Grand Forks Herald from Grand Forks, North Dakota • 6

waMewftaOMcpHp 5S x- PAGE SEX Strong and Concise Discussion of the Stbject of Overflow of Red River Valley lands and Possible MoMs to Eliminate the Evil by the Leader of the Drainage MoveM-IMing of Delegates Last flight of Deepest Interest to General Public The first session of the International Drainage conference was called to order last evening at 8:30 o'clock by Senator M. Cashel, president of the North Dakota Drainage league. The conference was authorized by the late North Dakota drainage convention and in accordance with instructions from that organization, President Cashel asked the governors of North and South Dakota and Minnesota, and the premier of Manitoba, to name five delegates each to be present at a conference to be held in Grand Forks on February 27. In accordance, a portion or all of each delegation were present in the Commercial club rooms when ScnaLor Cashel called the assemblage to order. The delegates present were: Manitoba, Hon.

D. H. McFadden, provincial secretary of Manitoba Mayor "homas Sharp of Winnipeg Mayor J. Phillips of Morris John Wilton Reeve of Morris C. H.

Dancer, engineer cf public works of Manitoba assistant engineer of public works of Manitoba, A. T. Harrison of Winnipeg Robert Hamilton, mayor of Emerson. North. L.

Fellows, Bismarck, state engineer F. R. Atkinson, Fargo, assistant state engineer, Bismarck John E. Paulson of Hillsboro Senator J. D.

Bacon of Grand and Senator John M. Cashel of Grafton. South E. M. Bennett of Sisseton.

W. R. Hoag of Minneapolis, engineer at the University of Minnesota Geo. A. Ralph of Crookston, state drainage engineer C.

R. Nye, mayor of Moorliead exSenator P. M. Ringdahl of Crookston N. A.

Nelson, St. Hilaire. Senator Cashel in calling the conference to order, expressed the gratitude of himself and the North Dakota Drainage league at the manner in which the executives of the four divisions represented in the conference had responded to his invitat'on and the delegates themselves for coming. A Memorable Gathering Senator Cashel said that the confer'ence was a memorable one and that in the "history of the state it would be included in the events of prime importance to the state. Senator Cusliel ruled that the election of a chairman would be next in order and A.

L. Fellows moved that Mayor Sharp of Winnipeg be chairman of the convention. The motion was seconded by Senator J. D. Bacon.

The election was made unanimous. Mr. Fellows and Senator Bacon were named by Senator Cusliel to escort the newly elected official to the chair. Mayor Sharp thanked the delegates for the honor conferred and expressed I his gratitude at the friendly relations vhich exists between Manitoba and the people this side of the boundary. In fact the boundary is almost purely imaginary.

Grand Forks and North Dakota are sending some of their best people to Winnipeg and the atmo(sphere this side of the line is much the same as the other side. One peopie live on both sides. The people of Winnipeg have large ideas, they are dreaming of a time when sea-going vessels will ship 1 their cargoes at Winnipeg and steam down the Red river and out Hudson lay to the ports of the world. They are now working on a dam at St. Daniels rapids and will add a foot more iter to the lower portions of the II per.

This will raise it sufficiently to allow of the enterance of much larger boats. Mayor Sharp said that the people on this side of the line were good fellows, and if their intention was as he had tnderstood, to submerge Winnipeg in 20 feet of water, they were doing it in good He expressed the hope that the present friendly relations might never be interrupted. Major Nye Secretary. On motion of Senator Cashel, Mayor C. A.

Nye of Moorhead was made secretary of the conference. Again on motion of Senator Cashel. 8. committee of five was to be named by the chair on resolutions. Senator 'Cashel submitted a list of names and they were accepted by the chair.

They were: A. L. Fellows, Bismarck George A. Ralph, Crookston C. H.

Dancer, Winnipeg W. R. Hoag, Mini.eapolis T. R. Atkinson, Fargo.

At this point Mayor Sharp called on Senator Cashel, who delivered an address on the subject under consideration. The following is the text of the address in full: Seaator Canhel'ai Addrean. Mr. Ciiaii-uian uud Gentlemen of this Conference: In accordance with resolutions passed at the late Drainage convention, I requested the Premier of Manitoba, the Governors of Minnesota, North and South Dakota to appoint five delegates each to attend a conference to be held here this evening for the purpose cf considering drainage to a limited extent and the over-flow of the Bed river to (tallest extent I am pleased to say that these executives responded cheerfully and promptly and are now present to discuss the sub.frpts consideration. The question of drainage is being earnestly agitated, that must In the near future bear fruits when this fertile vallej urill yield bounteously, wet alike, under a skillful system of diversified farming that favorable conditions mustproduce.

A Mil tke UaHed States senate, without opposition, segregating lljONjftp from the National Reclamation fund to be loaned the counties of Pembina, Walsh, Grand Forks, Traill, Cass and Richland in this state for drainage purposes, to be returned in ten equal animal installments, without interest. It was thought, desirable to make some amendments to the senate bill, consequently Representative Gronna introduced a substitute bill in the house, embodying the amendments, which is now in the hands of the committee on irrigation of arid lands with prospects offavorable It lias the endorsement of Secretary Wilson of the agricultural department, who says in substance that the National Reclamation fund should be used for drainage as well as irrigation, the object and results are the same. Should this bill fail, which we trust it will not, it will only increase our efforts to push the work with greater energy. The ball is now in motion and we expect its momentum to increase rapidly as it moves onward. We will learn from the discussions and oppositions to the bill, where to strengthen and fortify in introducing another at the opening of the succeeding congress.

We will not rely upon this source alone for relief, although we feel confident that it will produce it. We will call drainage convention next fall to consider drainage in general and the drafting of a drainage bill in particular, to be presented TO our next legislative wsseqjbly for its consideration. We will examine the drainage laws of different states and Manitoba, which law is highly recommended, and employ able legal talent to prepare the bill. We should lie fully equipped to commence the drainage of the valley actively one year from the coming spring, either through national relief or state enactment. Manitoba and Minnesota are pushing tlie drainage of their low lands with good results.

Admitting that a universal system of drainage will be established in the Red River valley in the near future, that will bring us face to face with the all important problem of how to take care of the waters running through several thousand smooth, straight ditches varying from five to fifteen miles in length. The water that now slowly passes over flat cultivated fields will pass rapidly down these ditches, having a fall of from two to four feet per mile, which with its tributaries, will overflow the Red river rapidly unless proper steps are taken to prevent it. As our drained area increases our liability to greater floods and greater damage will increase correspondingly and the water from the river1 backing up in the ditches will escape through culverts and over low banks, thus flooding greater districts that will he damaged for cultivation and over-run with foul seed producing noxious weeds, besides the great damage to improvements and personal property. The cities along the river will be subject to serious damages to buildings, pavements and other improvements, the greatest to suffer, from its location, will be that city, the coming giantess of the north, Winnipeg. Its location near the mouth of the river will receive all the accumulated waters from above including those of the Assinaboine, which united will make a mighty torrent in flood time, rushing furiously onward endangering life and property.

The Red River valley must be drained for its prosperity and the success of the cities and towns located therein. At the same time the drainage of the valley means greater destruction of property, periodically, by floods, unless the over-flow of the Red river prevented. Now what can be dono? Each one has his own theory, but what we is a practical, scientific plan that will accomplish the object, which should be done by both governments interested, then appropriations should be extended under the supervision of skillful and experienced engineers after proper topographical surveys and hydrographical tests have been made. We can discuss here ways and means that to us may seem practical and arrive at some conclusion as to our recommendations to parliament and congress. In this connection, otte of the first things to be considered is, (io want to preserve the navigation of the Red river that decended to us as a legacy to be transmitted as a heritage 'o prosterity? I would say if possible, providing its waters can be contained at all times within its banks, but if they cannot, I would, then say no, let science and art improve on nature, so as to give adequate protection to the inhabitants along its banks.

In our government all navigable highways are under the control of the war department, which is very reluctant to pursue any course that vyill interfere with their navigation. Its object is to improve it rather than to destroy, providing the benefits will warrant the outlay. In conversation with a government engineer a days ago in St. Paul, he questioned the propriety of asking congress to make any appropriation for the Red river, unless to improve its "navigation, and incidentally to prevent its over-flow. In 1899 there was appropriated by congress as follows: For surveys having in view the improvement-of navigation of the Red river with a secondary object of its over-flow and for the Improvement of navigation in the Minnesota river, for Big Stone Lake and Lake Traverse, for Red Lake and Red Lake river, $3,000 for, Otter Tall Lake an4 river, $3,000.

In $10,000 more was appropriated to continue the' surveys. Col. Hoxle, JC 1 I government engineer, having the work in charge, states that by impounding the waters in these basins, during flood period, which would comprise about 21 per cent of thfe Red river basin or valley above Grand Forks, "while the excess flood above the bankfull capacity of the Red river at Grand Forks was in 1897 about 21 per cent of the total flow of the Red river dur-i ing the eighteen days of such excess if this surplus of 18,000,000,000 cubic feet from, the crest of the flood wave could have been intercepted and impounded in reservoirs at the critical time of the flood, the river would npt have risen above the danger line pt Grand Forks upon that occasion." Bear in mind that that was the highest flood known of since 1850 and very little is known of that. Lieut. Col.

Allen, senior member of the corps of United States engineers, estimates the cost of dams, at Lake Traverse and Big Stone lake for the improvement of the navigation c.f the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, at from $357,957 to $1,176,972, and would not recommend then-' construction for the reason the outlay would be far in excess of the benefits. To dam Otter Tail Lake and river would cost $58,095, and is not recommended as desirable. "The construction of a dam with locks at the outlot of Red Lake for the purpose of improving the navigation of the Red River of the North and the Red Lake river, Minnesota, in the manner outlined by the district officer, at an estimated cost of $270,456,600, is recommended as desirable." The Red river below Grand Forks maintains a low water depth of four feet in the channel kept BO at a cost $7,500 annually by dredging, while with a dam at Red Lake that depth can be maintained without dredging. The questions that present themselves are, will the slight benefits to navigation with its very limited scope pay for the outlay to protect it? Also will the dam at Red Lake, without dams at the other two basins, that are not recommended, prevent the over-flow ot the Red river? From the engineer's report it will not, but would reduce the volume of water about ten per cent, thus lowering it, but not confuting it within its banks. Then will" it pay to protect navigation considering the enormous losses caused by floods and what follows? It is estimated, and not contradicted, that the losses caused by the 1S97 flood equalled $7,000,000 along the entire, valley.

How long would it take to recover that amount from navigation after the government expenses to maintain it were taken out? Then let us eliminate navigation, from the river, other it and-deal with the overflow. Let us commence at its source, the junction of the Otter Tail and Bois des Sioux rivers which can be shortened to unite twenty-four miles north of Lake Traverse, which is afiout six feet lower than the lake. Lake Traverse is ten fdet higher than Big Stone Lake, its depth varies from ten to twenty feet, which by canaling will give about four feet fall from the new junction of these rivers to Big Stone Lake. To give it still greater fall the Minnesota river near Ortonville, where there are rapids, can be lowered five feet, thus giving a fall nine feet from the'junction of these rivers to the outlet of Big' Stone Lake into the Minnesota river, a distance of about sixty miles, while the Red river has an average fall of less than five inches to the mile. That would dispose of the two basins through one channel at greatly reduced cost, for only canaling need be done and no damage for flowage.

Construct the dam at Lake, then these will give us the 21 per cent in the of the overflow, holding the water within the banks of the river, in flood time. Build a dam on the Sheyenne at the most feasible place and hold back the water in its basin when required probably four per cent of the flood waters can be impounded in this basin. Besides large Jracts of land along its banks, will be protected from over-flow. We now come to another very important basin owing to the rapid descent of its being about six feet, ten inches per mile, that is the Pembina river. At Rock Lake in about 130 miles direct, the altitude is 1635 at the Red river 790 feet, a fall of 845 feet.

I can best describe this basin and its outlet, by copying from the Pembina Pioneer Express, the following: "To ascertain the volume of water passing down the Pembina river at any stated point during the flood period and the capacity of the storage basin as proposed, fortunately we have some reliable data to work upon, and by computation of same show the feasibility of the storage reservoir. "Prof. E. F. Chandler, of the University of North Datfota, acting hydrographer for the United States Geological survey, is maintaining records of the flow of the Pembina rivpr at Neche, X.

D. He has kindly furnished us with a brief summary of the results, including the months of April and May, 1904, when the stage of water Was at its maximum, allowing the flow to be the same at the junction of the Pembina in Cavalier county, is a fair estimate. We have- also the estimated capacity of the proposed reservoir on a 50-foot head dam, calculated by Dr. Charles P. Burkey, of Columbia College, New York city, made when visiting this section last season.

"By computing the average flow of water at Neche for last April and May and adding ten per cent to same in order to bring the volume of water to a high stage, we find it would take 76 days to fill the reservoir. Such being facts, all danger and damage'irom over-flows from spring floods or summer down-pours over a large area country in this county would be removed, also a much larger section of country north of us in Manitoba would be also directly benefited. The area drained'by both the Pembina' rivers above their junction is about three thousand (3000) square miles, much of it in an open and broken prairie country, so spring thaws quickly converts the snow and ice into water and 1t comes down into the Red River valley la one great volume in a veryshort Qme. "The late Prof. C.

M. Hall of the Agricultural college of North Dakota, was acting in the same capacity as Prof. Chandler until about two years but who is now dead, reported in taking the measurements of the flow of the THE EVENING TIMES, GRAND FORKS, N. Red river -during period of over-flow found that for a few days of excessive high water in the Pembina, that onefourth of the volume of water passing the International boundary line came from the Pembina river. Prof.

Chandler thinks that in ordinary periods cf over-flow that the volume of the P4mbina is one-eighth to one-tenth of the volume of water passing the International boundary line. By holding that water back in the proposed reservoir would not only relieve our county and Manitoba of much annual damage, but the cities of Pembina, Emerson, Winnipeg, etc." By confining the flood waters of this basin you will reduce the volume of water passing Into the Red river probably per cent, thus by the different processes of diverting and darning, the volutae of water in the lower river can be reduced in flood time 33 per cent, removing all danger to overflow of lands or damage to property. The next means of preventing the over-flow would be by canaling and cutting off the big bends or QX bows, by this means you would shorten the channel of the river probably 30 per cent thus giving a shorter distance and greater descent to hurry the waters onward. To illustrate: the fall of the riyer is less than 5 inches to the lineal mile, suppose we take a bend coursing six miles that would gain only one lineal mile of the river by canaling, the bend would have a fall of only one inch to the mile while the canal would have five inches which must dispose of the waters in fall and distance in much less time. By this process you would destroy navigation.

During the season normal conditions the volume of water would be limited and would pa3s through the canal system in a lower stage. The plans and systems that I have outlined are mainly for the purpose of bringing on a general discussion of the subject under consideration, the overflow of the Red river, particularly Ly the practical men of scientific knowledge who are in attendance at. this conference. In conclusion I would recommend that we arrive at some conclusion as to some plan, or plans, on which we can memorize the Dominion Parliament and congress to appoint a joiat commission of practical men as early as possible, to investigate the conditions of thg. Red river and its tributaries and report its findings and recommendations to both governments for action.

This is the first conference of the kind called for this purpose which I ams happy to say is composed of representative men from whom the public will expect practical recommendations that ultimately should produce good results. DImgiinmIOII UeffinM. At the conclusion of Senator Cashel's address, State Engineer A. L. Fellows of Jforth Dakota, desired to ask Engineer Dancer of the province of Manitoba, if the increased volume of water from the Red river resulting from Senator Cashel's scheme of Orainage, would back the water up in the Red river and damage Winnipeg.

Mr. Dancer did not believe so unless the rivef was frozen over below Winnipeg at the time of the flood. Engineer Ralph answered the question the satisfaction of Mr. Fellows by stating that the river had a fall of 15 feet from Winnipeg to the bay. Mr.

Fellows said, that the straightening of the channel of the Red river f.s Senator Cashel proposed would not destroy navigation as he stated. With the reservoir system, it would be possible to release enough water during the summer to keep navigation at its present' status. rrnf. Chandler Made Deleimte. On motion of Mr.

Felloes, Prof. E. F. Chandler of the University of North Dakota, and United States hydrographer, was admitted to the floor of the conference with the privileges of a delegate. At the request of the chair, discussion was discontinued until the address from Prof.

W. R. Hoag of the University of Minnesota was delivered. Prof. Hoag said that he was not a public speaker and was wholly unprepared, but would make a few observations.

the address was rot lengthy it was extremely instructive Prof. Hoag had been engaged' in drainage work in Minnesota for the past eight years and has had considerable practical experience. In his judgment the hardest part of the task of draining Red river valley was not confronting the engineers but the men back ot the work. The great work must lie in the field of the diplomat and the statesman. There are allies and enemies the enemies must be overcome or won over and the allies unified.

All Help Needed. The United States is making surveys and they will assist any stage in the work of study of physical conditions. Some such work has been done in the Red river on both sides. This is one of the allies. There are many problems of a purely local nature, relative to ditches, cannals, which must be Studied and overcome.

These are comparat'vely simple matters. The great flght will come in securing financial aid. The matter of ways and means will demand the greatest talent. The work should be divided when it comes before the proposed joint comnllssion. A committee formulate a plan for the manner of doing the work and provide the means.

The work for the engineers should be divided, in three parts. First and luremost should be the gathering of AagmeattaK I The second work is that of augmenting the surveys. In addition'to the surveys already made, others must be made. This will demand a large force if ft is to be done in a few seasons. Lastly the plan for accomplishing the work.

Tills will to a big jobforthe-best engineers in' the country. When these plans are formulated, the carrying ont of them Vlll be comparatively simple. Prof. Chandler 'was called for at the conclusion of the address by Prof. Hoag and delivered a short extempor- aneous address on the subject of hydrographies and thd reservoir schemes! Ptof.

Chandler says that all the engineer has to deal wlth in the valley is the spring watefs or storm waters of an extraordinary kind in the summer. While in some respects the overflow may tend to lessen, in others it grows worse. The witter when it foils, finds more ditches and means of getting into the streams than before the land was ditched or cultivated. Wrung Thing Demanded. Chandler says that the wrong thing was demanded by the war department in their survey of "Red Lake ior the purpose of lowering the.

channel and making a It was to improve navigation and not to secure relief from floods in the valley. He believes that the Red Lake project, the lowering of the bed of the Red Lake some two or four feet would be feasable and would act as a reset voir to hold back flood aters. The war department made many errors in their survey, from the fact that they had little data to work from, among other things a real flood. He estimated that they were off 25 per cent on their estimates along these lines and as to water flows. The normal flood of the Red Lake river above the confluence, is from one-half to two-thirds of the flow of the Red river below, the confluence.

This is under normal conditions. At times of high water the Red Lake is about one-third and the Red river about two-thirds above the confluence. HeMrrvoIr Will Da the Work. In the judgment of Prof. Chandler, the Red Lake reservoir will do the work of preventing floods in the Red river valley.

The lowering of the bed Jf the channel at the outlet of Red Lake will allow of the storing of enough water to lower the worst possible flood a foot at Grand Forks. It would lower the ordinary flobd, like that of two years from two to two and one-half feet. It is the last foot that does the damage. The report of the engineers of the war department favored the reservoir, scheme at Red Lake but the report was turned down as the navigation did not warrant the outlay of $270,000 on the stream. The survey was to improve navigation while what is wanted now is a survey to prevent floods.

There is a great deal of misunderstanding relative to the contemplated reservoirs. They will not be made by raising the waters of the lakes but by iowering the channels of their outlets and lowering their levels, except in flood times, when by dams they will l.e brought, to a normal lqvel. Differ. Senator Cashel complained that fengineers differed in their opinions. In 1S97, the big flood damaged Walsh county and he secured an appropriation from congress to make a survey, which was done.

These engineers and others differed in their opinions from one Major also a government engineer. Major Jones estimated that with the contemplated system of" reservoirs, the average depth of the Red river above Grand Forks could be kept at 3.5 feet and that below it could be kept at 4.5 teet the 2i2 days of the open season. He believed that reservoirs would help navigation and other engineers believe that theywould Injure navigation. He asked Pfof. Chandler to reconcile these things.

Prof. Chandler said that hydograpliic estimates were made by the average rain fall on the area drained. The trouble with the valley is that it is about one fourth drained, there are no rivers to take care of flood waters. The Red river drains 20,000 square miles with an average rain fall cf 20 inches, one inch-of which finds its way into the river. This is not exactly a desert but on the edge of one.

For instance the Susquehanna river In Pennsylvania drains about the same area but has a normal rainfall of 40 inches a year and about four of them get into the river. The river has a flow all of the time about like the Red river when its banks are full. Stavy Enter In. Many things enter into the consideration of what will happen under certain conditions and the older engineers had less data than the latter ones. The ground gets softer with: cultivation and absorbs, more evaporation is greater, and all these things enter into the question.

Ditches make the flow of water more rapid to the rivers ana the floods are acute, shorter but higher. Mr. Fellows said that Engineer Stewart who made the survey in the alley last summer, came to the conr elusion that under ordinary conditions the Red river took care of the water but it was on during flood periods that the channel was inadequate. Engineer Ralph TalkM. Engineer Ralph said that the amount of water which the ditches carried to the stream was relatively not as great as what found its way in before.

This is due to the draining of low lands and making, the soil more receptive, and under cultivation, evaporation is greater. He estimated that the work on the Red Lake channel to lower it four feet could be done and the dam pat in for $100,000. This would not include locks for navigation and allowed 10 cents per cubic yard for the excavating Instead of 20 cents, the war department estimate. There would be no trouble at Red' Lake in lowering the level of the lake nor at any other points, except above Otter Tail lake and at Brown's valley near Lake Traverse. These lakes were surrounded with rich farming country which would be damaged by the lowering of the lake.

The Otter Tail river could be sent around by the Minnesota river, but Moprhead and Fargo would object and It could not be done. vg 1 all data now extant. To- gather and compile this, topographical and hydrographical, will demand the work of a large force of compilers for some time. It is a big Jndie BeaaeU'a Warning, Bennett of South that he would take the position'today in hl's address, that the waters, of the Otter river could be sent around by the Minnesota river and, that when that wius done, navigation would be opened front Hudson Bay to the Gulf of Mexico. The sanie thing which helped' navigation Would stop floods.

The Otter, Tail control. and there would be no more floods Prof. Chandler reminded him that the Otter Tail river took a month to handle, the water that'the Red Lake handled in It week. Prof. Chandler gave the water surface of three lakes as follows lied lake 500 square miles, 64 square miles, Traverse 1,200 square miles.

The convention then adjourned to ((meet at 10 o'clock this morning. Social Setialon. After, adjournment refreshments were served in the club rooms and a smoker enjoyed while the delegates qilngled in friendly intercourse. (ContlnWed an Page For Prevent'ng tlie Overflow of the Red Also Embraces the Problem of Navigation of the Red and Minnesota Rivers. Judge Edgar M.

BennettFof Sisseton, S. who is here as a delegate to the drainage conference, is an old timer, both in the drainage movement and the development of the Northwest. Some years ago next month he came to Big Stone, and took a prominent pa ft in. politics and the drainage movement or the "Bennett Waterway Scheme," as it was then known. As mayor of Bigstone he took a prominent part In a scheme iif connection with the people of Winnipeg for the opening of a waterway from Hudson Bay to the Gulf ot Mexico.

While enjoying a social chat with an Evening Timefe man in the corridor of the Dacotah last evening Judge Bennett said: "We better prospects for the consummation of the great waterway from the foot of Big Stone lake to Lake Winnipeg, under the Major Jones plan, as reported by him to General Casey, in 1892, than ever before. There is no question about having a plentiful supply of water for navigable purposes. The old theory that there would not be water enough is cried only by those who are not conversant with the plan. The reason I speak of this is that when I first bcigan to advocate this project, twenty years ago, that was argument used against me. But if anyone will read the report of Major Jones, a civil engineer of high standing, such will be dispelled.

In personal interviews I have had with Major Jones, he says there is no question as to having plenty of water in the most droughty' under his plan, which is the reservoir system. "Every one in the Northwest is acquaftited with the destruction caused by the flootta of the Red River of the North, there naving been, since the settlement of that portion of the country, some $10,000,000 worth of property destroyed by floods. Several lives have also bean lost. No longer than the winter of 1897, over $2,000,00 worth of property was destroyed by the floods of theRed River of the North, or more in value than it would take to pay the expense of the building of this grand waterway under Major Jones' plan. IBS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1906.

rt In the valley. He Warned the! engineers of his position so that they might utterly demolish him if he were Wfong. vv HISTORY OF All of this can be prevented by simply putting a dyke at the north end of the Boise de Sioux, about fifteen 'miles south of Wahpeton, and another dyke at the foot of Big Stone lake and a lock and gate on the Otter Tail river at the nearest point to the Rabbit river channel, and forcing he waters of the Otter Tail, in the spring, south through short-distance" artificial channel to the Rabbit river down the Boise de Sioux, where it will be forced from1 the north' dyke south, through Lakes Traverse and Big Stone, to the dyke at the foot of the last named lake one grand reservoir" of ninety miles and preventing the floods of the Red River, of the North. The Otter Tail riven is the principal feeder to. the Red it thaws out earlier in the spring than, the Red river of tlie farther north, its waters flow to the ice beds of the Red River of the North and create the floods.

By its the floods are easily prevented. There is agate connected with, the lock on the Otter Tail 'When the is closed, the water is forccd south' into the reservoir. When, the gate is lifted, the water of the Ottor Tall resumes its natural Thus the waters of the Otter Tail are under absolute control. Hence, the damage is prevented and the surplus waters are held intact, to be used at will as a geoefit. "Big Stone lake, being a feeder- to the Minnesota river, would be' the means pf furthering navigation on the-' Minnesota river south, under the reservoir plan, so that fair-sized boats coold be used for navigable- purposes on the Minnesota river the twin cities.

Just remember that I do "not pretend to say that the ninety-mile resertotr would hold all of the surplus flood waters that create all the of the Red River of the North. But it' would hold a sufficient amount' of such waters with what it could get lid of as a feeder to the Minnesota river and its created reservoirs further south, to prevent the floods of the Red River of the North and make navigation south to the twin cities. Congressman McCleary has as I learn, a strong advocate of the theory I advance' pertaining to navigation of the Minnesota river to Big Stone lake. "The same principle would be utilized in the creation of navigation on the north to Lake Winnipeg. That is, the reservoir system and the straightenlng out in many places of the Rejl river channed.

Thus navigation would be created to Lake Winnipeg. In fact, citizens of Winnipeg have been strong supporters of this waterway ever since I began to agitate it, in 1880. I have communications in my possession as far-back ap Nov. 28, 1885, from C. B.

Hamilton, the mayor of Winnipeg, wherein he and his council took great interest in. the work. Also from Geo. A. Stewart, civil engineer of Winnipeg, who has written many lengthy comm'unicatlons as to tjbe great worth if the project rind the gfeat benefits to be derived therefrom.

'Under the Jones Pten we wouty have 990 miles of Interior waterway, fyom the foot of lake, taking In Sake 'Winnipeg and the Red Lake country, outside of the Minnesota river. Would be the if once consummated, of creating a further waterway down the Nalson rlver, atvthe north of Lake Winnipeg, to Hudson bay In other 'we would have one grand waterway communication from thejgulf of Mexico to bay. Many have made the objection that it Is frozen up too long from Hudson bay but any one will take the pains to investigate will find that the1 season Is only two weeks -shorter than at Diiluth. The only reason that steamers have never been used' from is because the'country as yet is sparsely populated and is controUed by the Hudson Bay Fur company, which Is one with the Canadian 'Pacific company, and is yet under their absolute control. They at this, time prefer the long over their line of railway.

As far back, as 1888, Premier Greenway attempted to organize a railway company for the purpose of a line of road from Lake Winnipeg to the nearest point cn Hudson bay, 152 miles length, and had subscriptions of some $500,000,000 of stock for this purpose in London. But the, project was strangled by a greater" power, which was supposed to be-the Hudson Bay Fur company and the Canadian Pacific railway company. "The1 outlet of every one of the reservoirs would furnish a water-power which could be utilized to charge the dynamos and run the boats by electricity, if necessary. These several waterpowers could be used according to their location for numerous'purposes in some localities, for sawmills and plaining in others, for flouring mills and paper mills. At theifoot of Big Stone there would be a grand water-power, with a sixteen-foot fall.

It would be necessary to construct a dyke at that point, a mile-and-one-half in length and some twenty feet highv and at that pofnt the water would be about sixteen feet in depth. It would create one of the finest water-powers there is in the west, and its immense granite mountains could be utilized and numerous polishing Works could' be constructed. Remember, your courthouse in Minneapolis, is built of this granite. The prairie country would be made accessible, to the timbered country. The twin cities could be furnished: with lumber from the Red Lake country, all by water.

Besides, it would make the Dominion government's interests identical with our what we want Make her interests ours, and our hers, and after a while the marriage bells will ring and we will be one nation, under the old flag. lp2P Dnt.Ah,atu (Continued from pase'Di ii later overcome procrastination 's little short Of criminal. The member of the Endowment rank young in should demand in no uncertain tones that the excess of payment should be reserved for his use and benefit in tile future and. the member older in should and must feel confidents that some methodwill be devised 'out of the fraternal spirit of the order that will impose no undue hardship upon him he hashad his protection for many years at an inadequate price, and in justice to others, he should feel eventhough the burden- may seem large, to bear at least a portion of it the- members of the order at large who do not belong to the Endowment rank shoufd take a pride in putting this institution' ia a position where they may point it as a monument to. the skill and intelligence of the order from a business.

standpoint every motive seems to induce a thorough examination by every naember of its condition and' theprompt application' of adequate means of Mlnet, S' With, kindest I am, v- GEOi A. BANGS. $5. "Why so blue, Reggy?" "Wliy, confound it, I was -goose I enough to ask Miss Dashing to be my wife. I havent enough at present support myself, so I must set the date1 as far distant asN possible." that's all right, old man.

her you will marry her the day the Panama canal is News, 1 1 CLABK HOVFEY'' WILLIAM 1 1 Subscribe for The Evening '3 ATXpRNET.AT.LAW.. tr Seafteld Bloik H. IK ZIMMERMAN ARCHITECT SmMI Block. Robert H. 'Boaard.

ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW. w-i N. D. Ed. Miencier Contracting Building M'-' George Ryerson.

Dudley Nash. BOSABD, RYERSON ft NASH mmm A-i-eiS a.