Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-07-30
Needed water Lands.


To The Editor: First Congress at
it's next session should pass a water
land act whereby all government lands
of dry lakes, and as far as may be nee
essary. all dry land depressions suitable
for water basins, and also dry water
ways should be withdrawn from SALE
and these with all lands and waters in the
form of lakes and water courses
of whatever name belonging to the
national government in oil the states of
the Union should BIZ set aside as reser-
voirs and government waterways, in
such manner or t. such an extent that
they shall be protected and utilized as
moisture feeders of the atmosphere
And all states should pass similar laws
as regards state lands and water.
Secondly proper draining, etc,
as far as practical, all such water
lands" should be converted by the gov
eminent into reservoirs or moisture
| basins.
Third-Where natural depressions are
insufficient for needed moisture feed
ers, F" the national government should
construct basins or reservoirs to serve
the same purpose; these water lands"
to have their supply from rains, melted
SHOWS or surplus water from any attain
able source.
ARTEsIAN WELLS TO AUGMENT SURFACE
Fourth-Where sufficient water can
be obtained in no other convenient way,
artesian wells should be sunk where
needed and allowed to flow and fill said
water lands all over the vast extent
of territory named above, said wells to
be built by the general government. un-
der proper laws and restrictions Thus
with the rain from the sky and the snip
ply from beneath the earth, ample
amount of surface water can be pro-
cured for the ends in view. The result
will be most favorable.
The hot winds, according to the best
light now had upon the subject, would
cease to operate, dews would be gener-
ated; the atmosphere by evaporation
would be surcharged with humidity, and
rainfalls would become abundant.
MOISTURE WILL INSURE VAST FORESTS.
And with necessary supply of moist
ure from the sources named in connec.
tion with judicions application of the
same needed forests could be success
fully raised in long, wide and extensive
belts on mountains, hills and PLAINS,
where they could best serve their USE
full purposes as fuel and lumber and in
breaking and modifying the winds and
storms: in maintaining springs, furnish
ing water supply to artesian deposits far
in the deeps Of the earth, feeding
the water courses and in promoting
precipitation for the benefit of vegeta-
tion. And in addition to these things
their economic functions would be seen
in that forests constantly evaporate
clouds of tiny vapors so the hot winds
are cooled in their passage in the same
way, but perhaps to a less extent. as in
their movement over lakes and streams.
Here we have an Instructive lesson:
irrigation, meteorology and forestry, in
harmonious action and all tending to
produce milder and more favorable at
mospheric and climatic conditions.
THE EDEN HARVEST LAND.
It will take time and money to achieve
the ends in view, but as these reforms
are absolutely necessary and of the
most practicable utility, who can have
doubt of their final accomplishments?
In order to hasten the great and beniti'
cent work, every possible encourage.
ment and aid should be rendered by the
government, state and individual. Thus
with other needed Improvements, all
the sub-humid lands of the west will be
fully developed, and our own dear state
will become the Eden harvest land of
the nation-the happy result of the
scientific wisdom of an enlightened and
progressive people.
w. w. BARRETT,
State Superintendent of Irrigation and
FOreatrv