Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-09-28

ton meeting to be held at Bismarck
Oct. 20 and 81 is proven in the serious
consideration that is being paid to ir-
rigation. A revew of the work done at
the recent Ogden meeting, appearing
from the pen of II. V. Jones in the
columns of the Commercial West, is as
follows:
The northwest was represented by
full delegations from Minnesota,
North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wash
ington and Oregon. The Minnesota
delegation included many prominent
business men of the state who have
not given the subject of irrigation close
study, and the trip into the west and
the setting forth of the subject of irri-
cation was revelation to them. They
returned to Minnesota of one mind
that irrigation is the next great sub
ject for the country to exploit They
were impressed with the idea that the
arid districts, instead of being handi-
capped by the lack of rainfall, are
in fact superior to any other lands
in the country, wherever irrigation is
employed 1t was made plain to them
that the people of the United States
have as yet but little understan ing
of the Importance of this question.
North Dakota has fund available
Of about 100000 that can be devoted
to irrigation work. 1t is expected that
North Dakota will move in this matter
during the fall and will set at work
the agencies that will begin the work
of reclamation of the arid lands along
its western border.
In Montana the government is about
to begin the opening of the great Milk
river valley and the friends of irriga-
ton expect splendid results from this
work There is long, fertile valley
waiting only for moisture to turn the
rlain into a garden of production that
will be capable of supporting thous-
ands of people in prosperity. The
northwest is more specially interested
in this latter work because of the bene-
fit that will accrue at once to the job
bers and manufacturers of the north
west The Milk river country is direct
ly tributary to Minneapolis. ST. Paul
and Duluth and to the growing cities
of North Dakota where jobbing trade
is being developed.
Tie irrigation proposition becomes
so fascinating to those who give 1t suf-
ficent attention 10 grasp its rossibill-
ties, that it is likely steps will be taken
to bring object lessons before the peo-
pie of the northwest so that they may
the more readily understand what
these possibilities are.
The work has progressed so far in
Idaho that the Shoshone desert along
the Snake river is being transformed
into an agricultural region of pros
perity. Six years ago the railroad had
not been extended from Idaho Falls
to st. Anthony and land at that time
sold for $S an acre The railroad was
built Ave years ago, bitches were eX-
tended from the Snake river and the
production is so wonderful that lands
that sold for $S an acre six years age
sold ten days ago for $50 an acre. The
reason of this is that under irrigation
there can practically be no crop fail
ure, at least so far as moisture is con
cerned. The farmer can regulate thu
rainfall: the sunshine is strong ant
does a wonderful work when combined
with moisture introduced on the lant
at the proper time and in the prope
quantity Under irrigation there is M
damaging effect from an undesirable
amount of rainfall of five inches in
day; there Is no damage to harvest OF
account of unreasonable weather
Fruit and grain grow abundantly ant
bring a large profit to the farmer. VI
and down the Cache valley and tn
Great Salt Lake valley in Utah ar
prosperous homes surrounded by smal
irrigated farms that from a few acre
bring in larger returns than come iron
many of the larger farms OF the eas'
which are favored with regular and ir
regular periods of rainfall, but whic
the irrigationist will say are locate
on undesirable lands because OF tn
inability to produce crops as the resu'
of an even application of moisture
the land.
The Irrigation congress set on
broadly some Of the work that is abou
to be undertaken. For instance, tn
declaration is made that great flood