The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1903-10-14
IRRIGATION In
NORTH DAKOTA
Senator Hansbrough Declares That
the State Will Be Well
Taken Care Of.

Washington, D. c., Oct. 14.-Sena-
or Hansbrough, as the originator Of
national legislation on the subject,
has kept in touch with the national
irrigation situation during the re-
cess of congress, and has noted es-
pecially the efforts that are to be
made to have a portion of the irriga-
ton fund expended in western North
Dakota. Since he came to Washing
ton he has made a personal investi-
cation of the law relating to the ex-
penditure Of the funds set aside for
lands. and he declares that the state
will not suffer in any way in the car
rying out of the plans of the govern
ment.
In discussing the subject today,
Senator Hansbrough said:
"In regard to the expenditure Of
funds in the state and territories from
whose land sales the funds have been
derived, some misleading statements
have been made. Under the law the
secretary is obliged, if he can do so,
to expend the money in the states and
territories from whence the money
came"
The exact wording of the law on
this point is as follows:
That it is hereby declared to be
- ho ipfo
rior in carrying out the provisions of
this act, so far as the same may be
practicable and subject to the exist
ence of feasible irrigation projects,
to expend the major portion of the
funds arising from the sale of public
lands within each state and terrific
ry hereinbefore named for the benefit
or arid and Semi-arid lands within the
limits of such state Or territory; pro-
vided that the secretary may temper
arily use such portion of said funds
for the benfit Of arid or semi-arid
lands deemed advisable, but when so
used the excess shall be restored to
the fund as soon as practicable, to the
end that ultimately. and in any event,
within each ten-year period after the
passage of this act, the expenditures
for the benefit of said states and ter
ritories shall be equalized according
to the proportions and subject to the
conditions as to practicability and
feasibility aforesaid.
Thus, it will be observed that no
money belonging to any particular
state Or territory is to be taken away
permanently. North Dakota has the
largest sum to its credit of any state
or territory named in the law. l have
no doubt that every dollar of it will
be spent within the state if sufficient
water and enough available land can
be found.
Necessarily the national irrigation
law is slow of execution. The i'm
portance of the work requires the
greatest care, and the people of the
states and territories interested must
not become impatient if delays are
apparent. Expert photographers and
engineers must first examine the vast
regions to determine where irrigation
is feasible. Upon their report the sec
rotary of the interior decides which
of the various enterprises shall be
He then proclaims the
from entry, except under
the irrigation law, of the available
lands under each project
which he has concluded to develop.
His next step is to let contracts for
the construction Of the necessary
works. In the case of North Dakota
there will be a number of projects but
none of them extensive. Several sur
veyors have been in the field in the
western portion Of the state all sum-
mer. Their reports will reach the
secretary during the winter and his /
proclamations may be expected early
next spring. The work Of construc-
ton will follow as soon as contracts
can be made