Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1903-10-28
HILL TALKS
IRRIGATION
The Great Northern President Ad.
dresses the Irrigation Meeting in
Bismark, N. D.
TELLS HOW MOVEMENT BEGAN
Education on irrigation by the Rail.
roads-Whst II viii do for the
Western States.

In an address before the state irri
CATION meeting held last week in Bis
mark, n. d., James J. Hill president
of the Great Northern railway system
gave some interesting facts concern
ing the growth of the railroad which
has been identical with the growth OF
the northwest. He also told what a
continuance OF the present irrigation
policy will do for the arid northwest
His speech. in part, was as follows /:
To be brief, and in order that |
might be correct, | have had a record
prepared of what has happened since
1882, and these figures are all from
the railway and commercial reports,
so that they are official. In 1882 We
had 1907 miles of railway. In 1892,
3,417 miles in 1908, 5,59S miles. In
1882, we had 1877 locomotives: in 1892,
we had S27. and in 1903, 637. or pas.
senger cars in 1882 we had 119, in
1892. 26S, and in 1903, 5l6. Freight
cars in 1882, 3,7O7; ten years later. in
1892, 1867; in 1908, 29,73l. Now,
here is the material growth of the
northwest. In 1882 We moved 1907.
900 tons of freight; in 1903 We haul
ed l6,14s,000 tons, or | Loo per cent
gain in twenty-one years. Now, the
tons of freight hauled-in 1882 these
records were not kept and can not
give the figures-in 1892, that is.
hauled one mile, were 997 900 900
tons; in 1903, 3,6O6.OOO,OOO tons, or
400 per cent gain in ten years; and.
the important things TO you, and TO
us as well. in 1882 our rate for car
rying a ton of freight. that is, the av-
erage rate over the whole line, per
100 miles. was $2.5l. In 1892 it was
Sl.2l and in 1903 il was 50 cents.
which is one-third OF what the rate
was twenty-one years az
Had the company received the
same average rate ton mile or for
carrying ton of freight 100 miles in
1903 as in 1882 II would have collect
ed $90,S20, 109 as freight earnings dur.
ing the past year, while actual collec-
tions were $30.9l5,O00, decrease
through reduction in freight rates of
S59,904,S75. That means that IL the
rate of twenty-one years ago had been
in force you would not have lived
here. You could not have raised
grain enough to pay the cost OF cul-
tivating the soil and paying us for
carrying it to market. II would have
been impossible. The reduction in
freight rates has been brought about
by increasing the volume of traffic
that is, we have created new traffic by
making 1t possible for men to culti-
vate the soil and raise crops which we
carry to market
Irrigation.
Now | have been running away from
irrigation. On an investigation OF the
entire question it was found to be alb
solutely folly to bring forward any
measure in Washington. Nobody
would listen to il. To look toward the
government protecting the public do
main for the settlers and for future
generations was considered absurd by
many people in the east.
And was satisfied that il would
take long period and campaign of
fhnrnnUh nHnpafinn CO At.n rat Ina. n,
companies got together. They had no
land. | had no land and was not look
ing for any, but we put our hands in
our pockets and subscribed $500 a
year among the five companies to pay
for a campaign of education on the
subject of irrigation and started in all
over the country.
II went slowly at first and con.
gressmen would not listen to il. But
after time went on and they found
their people at home were interested.
After a while the question reached out
and got into congress and into the
white house. and everybody felt that
it was something to take notice OF.
And last year for the first time we
were able to get II successfully on
the floor OF congress. Now, there are
lots of men. who are original Jacob
men who did 1t themselves, lots of
them. But ! know how IL was done,
know that the s125,000 of good
money was scattered through the
country in lectures, in meetings. in
publications, for the purpose of bring
ing the question before the people
And they were brought to under
stand how absolutely necessary II Is
TO save what Is left of the public do.
main, to save to the people Of our
country the farming lands, so that
their children shall not be driven to
expatriate themselves and go 10 for.
eign lands to find farm.
What II Will Do.
Now, will give you the figures OF
what some OF the states have got in
land that can be irrigated. The mum
ber Of acres suitable for agricultural
purposes under any condition without
irrigation or artificial aid is estimated
as follows: North Dakota, Is 600. 900
acres; South Dakota, 10000, 900 acres
Montana, 100000 acres; Idaho g.
100000 acres, and Washington, 2O.00O
900. In North Dakota you have sub
stantially one.third OF the area OF the
state that can be cultivated without
artificial moisture. In North Dako
Ia the water supply through wells and
other reservoirs can be made 10 irri
gate about 100000 acres: in Mon
tana, 100000; In Idaho, 100000;
in Washington. 100000. The land
not susceptible to agricultural pur
suits. but which would be valuable II
irrigated, Is estimated as follows:
North Dakota. 100000 acres: South
Dakota, 100000; Montana 10000.
600: Idaho. 10000 900: Wasbington