Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-02-10
INTERESTING REPORT,
Such is the Public Document in Rela-
ton to Irrigation and Forestry
Just Issued.
It Treats of Matters of Great Interest
to the Agricultural Interests
of the State.
Scientific Farming, With Water When
Needed, the Millennium All Are
Longing For.
What Can Be Done to Protect the
Farmer From the Wrath of
the Elements.
An Exhaustive Renort.

An Exhaustive Report.
Hon. W.. w. Barrett, state superintendent
of this department, has completed and pub.
lisled his report, covering the period from
March, 1891, to December, 1892.
This report contains a body of informa-
ton of much greater interest and value
than the idea Of woods INC %irrigating
bitches would suggest. The subject is
one which is coming to be recognized as of
paramount Importance to the agricultural
interests of the western portion Of this
country, both by state agricultural de-
partments and that of the United States
government.
After an outline of the public discussion
within the state and of the legislation
founding this department, the superin.
tendent plunges at once into a discussion
of what has been, is being. and what ought
to be done all over the union in connection
with artesian wells, irrigating canals, arti-
fetal rainfall, tree culture and kindred
matters, introducing such discussion as
follows:
"Of all the economic questions which oc-
cupy the public attention at the present
time, that of irrigation must be classed as
one of the most important. In the present
state Of mans limited knowledge, and his
inability to cause precipitation or rainfall
by artificial or scientific methods, it is the
best and indispensable means that must be
employed for the s%ubjugation CT the great
barren and unprOductive deserts of the
world, and their transformed from a state
OF worthless desolation to lands of enrich
ing plentitude. Through its use agricul-
ture may be made to attain its high
plicati0n of artesian and other
waters, the hot winds are shorn of their
ScOrching, blighting effects; unreasonable
frOsts are mtasurably deprived of their de-.
structive and killing force, the climate i'm.
proved and the arid lands, furnishing and
are made to yield large and profitable
harvests. With a trained brain and a skill
full hand, man, by means of irrigation, be
comes independent of the tickle, change
able, unreasonable and wholly unreliable
workings OF nature in the way of rainfall,
and furnishes his fruits and grain with
moisture of such amounts n at such
times as Will best insure their growth and
maturity at proper seasons"
The official, in charge of the field work
in connection with irrigation, for the
United States department of agriculture,
were, during the period covered by this
report, pursuing their investigations for a
number of weeks in North Dakota, and
much statistical and other information was
derived therefrom by Mr.. Barrett, who was
with them much of the time.
The vast area lying between the ninety
seventh degree Of longitude west, and
the foothills OF the Rockies, and extend
| s,,.p ar - b a nd cnpnt Tn tI., ~k:>.,1 l~,,..l
aries. comprise the territory the most of
which was formerly known as the ''Great
American Desert,' and very much OF
which, owing TO the lack of rainfall, is
still classed as arid or semi arid land.
Careful and scientific investigation has
shown, however, that by far the larger
part OF these semi-arid lands, worthless in
their present condition, can be made fruit
ful and valuable by means of some water
supply, taking the place of the rain which
nature mas neglected to provide. The best.
cheapest and most available source
of such supply Is from ~artesian wells, dis
tributed by means of irrigation. Fortu.
nately, it has been found that underlying
much of this territory there are exhaust
less reservoirs OF water: and, more fOrtu-
nately still for North Dakota, this state is
thus favored to a greater extent than most
other localities included in the tract. The
composition and structural formation of
the underlying rock appear to be of such IA
nature as to furnish good conditions for
the accumulation of Subterranean waters.
Arteslan wells which have been sunk in
different parts OF the state have been found
!, to reach the fountain without the need
of drilling to any such great depth as is
increases slightly rather than diminishes.
The report contains several cuts illustra-
+ tive of the principle and operation of
artesian wells, and of the method of dis
trlbutiOn by irrigating canals.
One Important table gives the tempera.'
ia 8 from obs rvatlOns each day, taken in
all parts of Ties ate, under the superintend.
ence of W.. II. FallOn, OF the government
weather service at Bismarck.
The report also deals extensively with
forestry, discussing the various soils
shrubs, ETC., the characteristics of the for
est and fruit trees native to the state, to
gether with the methods of preserving the
grOwths already in existence and Of prop
agating others. An interesting item
! s s"Sieest the IS data t%s cS fae { that on MIS- Ms
, Barrett has already classified fifty varieties
of trees, beside twenty-eight varieties of
shrubs and bushes, OF all which he aiveS
the height and other dimensions, and loca-
ton where found. On this point he quotes
as to the Missouri slope, statistics furnished
I'LL w ~ - II w. uINll vi IlS-
marck. AS indicating the general interest
being aroused in tree culture, it may be
cited that Mr.. Will shipped from Bismarck
during the years 1854 to 1892, inclusive,
, 54,7l3,OO0 small trees or seedlings to differ
enu parts of the state, II 54.44O pounds of
tree seeds; while James Holland, also Of
p, Bismarck. from 1889 to 1892 inclusive,
shipped 6.425,OOO small trees ana $3.50
pounds of tree seeds.
The report enumerateS at length the re-
suits from practical experience in
+ the planting Of trees by farmers and ut
the experiment station. The area now
covered by forest. native and cultivated, is
estimated at 100000 acres. which is prob
5 ably well within the fact.
The experiments which have been made
+ in the production of artificial rainfall
form All interesting chapter, rs also that
on the means of prevention of frost by the
use of smoke. Tn the latter subject the
report quotes the experience OF Repre-
sentative McCanna, who reports the saving
OF HOOD acres OF grain in his vicinity iii
the season of 1891.
During the past few months tho smperin.
I tendent has beeh engaged in the collection
and preparation of specimens OF the woods
and seeds of native and cultivated trees
land %Shrubbcry. and OF the fruit of thu