The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-11

Before Joint session at the Chamber
OF Commerce yesterday afternoon, at
which all the commercial bodies of the
city We're represented, George H Max
well, secretary of the NationaisIrrigatio
association, made an excellent address,
in which he outlined the movement
Which he represents. The greater part
OF his remarks dealt with the posslbili-
ties of retaining government lands in
Montana with INCORPORATION of the
federal government.
Mr.. Maxwell has devoted ten years
study to the proposition of reclaiming
the vast tracts throughout the West,
which are not available for agricultural
purposes through lack of ade-
quate water supply In speak
ing Of the work of the irrigation
association, he explained that the organ
ization does not seek to establish an ir-
rigation system in Montana and Western
states through private enterprise, but
devotes Its attention to organizing
movement to bring pressure to bear upon
the government looking towards appro-
priations for the work, and the estab-
lishment of q system adequate to the
needs Of the country, at government cost.
He referred particularly to Montana,
since the state offers the best advantage
for this work and has the largest area
of available worthless government lands.
Such an enterprise as this is too great
for private corporations" said Mr.. Max
well. The government only can take it
up and carry 1t through successfully.
Montana has tremendous tracts of land
which shouldgbe available for cultivation.
which are worth nothing because of this
lack of water. The plan of the associa-
ton is to secure action from the gov
eminent, by which the necessary works
shall be established, the cost to be added
to the price Of government lands. In
this way the government would lose
nothing and the state and the entire
Northwest would receive tremendous
benefit from the rush Of settlers to take
up farms in the new districts. From
the st. Mary's lakes, IN the Northwest
ern part OF the state, there is natural
watershed extending east and west east
as far as the Milk river, admirably
adapted to irrigation purposes. The
south-central part of the state, where
millions of acres of good land could be
reclaimed, could be irrigated from the
Missouri and Yellowstone rivers at small
cost.
From the present congress, the most
we are seeking is an increase IN the
appropriation to the HyuFOSTdpAlC Ou-
reau of from $50 900 to S250,O00, the addi-
tional funds to be expended in securing
accurate and reliable surveys of the arid
lands. and In securing plans of an frri-
CATION system, with estimates of cost,
covering the tracts which we desire to 1r-
rigate.
"The retaining of these lands would
prove a sourse of vast benefit to the en-
tire Northwest, and to the cities as
WE'LL
Mr.. Maxwell explained the methods OF
irrigation successfully used in California
and advocated the establishment of res
eryoirs at the headwaters OF Montana
rivers to be used to aid navigation and
preserve supplies Of water for irrigation.
At the close Of his address vote of
thanks was extended. The local COM
rnercial bodies will consider the matters
brought up by Mr.. Maxwell at their
individual sessions. His address was
very favorably received and action In
support of the plans is probable