Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1901-02-12
BABRETT'S
He Shows How Economical His De-
partment Has Been in the Past.

He Shows How Economical His De-
partment Has Been in the Past.
EDITOR TRIBUNE: Many ask me why
l do not speak in defence of the contin-
uation of the law creating the depart
ment of irrigation, forestry and fish. l
do not discuss the question, because [
seek harmony and saving of some money
to our state. But l will say, as in the
past, the great pressing necessity of
North Dakota is an abundance Of trees
where needed in all parts of the state.
This secured, will result in suficiency
of moisture, thus aiding to produce the
best status of agricultural pursuits,
which all know are the main sources of
the wealth of our prairie state.
There has been a great misunderstand-
ing as to the cost of operating the said
department. 1t is claimed the expenses
per year have been as follows: Salary,
$1,000; expenses, $500; printing of re
ports for last two years, $1,000, making
$500 per year; total, $4,000; whereas
the actual expense has been: Salary,
$1,000, average expenses for the last ten
years S168.l2 per year; printing Of the
reports for the last two years--two re-
ports under one cover, making a book
close to IS pages only with a cost of
a bout s5O-s25 per year, giving a to-
tai of S1,193.l2 per year, instead OF
$4,000 as reported" Through the
working of said office much data and
most valuable facts have been secured,
treating of artesian and underground
water, forestry and fish, ETC.; trees have
been greatly multiplied throughout the
state, and seven carloads of fish have
been obtained and distributed in our
state waters, and from these, through
spawning millions of more fish have been
added to the same waters, and another
carload of fish will be distributed for
propagation purposes during the coming
season. The displays of the great and
wonderful productions of our state, as
made by said department at the Worlds
and Omaha fairs, have won high awards
and have been the means of attracting
many of the best settlers to our state,
and it could be made the means OF add
ing much to the value and attractive
ness of the proposed exhibit at the pan.
American fair.
But time will not allow me to present
all the principal advantages of said
branch of the state service. Our legisla-
tors will take such action in regard to
the office as, in their matured judgement,
will be in the interest of our state and
people. But there is one other matter l
deem it my duty to refer to at this time:
For years my aim has been to create'a
mammoth museum as an object school
to represent the natural resources, in
dustrial prSogress of North Dakota and
the west. And using my own private
means, at large expense, l have made
good progress in establishing such a me-
| dium-the North Dakota state sylvaton
museum, located in the state house here
in Bismarck. Grains, seeds, acorns, min
erals, ~petrefactions, crystals, soils, clays,
cement, etc., ETC., are there displayed,
together with many historical pictures.
among which may be found photographs
of all members of the legislative assem-
bly, since the capitol was located at Bis
marck. J. speak Understandings when l
say this is the best and most attractive
as we'll as valuable museum in the west
for the amount of money invested therein.
BY the way, / notice in your issue
of Feb. 10 that a brother farmer, c..
J. Sundahl, is not a little dissatisfied
with my work for the last ten years. A
few explanatory words may clear his
mind from many misapprehensions.
MI. Sundahl dec ares the North Dako-
to State Sylvaton Museum, located in
the capitol here at Bismarck, is made up
of a slot of pawn shop trinkets." That
gentlemanly writer is mistaken. There
are no such worthless things in that
museum, which was established as an
object school to represent in a perma-
nent and enduring form the natural re-
sources, industrial productions and pro,
gress of North Dakota and the west.
The collections consist of wheat, corn,
barley, rye, oats, flax, fruits, beans, peas,
millet, field, garden and forest seeds,
dried, domestic and wild fruits, sections