Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1900-12-07
THE IRRIGATION CONGRESS.

The holding of the National lrriga-
ton Congress in the east, as it turned
out, was a wise move. The people Of
that half of the country have had the
subject OF national irrigation brought
home to them in a manner not other
portance of the problem has been pre-
sented to them and a genuine interest
has been awakened. Instead of find
ing opposition in the east, the congress
found that eastern men of prominence
were more thar interested in a prOpo-
sition which promised IN increased
western population Of millions of peo-
pie.
AS the "encmy's country" has been
invaded, the myth Of eastern opposi-
ton has faded away and its people are
found to be anxious to see inaugurated
a national policy of western arid land
reclamation.
The western delegates went home
with the feeling that they have the
hearty support of eastern interests in
securing action which will open to set
Element a half a continent, capable of
supporting fifty million people. They
cannot but feel that this support is
growing; nat it is developing into a
great movement: that many people
are realizing that national action
would meet such a western develop
ment as would increase the national
wealth beyond measure.
The time seems fully ripe for the
west to take a firm and decided stand
on the question of national irrigation
and something great may be accom-
plisiled at once. Why not? 1t is as
right that congress should appropriate
money for storage reservoirs as for
river and harbor improvements. The
building Of storage reservoirs would
obvilte the necessity for much river
expenditure and would help naviga-
ton. and the home building area Of
the United States would be vastly in
creased And now if the west makes
this demand the east will back it up,
for the benefit would not be local.
Every western paper is interested
in seeing this development accom-
plished. What would be the result
of an appropriation Of eight or ten
million dollars spent annually in the
west for irrigation construction? The
immediate stimulation would be enor-
nous and the future benefit greater.
This policy should be inaugurated and
the western press should urge it with
one voice. 1t is a national matter;
it can be productive only of great
good: the east is responsible; will the
west be aggressive; it is time to work.
1t is the opinion at Washington that
$4O,ooO,0OO will be appropriated by
this congress for river and harbor i'm
provements. OF this the western half
Of the United States will get, judging
by previous records a couple of million
o. so. Whatever are her possibilities,
1t is not contended that the west is as
important or Influential as the east.
She has not yet the dense population;
but why should she not get at least a
fair share Of his great appropriation?
Why should she not get a fourth OF it,
to be applied to the building of great
CtN1s1OA sESnfsyyniYs fn hn f11nI with
flood waters for use in irrigation, un-
der a system of internal improve
ments?
The government is spending large
sums in aiding in the development of
foreign trade and the opening of for
eign markets for American manufac-
tureres. 1t is believed that we should