Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-10-28
PRICE FIVE CENTS
RELIGION AND IRRIGATION.
EvanQelizatc Of the Earth in Con-
junction with Federal irrigation the
Subject of Inquiries Received by the
Geological Survey.

Subject Of Inquiries Received by the
Geological Survey.
Washington. October 2S.-(Special
Correspondent Of New York Evening
Post THE Geological Survey is now
swamped with inquiries relative to a
scheme for the evangelization cf the
earth in conjunction with Federal irri
CATION of the Southwest. The connec-
ton of the two enterprises is ex-
planned in the advertising circulars.
Many people in Minnesota. Michigan,
Wisconsin. Indiana, and Iowa have
contributed money to the movement,
and now want the Geological Survey
to tell them all about water rights.
dams, and irrigation works in general.
Most of them are religious people.
whose interest in irrigation is second
ary.
The prospectus states that in the
famous Salt River valley near
Phoenix. Ariz.. there are $50 900 acres
of rich, beautiful land now vacant and
owned by the United States ut can
all be irrigated by unappropriated wa
ters from the Verde River" continues
the promoter. ''and when irrigated
will have an intrinsic value of 800
per acre. The company owns the
right to take from the Verde River
water for the irrigation of this land
1t also owns twenty miles of fine canal
already excavated, and a tunnel al
ready constructed through solid rock.
about 900 feet long and 12x14 feet in
diameter. available to use the Verde
water.
I'VE are now selling the water
rights for this land. The price is
20 cents per share at the time of
subscription; s125 when the com
pany's reservoir and canal shall have
been completed, and the balance il
desired in 1S annual payments of 81
each. with annual interest on de-
ferred payments at the rate of per
cent per annum from the time the
company shall be ready to deliver the
water. These lands are not now sub
ject to purchase, but under the law
will be thrown open by the time they
are needed to carry out our plans.
| The land will be secured direct from
the government at s1.25 per acre,
| payable 25 cents at the time of entry
and 81 at the purchasers option with
! in four years thereafter years
profit from the cultivation of the land
will more than pay the total cost of
both water right and land The de
tails of the business have been so
arranged that there is absolutely no
risk to purchase of these water
rights
The promoter further says "In
the last few years God has marvel
lously thrown open the doors for the
evangeization of the world A multi
tude of missionaries and much money
are needed to carry out our Lord S
last great commond God is as def
nately calling men whom he wishes to
use in making this money as he is
calling others to go as personal mis-
conscious of such a call" This last
sentence is shrewdly worded
I'VE are offering these water rights
to Christian people who. upon cultiva-
ton or sale of the land. will be glad
to devote portion of the profits to
the extension of the Lords kingdom.
The profits will be large We have
I no desire, however. to dictate the
amount any one will give or through
what channels the money shall be
contributed
The circular does not state that the
ordinary flow of the Verde River is
now completely appropriated for the
/ irrigation of lands in the neighborhOod
of Phoenix The alleged reservoir
can probably never be built, and the
canal under which the people are in
vited to settle has been constructed
only in few localities where the dig
ging is easy The cost of completing
the canal through many miles of
rough country. say the experts here.
is prohbitive Many thousands OF
water rights have alreay been sold.
and letters are pouring in upon the
Secretary of the Interior asking for
information in regard to the com
pany. Gov. Brodie of Arizona is con
ferring with the Chief Justice of the
Territory. and an investigation will
probably be ordered before the United
States grand jury.