Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-10-20
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT AND
THE IRRIGATION LAW
The Importance Of Reclamation of the Arid
and Semi-Arid Lands---POssibilities in
North Observation-Disclosures in Other Sec
tiOns---Full Text OF the Law.


There is a wide spread interest
throughout the country in plans for
bringing to it's full measure of produc-
tiyeness the semi-arid tract which ex-
tends north and south half way across
the continent, east of the Rocky noun
tains. and of which North Dakota pos
sesses a portion. The average rain
fall of the western portion of the state
is about eighteen inches and very of
ten it is distributed during the grow
ing months SO as to yield, in connec-
ton with the naturally fertile soil,
magnificent harvests. Farming condi-
lions. however, are rendered uncertain
by a fluctuation in rainfall, and in or
der to insure crops annually irrigation
should be fostered wherever it is prac-
teal. President Roosevelt, in his mes
sage Of Dec. 5, 1901, concisely stated
the attitude of the government toward
this question:
Presidents Views.
The pioneer settlers on the arid
public domain chose their homes
along streams from which they could
divert the water to reclaim their hold
ings. Such opportunities are practic-
ally gone. There remain. however
vast areas of public land which can
be made available for homestead set
Element. but only by reservoirs and
main line canals impracticable fol
private enterprise. These irrigation
works should be built up by the ma.
tional government. The lands re
claimed by them should be reserved
by the government for actual settlers
and the cost of construction should, Sc
far as possible. be repaid by the lane
reclaimed. The distribution of thu
water, the division of the streams
among irrigators, should be left to tn,
settlers themselves in conformity Will
the state laws and without interior
ence with those laws. or with vested
rights. The policy of the nationa
government should be to aid irrigatio.
in the several states and territories il
SuNh AlduuCi 90 ~ ChoDiC ~ PSPci'
in the local communities to help them
selves, as will stimulate needed re
forms in the state laws and regulation:
governing irrigation.
The necessary foundation has al
ready been laid for the inauguration
of the policy just described. 1t would
be unwise to begin by doing too much
for a great deal will doubtless be
learned. both as to what a and wha
cannot be safely attempted. by th'
early efforts, which must of necessit!
be partly experimental in character
At the very beginning the government
should make clear. beyond shadow o
doubt, its intention to pursue this poll
cy on lines of the broadcast public in
terest; but only in accordance wit
the advice of trained experts. afte
long investigation has shown the 10
cality where all the conditions com
bine to make the work most neede'
and fraught with the greatest useful
ness to the community as a who's
There should be no extravaganza. an
the believers in the need of irrigatlo
will most benefit their cause by seeln
to it that it is free from the least tar
of excessive or reckless expenditure &
the public moneys
The sentiment voiced by the pres
dent found expression in congress |
the passage of the Act for the Recls
nation of Arid Lands" n of the mo!
valuable Of legislative acts, which VIZ
brought to a successful issue in a lars
measure through the energy OF II
North Dakota members of congress
The interest of the public in tn
measure is SO general that it is giv'
below in full.
While little of the land of North ID
kota is to be classed as arid, porto
of the state need an artificial wat