The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1903-10-20
IRRIGATION
CONVENTION
North Dak0ta's First Irrigation Meet.
ing Is Being Held Today and
Tomorrow at Bismarck.
The Feature of the First Day Was
President J. j. Hills Address
--Other Matters.

| ..4E 80 .
Bismarck, N. D., Oct. 2o.-Norti,
Dakota's first irrigation convention be-
gan here this morning. There are near
" 500 delegates from the different sec
tions Of the state and the enthusiasm
displayed indicates the popularity OF the
plan in this state.
Senator Hansbrough is being praised
by the delegates for the great work he
did in the interests OF the bill, which
has made him one OF the Leading sena-
tors of the west.
The big feature of the day was the
address this afternoon OF President Hill
|of the Northern Securities Co. The
great railway builder is intensely inter
ested in the irrigation plans. He sees
la greater development of the west in
the system. That means more business
for his roads. But he takes broader
view and sees millions Of happy homes
and fertile farms on the heretofore bar
rem wastes. In North Dakota he notes
the possibility of the semi-arid lands
being made to increase their products
from three to ten fold with great pos
|sibilities for the future development of
this state.
Mr.. Hill demonstrated his earnest
ness in the movement by giving the
committee all possible assistance in
every way and making a one fare rate
for the round trip over all roads.
President Hill arrived on special
this morning, accompanied by U. S.
Marshal Haggart OF Fargo, who was
his guest by special request.
Chairman Williams of the convention
was 4 busy man today and every citi-
zen of Bismarck seems anxious to help
along the convention. Chairman Viii
liams read the following letter from
Senator fl. G. Hansbrough:
HANsBRouGH's S LETTER.
NUnited States Senate, Committee on
Public Lands, Washington, D. c., Oct
IL, Ioo3.-Hon. E. A. Williams, Chair
man First State Irrigation Congress,
Bismarck, N. D.-My Dear General:
greatly regret my inability to be present
at the irrigation convention. should
certainly be with you and would go to
Bismarck for that purpose but for the
fact that aim obliged to attend con-
ference of the senate committee on f.
nance about the time your convention is
called to meet.
| hope the convention will consider
the advisability of recommending to the
next legislative assembly an examina-
tion into the question of changing our
state constitution as respects its appli-
cation to irrigation matters The fed
eral government should not be impeded
in its efforts to reclaim the arid public
lands by the use of all the available
streams of water. So long as the rights
of the state are not infringed, the general
government should be given free hand.
Agitation of the irrigation question
by the people Of the west will assist us
here in in1pressing upon congress and
the administration officers Of the govern
mert the necessity of a vigorous pros
ecution of irrigation work. Before leav-
ing Washington last spring arranged to
have corps of men from the geological
survey sent into North Dakota to make
the preliminary examinations required
Under the law am advised that these
men went over the ground very thor
oughly and in due time will make their
report to the secretary of the interior,
who, during the coming winter, will no
doubt do his part toward arranging fol
active work in the field next summer.
You may rest assured that the secre-
tary will not be allowed to overlook
the interests of North Dakota in irri-
CATION matters, although / am sure he is
not inclined to do SO. 81
In this respect we have much to con-
tend with here that the public does not
at once thoroughly understand. For in
statlce, last Writer a vigorous effort was
made in congress to repeal certain land
laws, the existence of which is absolutely
essential to the success of national irri-
CATION. Under the irrigation law all re-
ccipts from the sales of public lands 90
into the reclamation fund and are to be
expended for irrigation works. The re-
peal Of our revenue producing land laws
viz, the desert land law, the timber
and stone act and the cornmuted home.
stead law would put a sudden and GER
tam end to national irrigation. The
charge is made that great frauds are be-
ing pereptrated under these laws and that
therefore they should be repealed. The
Erepealers. however. appear to ignore the
vast benefits that the country is deriving
benefits which greatly outweigh the
real frauds actually perpetrated.
The desert land law can be amended
SO as to prohibit the assignment BY all
,entrymail of his desert right prior to
making final proof. This would practic-
ally compel him TO reside on the land
tor three wears. and in that time he must.