NATIONAL EECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. 485 



XORTII DAKOTA. 



Pumping proiects. — Three pumping projects are contemplated in 

 western North Dakota for the purpose of raising water from the 

 Missouri River to irrigate bench hinds which can not be reached 

 by feasible gravity systems. Steam and electric power will be used 

 for pumicing, the power to ])e developed from lignite coal, which is 

 found in amj^le quantities on Government lands adjacent to the 

 l^rojects. 



WdUston project. — This is one of the most unique projects of the 

 Reclamation Service. The jNIissouri River has a habit of constantly 

 cutting its banks and changing its channel, so that it would be 

 impossible to locate any structure for the diversion of water by 

 gravity unless enormous expense were incurred to protect it from the 

 scour of the stream: moreover, its grade is so flat that any gravity 

 canal would be of prohibitive length. Fortunateh', large beds of 

 lignite were discovered in the vicinity, affording cheap fuel, and the 

 engineers conceived the plan of building a power house at the coal 

 mines and conveying the power by electric conduits to the river. 

 Their ingenuity did not cease here. Instead of the costly works 

 required to protect the banks, the pumps will be located on floating 

 barges which will accommodate themselves to changes in the channel 

 and in the water level. 



The water will be delivered through pipes with flexible joints into 

 several basins located at sufficient distance from the shore to be safe 

 from encroachment by the shifting river. From these basins the 

 water will be pumped into canals to cover the irrigable lands. These 

 basins will also serve for the purpose of settling the silt, large quan- 

 tities of which are carried in solution by the Missouri River. During 

 the winter season the barges will be drawn out of the water and 

 hauled to points where they will be safe from ice gorges and sudden 

 freshets and the basins can be cleaned out. 



About 19,000 acres in the Muddy Valley in and about Williston 

 will receive water from this system. The bottom lands adjacent to 

 Buford and Trenton and the famous Xesson Valley, comprising an 

 area of approximately 21.000 acres, will also be benefited by pumping 

 systems. 



The soil is loam, with a slight mixture of sand, and produces good 

 crops without irrigation in years when there is unusual rainfall. 

 "With an assured water supply this valley will undoubtedly be one 

 of the most productive in the Northwest. It is adapted to the grow- 

 ing of all the hardy cereals and forage plants, and sugar beets will 

 prove a profitable crop. Garden vegetables do well, irrigated pota- 

 toes yielding as high as 450 bushels per acre. There is an extensive 

 range for live stock, and this should assure a profitable market for 



