rrigation Paper No. 193 Series L, Quality of Water, 19 DEPARTR1 E.NT OF THE INTERK >R TED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WA.LCOTT, DIRECTOR JALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN MINNESOTA R. B. DOLE AND F. F. WESBROOK WASHINGTON GOVEENMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1907 "Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 193 Series L, Quality of "Water, 19 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR THE QUALITY OF SURFACE WATERS IN MINNESOTA Water Resources Brandy Geological Survey, S^ 3 ; 3 : 06, Capitol Static* -,i " _,'._1CI <>_y-v/) R. B. DOLE AND F. F. WESBROOK WASHINGTON GOVKltNMKNT J'RINTING OFFICE 190T CONTENTS. Introduction ........................................................... 7 Natural features ................................................ 9 Topography ......................................................... 9 Hydrography ...................................................... 10 Riven?. ...... .................. ................. 10 Lakes ............................................................ 11 Drainage ditches.. .......................................... 13 Floods. ..... .............. .............. ............. 13 Climate ........ ...... ... ....... ... ................ 15 Temperature. ...................................................... 15 Period of frost. .................................................... 16 Precipitation .............................................. 16 Summary. ......................................................... 17 Geologic formations and soiln ............................................ 18 Geologic formations. ................................................ 19 Soil and subsoil. .................................................. 21 Economic development ..................................................... 21 Population. .............................................................. 21 Principal industries. .................................................. 22 Agriculture. ...................................................... 22 Lumbering. ....................................................... 23 Commerce. ....................................................... 24 Mining. ........................................................... 24 Water-borne diseases. ........................................................ 26 General discussion ...................................................... 26 Typhoid fever. ........................................................ 27 Cause and prevalence. .............................................. 27 Epidemics. ....................................................... 29 Improved care, control, and report of typhoid fever. ................. 30 Other water-borne diseases. ............................................ 33 Stream pollution. ......................................................... 33 Sewage. ............................................................... 33 Industrial wastes. ..................................................... 34 Mississippi River basin above Minnesota River. .............................. 35 General description. .................................................... 35 Boundaries. ........................................................ 35 Source, course, and slope of the river. ............................... 35 Storage reservoirs. .................................................. 37 Tributaries of Mississippi River. .................................... 38 Geology. ......................................................... 38 Soil and subsoil. .................................................. 39 Industrial pollution. ................................................... 40 Kinds of pollution ................................................. 40 Lumbering. ....................................................... 40 3 4 CONTENTS. Mississippi River basin above Minnesota River Continued. Page- Industrial pollution Continued. Paper mills............................................. ......... 42 Sugar industry.................................... 7^............... 42 Other industries................................................... 43 Municipal pollution.................................................... 44 Probability of pollution............................................ 44 Population......................................................... 44 Conditions on the Mississippi....................................... 46 General conditions............................................. 46 Conditions at Grand Rapids.................................... 46 Conditions at St. Cloud......................................... 46 Conditions at Minneapolis....................................... 47 Typhoid fever..................................................... 48 Quality of water.......................................................... 49 Notes on municipalities................................................ 59 Minnesota River basin...................................................... 65 General description..................................................... 65 Boundaries....................................................... 65 Course and slope of Minnesota River ................................ 65 Tributaries of Minnesota River...................................... 66 Topography....................................................... 67 Geology.......................................................... 67 Soil and subsoil................................................... 68 Industrial pollution................................................... 68 Municipal pollution.................................................... 69 Population......................................................... 69 Conditions on the Minnesota........................................ 70 General conditions............................................ 70 Conditions at Ortonville........................................ 70 Conditions at Mankato.......................................... 71 Conditions at mouth of river................................... 71 Typhoid fever....................................................... 72 Quality of water........................................................ 72 Notes on municipalities................................................ 80 St. Croix River basin...................................................... 86 General description..................................................... 86 Boundaries....................................................... 86 Character and slope of St. Croix River.............................. 86 Tributaries of St. Croix River...................................... 87 Geology.......................................................... 87 Soil and subsoil................................................... 88 Industrial pollution................................................... 89 Lumbering........................................................ 89 Starch making..................................................... 89 Municipal pollution.................................................... 90 Population and pollution.......................................... 90 Typhoid fever....................................................... 92 Quality of water........................................................ 92 Notes on municipalities................................................ 94 Mississippi River basin between Minnesota River and the Iowa line........... 96 General description..................................................... 96 Area discussed.................................................... 96 Character and slope of Mississippi River............................. 96 CONTENTS. 5 Mississippi River basin between Minnesota River and the Iowa line Cont'd. Page- General description Continued. Tributaries of Mississippi River................................ 97 Topography....................................................... 97 Geology.......................................................... 97 Soil and subsoil................................................... 98 Industrial pollution..................................... ............. 98 Municipal pollution.................................................... 99 Population and sources of pollution.................................. 99 Typhoid fever..................................................... 101 Quality of water........................................................ 102 Notes on municipalities................................................ 106 St. Louis River basin....?.................................................. Ill General description..................................................... Ill Boundaries.....................................................1. Ill Character and slope of St. Louis River............................... Ill Tributaries of St. Louis River....................................... 112 Geology.......................................................... 112 Industrial pollution................................................... 113 Municipal pollution.................................................... 115 Quality of water........................................................ 117 Notes on municipalities.................................................. 120 Red River basin.......................................................... 122 General description..................................................... 122 Boundaries....................................................... 122 Character and slope of Red River.................................... 123 Tributaries of Red River...........................................