The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-18
NORTH DAKOTA
PUBLIC La D FUNDS
North Dakota Will Insist That Part
of Them Be Spent in the
State.
Committee Named to Present the
States Claims for Expenditures
for Irrigation.
NORTH DAKOTA
Special to The Journal.

special TO Inc Journal. aN
Bismarck, N. ID, Nov. 1S.--The cam
paign OF the North Dakota irrigation con-
gress for the expenditure of the funds in
the government treasury arising from the
sale of public lands in this state has
been started. General e. A. Williams.
surveyor general has named a commit
tee to present the states claims at Wash
lrgton, and other prominent citizens will
be added to the committee from time to
time. The counties of the state are
also making appropriation of funds to
carry OH the work. The proceedings Of
the first congress will be distributed and
other printed matter will be issued from
time to time.
One of the interesting addresses Of a
leading irrigation and geological expert.
that OF Colonel j. w. Powell, for many
years head of the United States geological
survey, has been preserved in the records
OF the constitutional convention of North
Dakota, and is especially apropos at this
Tune to controvert the claims of some of
the public men at the head of irrigation
work that North Dskota's constitution
Will nave to be amended to permit the
progress of Irrigation work.
Colonel Powell addressed the constitu-
tlonal convention on Aug. 5, 1889. and
| then made All earliest pea for the adoy,-
ton of constitutional provision that
would protect the water rights of the
state and prevent their falling into the
hands Of private persons and corporations
as had happened i'll other states.
The constitutional provision of North
Dakota. reserving all water rights, was
adopted upon the arguments of Co.onel
Powell, who was among the foremost men
in his department General Williams calls
attention to this address, and copies of it
will be forwarded to the Representatives
of the state at Washington
Transportation Facilities.
The remarkable development of the Mis-
souri, slope in the past few years is no.
where more conclusvely proven than in
| the rapid growth of transportation facil-
tiles and public utilities. Only a few
years ago the surrounding towns within
a radius of forty to fifty miles from Bis
| narck were to be reached only after long
tiresome journeys by wagon. There was
no means of communication except the
mails, which ran by star routes, some
times only once in two days. Washburn,
in Mclean county; Linton and VILLAINS
port, in Emmons county; Ashley, Napo-
leon, Wishek and other outlying towns
were to be reached only by team.
This condition has been changed en-
tirely since 1898. The 500 road has built
| into Bismarck from the southwest, bring
! ing Ashley, Wishek, Braddock, Cakes and
the towns in the southern part of the
state into direct daily railroad commune
cation with the slope. The recent com
pletion Of the Northern Pacific branch
from Linton to Mckenzie and the estab-
lishment of train service in connection
with the Milwaukee brings the Emmons
county capital closer to Bismarck, and
| also affords q, thru and direct route to
| Milwaukee points in South Dakota.
| Washburn is connected with the capital
! by the Washburn line.
I Long distance telephone lines have been
established from Bismarck to Mandan
Dickinson and intermediate points; &c
Washburn and intermediate points, and
the long distance line from Linton has
been completed as far as Hazleton and
will be continued to the capital city next
year. All slope points are now connected
both by railroad and telephone, to the
/ great convenience Of all business in
terests.
/ Capitol Wing to Be Built.
The state board of capitol commission
ers has decided to proceed with the work
of completing the north wing Of the cap.
itol authorized by the legislature Of la
winter. Bonds were authorized, to be
paid from the sale of capito1 building
lands, but the bonds were not sold be.
cause of the litigation that ensued ove1
the state institution bonds. The board
however, will not find it necessary to sci
bonds, since there will be enough cast
from the sale Of capitol building lands tx
begin the work Of construction and carr!
it well a.ong to completion, and by tn,
, time the last Of the funds will be needed
additional sales Of capital lands will fur
nish the money. The commissioners viii
advertise for bids in the near future, t,
be opened some time early in January.
AS result Of the action of the stat
emergency board in furnishing some fund
for the Valley City normal school and TIN
state deaf school at Devils Lake, worl
. on the unfinished buildings there has beer
resumed and will be pushed to compile
ton.
Governor White has issued his Thanks
giving proclamation. It is in formal term
and very brief, merely calling upon thu
people of the state to unite in thanksgiy
ing on the date set hY the president.