DRAINAGE OF MARSHY TRACTS. 585 



is gathered again on the western border of the marsh by the union of the 

 waters of many rills, brooklets, and springs; the marshy grounds in 

 Anthony and Ilalstad townships, also in Norman County, lying on each 

 side of the Marsh River; the great swamp in southwestern Polk County, 

 in which the Sand Hill River is lost for about 8 miles, being again formed 

 by many brooks that flow from the western edge of the swamp along a dis- 

 tance of 5 miles from south to north; the Snake River marsh in Sandsville, 

 on the north line of Polk County; the marsh in Bloomer, Parker, and Big 

 Woods, Marshall Comity, in which the Middle River is lost for 5 miles next 

 above its junction with the Snake River; and the large swamp in the north- 

 ern edge of this county, extending also into Kittson County, formed by 

 the outspread waters of the Tamarack River, which is thus lost across a 

 distance of 8 miles. 



Excavation of channels for these rivers tlu'ough their marshes and for 

 a distance of several miles below them to the depth of 5 to 10 feet below 

 the jiresent waterways, with the cutting of side ditches in the marshes, 

 will drain these wet lands, which will then have a very deep and fertile soil, 

 sufficiently dry for tillage, being doubtless the best and most enduring in 

 productiveness among all the rich lands of this valley plain. A survey for 

 a ])lan of drainage of the eastern side of the Red River Valley, lying in 

 Minnesota, was made in 1886; and the estimate by Mr. C. G. Elliott, the 

 engineer in charge, for the expenditure needed to provide the main ditches 

 and to deepen the existing watercourses is $746,228. The number of 

 acres to be benefited by the drainage is 808,600, showing an average cost 

 of 92 cents per acre. Minor ditches, which will be dug on each side of the 

 roads, following the section lines, are not included in this estimate. 



The part of this flat valley in North Dakota is dotted here and there 

 with many small marshes, but with very few that have so large an area as 

 several square miles. The most considerable in size are the marsh, 2 to 3 

 miles across, in Berlin and Hammond, Cass County, in which the Rush 

 River is lost; marshes adjoining Salt Lake, thi-ough which the Forest River 

 flows in Ardoch, Walsh County; and a low meadow, mostly mown for its 

 marsh hay, but in small part a })ernianent bog, extending 12 miles from 



