The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-21
HILL TELLS HISTORY.
Relates How the Irrigation
Movement Was Started.

Bismarck, n. D., Oct. PA new ir-
rigation congress primarily state or
ganization but indirectly affecting the
entire northwest, was formed, and
James J. Hill, president of the North
ern Securities company, delivered an
address late yesterday afternoon. Mr..
Hill talked on irrigation and itsrelation
to the development of the northwest
and incidentally referred to the merger
case, the trade of the Orient and its
effect on the northwest
Referring to the Great Northern he
stated that the mileage of the system
had increased since 1882 from 1,007 miles
to 5,59S miles in 1903
Now, here" said Mr.. Hill. is the
material growth of the northwest. In
1882 we moved 1907, 600 tons of freight;
in 1903 we hauled 6.14S,000 tons. In
1882 our rate for carrying a ton of
fretght-that is, the average rate over
the whole line 100 miles-was SOL. In
1892 it was $1.21, and in 1903 it is 50
cents. which is one-third of what the
rate was 81 years ago. Had the COM
pany received the same average rate
per ton per mile in 1903 as in 1882, ii
would have collected 0,S20,1 100 for
freight earnings during the past year
while actual collections were $50, $751; 600,
a decrease through a reduction of freight
rates of $50, 904, 875 That means that if
the rate of 81 years ago had been in
force you could not have raised grain
enough to pay the cost of cultiVating
the soil and of paying us for carrying it
to the markets. The reduction in
freight rates has been brought about by
increasing the value of traffic that
we have created new traffic by making
it possible for them to cultivate the soil
and raise crops which we carry to the
market.
Before you can get the traffic you
must make it, and want you to bear
in mind that whatever benefits you, di-
rectly or indirectly, whatever gives you
pleasure, directly or indirectly will in
almost every case put money in to our
treasury
Mr. Hill referred only once. Indirectly,
to the merger, when he stated, laughing
ly, that he was charged with owning all
the railroads north of St. Louis but de-
clared that he was kept pretty busy
looking after his own line.
Going 10 the subject of irrigation he
gave some interesting history after al
luding to the diminishing public domain
and gradual settlement of the country
that is capable of producing without If
rigation. Just five years ago, he said,
seeing the necessity for the irrigation of
the remaining public lands for the crea-
ton of homes, five railroads, his own
among the number, subscribed $4,000
year to pay for a campaign of educa
ton on the subject of irrigation and
started it all over the country. He re-
rigation sentiment till last year it was
successfully brought to a fruition on the
floor of congress. The land not sus
ceptible of agriculture but which would
be valuable if irrigated, Mr.. Hill gave
as follows North Dakota 10000, 900 acres;
South Dakota 100000 acres; Montana
30 100000 acres; Idaho 10000, 900 acres;
Washington Is, 600, 900 acres.
You can add 100000 farmers to this
state and provide them each with farm
of 200 acres with intelligent irrigation. "
Mr. Hill predicted the gradual lessen
ing of the size of farms until each farm
er had only as much land as Will yield
him the highest return for his labor
The sub division of the great farms into
smaller wnes, he predicted, will bring
more advantages and comforts. The
possibility of the diversion OF the Mis-
souri, river supply by an immense canal
to the center of the state and its dis
tribution through other canals was not
impossible. Larger irrigation works
were in progress in other countries. 1t
was not to be said that what was
true in India was impossible in this
country; larger works than this one Sug-
gested were in progress there. In clos
ing Mr. Hill alluded to the great value
of a system of practical education of
lines. He said:
Some of our good friends in the east
have opposed national irrigation from
fear that the products of western farms
would be increased and compete with
those of the eastern farmers. The pro-
ducts of the fertile lands of North Da-
kota however great they may be, how
ever much they may contribute to the
prosperity of those who till the soil will
find in the markets of Asia an outlet
which viii absorb them in all the years
I to come"