The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-10
IRRIGATION. IN N. D.
Senator Hansbrough Declares That
the State Will Be Well Taken
Care Of.
Progress Will Be Slow, but Eventu.
ally All Money Raised There
Will Be Spent There.
From, The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build
ing, Washington.

From, The Journal Bureau, Room 45, Post Build
ing, Washington.
washington, Oct. Ex-senator
Hansbrough as the originator of ma
tional legislation on the subject, has
kept in touch with the national lr-
rigation situation during the recess OF
congress, and has noted especially the
efforts that are to be made to have
portion of the irrigation fund eXpend-
ed in western North Dakota. Since
he came to Washington he has made a
personal investigation OF the law
relating to the expenditure or the
funds set aside for irrigation and re-
clamation of arid lands, and he de-
clares that the state will not suffer
in any way in the carrying out OF the
plans of the government.
In discussing the subject to-day,
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 the
duty Of the secretary of the interior in
carrying out the provisions Of this act,
so far as the same may be practicable and
subject to the existence of feasible irriSa-
ton projects to eXpend the major por-
ton Of the funds arising from the sale
of public lands within each state and ter
ritory hereinbefore named for the benefit
of arid and semiarid lands within the
limits Of such state or territory; provided
that the secretary may temporarily use
such portion Of said funds for the benefit
Of arid or semiarid lands deem advsab
but when so used the excess shall be re-
stored 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 territor-
les shall be equalized according to ths
proportions and subject to the conditions
as to practicability and feasibility afore.
said. a. - ~
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 it's credit of any state or
territory named in the law. I have
no doubt that every dollar of it will be
water and enough available land car
be found. 49,
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
not become impatient if delays are ap.
parent. Expert photographers anG
engineers must first examine the vas
regions to determine where irrigation
is feasible. Upon their report the sec
rotary Of the interior decides which O.
the various enterprises shall be I'M
dertaken. He then proclaims r tn!
withdrawal from entry, except undei
the irrigation law, Of the availabl,
trrigable lands under each projec
which he has concluded to- develop
His next step is to let contracts for thu
construction of the necessary. works
In the case of North Dakota there will
be number of projects but none O.
them extensive. Several surveyor
have been in the field in the western
portion Of the state all summer. Thei
reports will reach the secretary durin
the winter and his proclamations ma,
be expected early next spring. TIL
work Of construction will follow a
soon as contracts can be made" ;,
H. G. Stevens.