Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1895-01-25
FOR IRRIG ATING LAND.
State Commissioner Barrett Suggests
a Scheme to Bring About an
Irrigation System.
Appoint a Committee to Investigate
Proposed Plans and Report
Two Years Hence.

the act OF congress dated Aug. l8, 1894,
entitled San act making appropriations
for supdry civil expenses of the govern
ment for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1895, and for other purposes (28 stat.
372 422) the secretary of the interior is
authorized. with the approval of the
president, to contract and agree to pat
ent to the states of Washington, Oregon,
California, Nevada, Idaho, Montana,
Colorado, Wyoming, North and South
Dakota, and any other state, as provided,
in which may be found desert lands, not
to exceed 100000 acres of such lands
to each state, under certain restrictions.
1t is very evident certain systems of
irrigation can be made successfully ope-
rativel in the settled parts of our state. Our
source of supply is here found in the form
of artesian wells, artesian springs, common
wells and surface water in the way of
rivers, streams, lakes, etc. These waters
empounded in reservoirs, or taken direct
from the source of supply, can be made
to irrigate very large areas of land with
a certainty Of crops and large profits on
the investments.
The same or similar sources Of supply,
and as favorable facilities for irrigation
can probably be found to a great OK tent
on the government lands of the
state. But in order to settle
these questiens, considerable inves-
tigatlon will bs necessary. And if
our state would take advantage
of this generous gift from the nation,
some important legislation should be in
stigated, provisions made for the %investi-
CATION of the whole subject, a system or
systems of irrigation adopted, money ap-
propriated to carry on or superintend
the work, and action taken to make the
same practical under the law and the
rules instituted by the secretary Of the
interior.
But inasmuch as our state treasury is
empty, it seems very evident no appro-
priatlon can be made for the undertak.
ing, although the state may derive a rev.
enue from the sale of the land.
But in my annual report that will soon
be out, [ took the liberty to recommend,
according to the requirements of the law
under which I am operating, that a COM
mission be appointed, consisting of three
or five men, one of whom should be the
state superintendent of irrigation and
forestry, to investigate the subject and
formulate or suggest a system or sys-
TENS adapted to irrigation in the new
unsettled portions of the state, and to
make a report of their doings and their
conclusions to our next Legislative as
sembly as a basis upon which to act.
The.windmill irrigation system which
is we'll outlined in my report, may be
found we'll adapted for the irrigation Of
the twenty acres, as required by the law
under consideration. With water found
in sufficient quantity from twelve to
twenty-five feet deep, two windmills of
twelve feet in diameter could probably
lift sufficient water to easily irrigate
twenty acres of land with a handsome
profit on the investment. Water found
at a greater depth than twenty-five feet,
would call for a larger sized windmill.
Very much interest is being taken in
the other twelve fortunate states in this
matter, and their action, laws and sue
cess may prove of value to the legisla-
tors and citizens of our state.
I will here add: Should any of our
Legislators desire to Learn the full text
of the laws referred to, I can loan the
same. I also have a pamphlet from
the general land Office, explaining this
act, and shows what steps must be
taken in order to come into legal pos
session of the lands for irrigation pur-
poses, etc. Yours truly,
W. w. BARRETT,
State Superintendent of Irrigation and
Forestry.