The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-11-08
DUBOIS
ON IRRIGATION
Proposes That the Government
Take Hold Of the
Matter.
a VAST AREA NEEDS ii

Minlons Of Acres Worthless Nov
Could Be Made Productive BY
Storing Snow Wster From
the Mountains.
Doland. s.. D.. Nov. 2.-Hon. F. T.
Dubois OF Blackfoot, Idaho, United
State senator from that state, Who is
visiting friends here. is enthusiastic
over the prospects for securing legisla-
ton for IN irrigation scheme in the
west at the coming session of congress.
IT Is going to be a leading question
Tor congress to deal with" he said last
night. There isn't any doubt but that
conditions demand an immediate con-
~slderation Of this matter and speedy
action. I think these conditions bear
g strong relation to the Industrial sit
uation In this country today. We are
complaining OF poverty among the peo-
PIE, when out in this great new west
ern country there are over 100, 0O0.0 600
acres OF land that are not used be-
cause they are At for nothing in their
present condition., but which can be
reclaimed for agricultural purposes by
irrigation.
IN our state 1t Is covered with sage
brush. It Is virgin soil. and 1t is the
Dest SOY IN the United States. no place
excepted. Sections that are irrigated
through private or corporate means
produce crops of grain. vegetables and
fruit h q no sections OF the country
al equal. For instance, the soil will
produce from 200 to 300 bushels Of po-
tatoes to the acre, and rs bushels OF
wheat to the acre.
We have the Snake river, a natural
stream passing through Idaho. whose
waters are used for Irrigation purposes
Dy private persons and companies. This
river has q volume OF water about like
the Ohlo river, and along Its valleys
canals and bitches are dug to drain the
water out over the lands. l should saw
1000 miles OF canals and bitches have
been built by individuals and compa-
MES made up from a half dozen to a
nunore arme each. The most of
the later institutions are on the CO.
operative plan.
IN plan i expect to promote this
winter been practically agreed up
on Dy the senators and representatives
IN Inc western states which are inter-
ested. II is proposed that the govern
ment take hold OF the matter Of the de-
Of these arid lands. The
receipts OF the land Offices OF the yari-
U states derived from the sale Of
government lands are to be applied as
Ier a. they arc. in excess OF tho salaries
Ot the receivers, registers, etc.. to q
1und 70 be expended in the building Of
r0servoirs n canals on the high lands.
Inus the great quantities OF water that
come from the snowso on the mountains
nay be stopped from racing madly ia.
the southlands and flooding the lower
Mississippi out Of Its banks. causing
loss OF life and great Destruction of
property. The waters will be caught
corraled In the immense reservoirs.
thence out into the radiatinr
altches and released I've the landa Of
tne west as required by conditions or
You see this government irr,pa t,or
VIII permit lands now unused 10 he ra-
ctolmed sold to- homeseekers by
ths government, which Will raise more
money each year for the Irrigation
sssnd. BY this scheme OF evolution
3very acre 81 arid !!aG4 WIN eventually
be mae fea0y Tor cultivation n ~.
great arid belt. California, idaho. Wv
2yming. Montana, Utah, the Dakotas.
n other states are inter.
ssted IN this matter
he management Of the land ofices
VAL remain with the government, but
there might be state laws to regulate
h distribution OF the water. It would
~ necessary to leEislate to preserve
g .rsat white PINE foregt4 that stand
on the hills ;;of the west IN order "a
avert the rapid melting OF the shows.
9A4en the east are buying large
tracts Of these timber lands to cut out
Ine Trees. but this can DO checked. We
Ia the state of idaho alone 1900
30 acres OF unused lands ito be re-
claimed. In the Snake river valley are
At least 1000, 600 acres that have h.nn