CS NS ie EN NR eee OES Me peed BOR Pr Re NT ag TE Sep ae ye es ee 
. 
418 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
Traverse as a reservoir by means of a dam at Breckenridge. This 
would seem to be a feasible and economical method of solving the 
question of the Red River of the North permanently, and hence I 
consider the matter worthy of the favorable attention of the govern- 
ment. In order that it may be fully investigated and the estimates 
called for submitted, a survey will be necessary, for which purpose, 
I estimate, the sum of $6,000 will be necessary. 
AREA OF THE RESERVOIRS. 
Maj. Jones estimates the area of the Red lake reservoir at 1,930 ; 
square miles with 9,000,000 cubic feet of water for each square mile, : 
or 17,370,000,000 cubic feet of water output in one year. The area of : 
the Lake Traverse reservoir is estimated at 2,450 square miles, or ”q 
22,050,000,000 cubic feet of water. He further estimates that this | 
would add an average of 2,000 cubic feet of volume to the Red river : 
at Grand Forks in low water, giving a navigable draft of 5% feet be- 
low this city to the boundary line. 
NAVIGATION OPENED. 
Again quoting from the conclusion of Maj. Jones’ report: 
“There is still another aspect to this matter. The stored-up wat- 
ers in Red Lake river distributed uniformly during the open season 
through Red Lake river would render it navigable for small craft. 
One or more dams and locks at the falls near Thief river and at 
Crookston, would enable boats to pass up to the reservoir dam; 
passing this by means ofa lock, they could proceed to the head of 
the lake. From this point to Rainy Lake river, there is a marsh all 
the way, a distance of fifty-five miles, and hence a canal could be 
cheaply constructed across, and an outlet via Crookston and Grand 
Forks would thus be afforded for the timber and other products of 
the extensive Rainy Lake country, which at present has no outlet in 
the United States.” 
The object these gentlemen have in view is the navigation of the 
waters mentioned. But a weightier question arises—whether the 
reservoir and canal system proposed can also be applied for irriga- 
tion; probably not, if navigation only is to be promoted, for there 
might not be water enough to go round. But the interests of agri- 
culture, which includes forestry as its prime factor, takes the pre- 
cedence of navigation. Were the reservoir system extended as Maj. 
Jones suggests, and used mainly to head a vast irrigation system, 
under right forestation of the spring lands, it would pay a hundred 
fold more to the people than navigation at its most prosperous times 
of commerce. There is no call for such navigation unless our crops 
warrant it,and to warrant it agriculture must have special rights 
here, even if navigation must then fall back to the rear. 
Hand pollenization of apples has been practiced for many years, its 
advocates believing that they can thus secure perfect crosses. This 
might be done but for heredity. As far as I know, no valuable va- 
rieties for Minnesota have been thus obtained. Give us an orchard 
of best adapted apples and crabs and a few swarms of bees, and we 
will get more valuable crosses in a day than can be secured by the 
hand of a bungling man ina lifetime. It is not best to waste time 
in trying to search out the hidden mysteries of God unless a pro- 
fessor has nothing else to do. H. S. Dartt. 
i Pee ee ee a ee he ee 
