would be 4 quartz,
Of q mile thick and the total WIDTH
from bluff to bluff, little better thar
two miles. 4
The cite near Garrison was said I,
be advantageously located.
Regional Director r. w. Murph,
urged the report be rushed to fina
completion and that It be presentel
to members Of oil public works adyi
sorry boards In the region and to sena
tors and congressman from the state
involved at an early meeting to b
held In st. Paul. .s
Immediately after this, It was ex
pected the report will be taken d
washington by representatives Of tl1
diversion association and laid befor
the president and secretary Ickes.