The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-10-02


spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights Of republication Of Ill other
matter herein are also reserved.
Bismarck Would Benefit
1t 10 an open secret that not all
Bismarck residents arc enthusiasts
about the Missouri river diversion
project, which 20 far has found It's
chief inspiration ct Devils Lake.
The reasons for their attitude vary
from q fear that diversion would dry
up the river here and carve m en-
tirely new channel through the east
ern part Of the state, to the less laud-
able conclusion that Bismarck would
help itself by depriving its sister cit
les in North Dakota Of . chance to
improve their water supplies.
Neither position seems justified on
the basis Of available information.
water for diversion would b taken
from the Missouri only ct flood time
and would equal only about one per
cent Of the total annual flow. In re-
turn for that, the area below the
proposed diversion dam at Garrison
would be freed from the menace Of
floods and . more stable flow would
b. injured.
A humorous commentator once OBJ
served that the Missouri Is the only
great river from which dust blows.
The gentleman apparently saw It only
at low water. but there Is . grain Of
truth In the remark. The low-water
stage Of the Missouri has exceeded
al previous marks In recent years.
There Is no immediate threat Of a
water shortage here, since even ct
its lowest recorded flow the Missouri
could supply the water needs Of mil
lions Of people, but It would be more
satisfactory to have m even flow
Construction Of the huge retaining
dam would insure the lower valley
against both floods and unduly low
water levels. From that standpoint
It would be . blessing.
Granting, only for the sake Of ar
gument, that Bismarck might benefit
were other North Dakota cities to be
handicapped BY lack Of water. there
stu Is much to Be said against a
dog in the Manager" position.
First Is the matter Of effect on the
climate. Water levels have been low
ering in North Dakota for years. In
some counties wells have gone dry
and farmers have had to haul It in
much the same way that Bismarck's
original waterworks system operated.
In Benson county, according to re-
ports, there Is only one good well in
q wide area. If It falls the effect
would be to practically depopulate
several townships.
Filling up Devils Lake would do
much to restore the sub-surface wa
ter level. It would create large body
Of water to give off moisture rather
than to absorb It from the air.
Restoration OF numerous other
lakes and sloughs might do much to
restore normal rainfall. It Is appar-
ent now that the hand Of man has
unset the balance Of nature ana the
best thing we can do Is Join In re-
storing it. Minnesota, which drained
large areas at huge expense only to
find them worthless for agriculture,
might well adopt the same policy.
She would help herself and Us, too. II
she would plug up some Of her DRAIN
are bitches and return large tracts
in northern and northwestern parts
Of tho state to their virginia. condi-
ton.
Minot has gotten behind the d.
version project In frank anticipation
that its acceptance By the govern
ment would mean the expenditure Of
4 vast amount of money IN her trade
area.
It probably Is true that much of
the money paid out in wages would
b spent in the Ward county seat.
but not all by any means. Bismarck
draws . considerable amount Of
trade from that district and large
amount OF the freight and other traf.
Tic which it would produce would pass
through this city. d many ways.
Bismarck would b . direct benefi-
ciaty II this project were 70 b 90
espted BY the federal government.
II certainly would DO " moes sod
than II the. proposal to erect . dam
On Nontana's Fort reck Indian res-
eryation = approved.
The government apparently = -.
I'M to do something about the 4ls-
noe,rd. It would benefit u most Il
IL action ware applied aions tho 60
miles Of river vhich news through
11eeth Dakota.
he Price of . Happya Marriage
Thooe unsayosy court proceedings
q Los AnCoie2 wh1ee tn law h1ed
q finld out utethsr . 1oemef naoVis
A6A 8. 49, saak a~asAA = WAaaeAn