St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-01
The IRRIGATION IDEA.
Farmers in the Dakotas Must
Get Water on Their Wheat
Fields.
The Hope Of the Country Is
in a General System OF
Irrigation.
A Gloomy Feeling Generally
Prevades the Agricultural
Communities.
The Wreck Wrought by the
Winds Which Swept the
Prairies in July.
Special to the Clone.

OpCCidA W tuo OlODe.
GLENDALE, N. D., Aug. 31.-The
irrigation idea is now the dominating
one both in North and South Dakota.
The numerous experiments this season
have shown satisfactory results, aud
the farmers no longer stop to theorize.
They want the altesian wells and must
nave them OF leave the country. Agri-
cultural, and in 1act all commercial
interests, are in very bad condition
owing to the drouth and crop failure of
the past two years, but a majority of the
settlers will hang on, having no pros
poets of employment elsewhere nor
means to travel. There will be great
destitution throughout the state, west
OF the Red river valley, during the COM
ing winter. Thousands of worthy and
industrious people will, of necessity,
have to accept aid. Fuel and clothing
will be required for many families in
thirty OF the counties of North Dakota,
and nearly as many in South Dakota.
The hundreds who have been ruined
financially by the successive drouths
possess good farms and some equipment,
but al have given mortgages, the inter-
est upon which they cannot meet. Nor
have they either money or security with
which to obtain the necessaries of life
between this time and the next harvest.
The only hope of the country is in
general system of irrigation, but there
is so little capital ready for further in
vestments that the wells will be opened
very slowly. Enough may be done,
hnXUQNnr fn
who now contemplate trying their
fortunes in other localities. The fact
must be apparent TO all that irrigation
is the only salvation for agricultural
interests in the Dakotas. The most
Serious Depression
pervades business circles. Not only
has capital and commercial energy be-
come diverted to other fields, but thou
sands of good citizens are leaving those
states IN the belief that they can better
their condition elsewhere. The gloomy
feeling now manifest affords striking
contrast to the confidence and buoyancv
exhibited July 1. AT that time CROP
prospects were bright. Seemingly there
had been enough rain, and the wheat
and other cereals were thriving finely.
AS matter of fact, however, there had
not been enough rain to place the
ground In condition to withstand two
weeks of hot sun or drying winds. A
continuation of showers through july
might have saved the crop. but instead
OF rain we got the usual summer drouth.
II the soil is not thoroughly saturated
with water to distance below the roots
of the grain the warm winds which
sweep over the prairies in June and
July prove very destructive. If there
was ga sufficient water supply in all
directions the air could not become so
torrld, and the intense heat of the mid
summer sun, instead of being damag-
ing, would have beneficial effect in
maturing and ripening the crops. This
needed supply of water has not been
provided for several seasons. Expert
ence teaches US that it cannot be de-
pended on to come in the natural
course. 1t must be supplied artifcially.
The common system of irrigation which
is employed in other reg ions must be
adopted here if we would save the Da-
kotas from financial ruin. We have an
inexhauStible supply of water in the
artesian basin beneath us. which can be
utilized at moderate cost.
The Cheapest and Best xyay
to secure artesian water is for indi
viduals to club together and divide the
expense of buying machinery and drill
ing wells. BY unity of effort great
deal can be accomplished before the
next crop season. North Dakota will
prosper again after season or two of
depression. The intrinsic merit is still
here. The excellent soil, the market
facilities and all the advantages of ciyiIi-
Zatlon remain as distinguishing charac-
teristics. Those who are willing and
able to bear the hardships and priva-
tions which have come upon them will
meet with positive success in a few
years. The majority of those who leave
the state will not better their condition.
Aid will have to be obtained from some
source, whether public or private, dur
ing the winter for thousands of settlers:
but it will be forthcoming. The
American people are rich and
generous, and nobody will be al
lowed to suffer for the necessaries of
life: The one great practical question
of the day in connection with agricult-
ure in the Dakotas-irrigation be
taken hold of promptly and vigorously
at this time. individuals can proceed
in private way, or by united action
take advantage of existing state laws to
tax the townships for irrigation pur-
poses. A continuous and ample water
supply Is the one essential lacking, and
it can be secured for the next crop If
the people determine now to have the
artesian well system. There should be
government assistance in this matter.
too, and to that end every county in the
state should petition congress at the
next session. Whatever aid is to come
from the general government should be
secured next winter, and whatever the
people of North Dakota are to do in the
way of irrigation should be undertaken
at once. The state committee on irriga-
tlOn has
Issued an Appeal
to the people of North Dakota to hold
conventions and take immediate steps
to irrigate. The governor is being pc
titioned by the committee and others to
call a special session of the legislature
for the purpose of passing law to en-
able counties to bond for irrigation pur-
poses. In the appeal the committee
says: sThe past eight years have
demonstrated that we cannot depend
alone upon the rainfall to mature
bountiful or even good crop. The peo-
pie throughout the James river valley
are the most fortunately located, and
yet we have been the most unfortunate
and disappointed people of any through
out the West. We>have a soil capable
of an almost unlimited production.
We are located over an immense
to realize the full capacity
of our soil and climate is to penetrate
the earth 1000 feet, and the water fowsfI