Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-12-12
THE VALUE OF IRRIG ALTON.

THE VALUE OF IRRIG ALTON
The soil on the Missouri slope is won-
derfully productive, the climate is all
that could be desired and but for the ire.
quent long periods in the summer season
when the rainfall is insufficient this coun-5
try would be a veritable paradise for
wheat as we'll as diversified farming.
There are vast tracts of land on the Mis-
souri, slope that might be successfully
irrigated, and irrigation means from a
half to double increase in the production
of any soil in any country. There is not
a country on earth but that is subjected
to frequent drouth periods and conse-
quent partial failure of crops. BY irri-
CATION the moisture may be had when it
is most needed and the highest produce
ton in crop yield produced. To argue
in favor Of irrigation, therefore, is not to
admit that it is necessary to the success
full cultivation of the soil in North Dako-
ia, but by its application thousands,
yes, millions of land now of little use, ex-
cept for grazing purposes, might be re-
deemed and be made to produce wonder
full crops and sustain a comparatively
dense population.
While the TRIBUNE has always and
expects to continue arguing in favor Of
appropriations for the improvement of,
the Missouri river as a benefit to COM
merce, it does believe that for every
dollar expended in river improvement
two dollars ought to be expended on
irrigation in western North Dakota.
The benefits to be derived from the lat
ter would exceed many times the benefits
derived from river Improvement. If
abundant provisions are made for COM
merce, it must follow that ample provis-
ion should be made for that which will
produce commerce. In line with this
theory is the article of Hiram M. Crit
tenden Of the o. s. engineer corps, ap-
pearing in the December number of the
Magazine of American History. The
article is descriptive of navigation on
the upper Missouri river and the early
founding and development of the town of
Fort Benton, at the head of navigation.
After describing the country drained by
the Big Muddy and the commercial i'm
portance of the great river, Mr.. Crtten-
den says:
To see that great volume of water flow
ing down to the ocean, while the rich prai-
rie soil is parching in a rainless climate,
makes one wish that the government, in
river channel, would rather try to scatter
the water upon the adjoining lands. BY q
strong misapplicatiOn of terms, streams
are often said to Vater the valleys through
which they flow, as it the exact opposite
was not generally the case. But what
Missouri valley than to make this
m~isapplied expression a true one even to
the extent OF draining the last drop from
the rlver-bed? Here is a water supply
whose capacity for irrigation purposes is
absolutely, lneXhaustible. No reservoirs
ervoirs in the ice.locked mountains where
she holds the accumulated SHOWS of win
ter, turning them into moisture and send
ing it to the valleys when the soil-tillers
"need it the ~sorest." The question of thus
utilizing the forces of nature may never,
" oAs"AJ SNAo MI Will lOGS IcCOltc
serious attention. The river will flow on
undisturbed by the state. except that from
year to year a few dams and dykes and
shore projections will be built, a few gray
ell bars dredged away and a few snags re-
moved, all to make way for a commerce
which, IN sufficient magnitude to justify
governmental appropriations, exists only
in the Imagination. But the jewellers Of
the valley being periodically pacifed by
these Pittances from the public
making the river build up the country
and 0nvert these arid and barren wastes
into productive tarm-lands will go on un-
Yet who can DOUBT that this is the true
office of the mighty stream to the valley
through which it flows? A highway for
commerce? Why, a single track railway
along the valley, which could be built at a
mere fraction of the expense of perma-
nently Improving" the river, and which
would be .%snavigable" the year round.
would be of infinitely greater value as a
highway for commerce than the river is
likely ever to be. When a systematic
project Is adopted for the irrigation of the
Missouri valley with the waters of the riy-
er itself, then n not till then will we see
9 revival of commerce along the valley.
Then we shall see these thriving gardens
and helds OF grain like those that dot the
foothills of the Rockies all over the great
mountain regions, while new villages will
spring up, not to decay after a season Of
temporary prosperity, but to flourish per-
manently, with q growth and activity