Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-10-21
A PROUD RECORD
FORNORTHDAKOTA
Continued from Second Page.

ItlillitHl pli IL Sllldll Stdlc Vi al ilII-
gated area supplied with water from a
pumping plant would not be we'll
worth trying by the wner of the farm.
There are so many things which can
be produced by irrigation, and which
cannot be successfully grown with
out il. which add materially to the
completeness of the life on the farm
and its products, that their culture
even though on a small scale. would
be a fascinating pursuit for every in
telligent farmer.
National Irrigation.
Passing from this field for the de
velopment OF irrigation on small areas
by the intelligent action of the individ-
ual farmer, we come into the larger
field for development by the National
Government under THE NATIONAL
IRRIGATION ACT. We have not. as
yet, the exact information necessary to
be certain just what lands in this state
could be irrigated through the con-
struction of large canals and irrigation
systems by the National Government,
but it is safe to assume that the area
is very large. 1t is estimated by the
officials of the National Government
who are familiar with the physical con-
ditions of the state that at least a
million acres in North Dakota could be
furnished with water for irrigation
at an average cost of fifteen dollars
per acre. That is the estimate of the
government officials. My own judg-
INIT is that ten dollars honestly eX-
pended will cover it amply.
1t is beyond question, if this land
were thus made irrigable. hat its val
lie would be increased beyond the cost
of fifteen dollars an acre after the
construction of irrigation works. If
the Government built the works the
land would repay to the Government
its entire investment in annual install
ments extending over a period of ten
years as contemplated by the National
irrigation Act. The increased produc-
ton from this million acres of land
would add enormously to the wealth
of the tate. The original cXpendi-
ture of the fund disbursed for o n
struction would stimulate every branch
of trade and industry in the state. and
the annual acreage product of the irri-
gated lands. when closely cultivated
by the intensive methods which neces-
sarily must go hand in hand with irri-
cation. might safely be estimated at
from thirty to fifty dollars per acre,
or a total of thirty to fifty million dol
lars a year added to the resources and
annual income of the people of North
Dakota from the products of these irri-
gated lands.
Great Irrigation Projects.
One of the projects which has been
more or less discussed, but the feast
bility of which has not yet been de-
termined by actual surveys, is the pro
posed diversion of the Missouri River
from some point in Montana where an
elevation could be secured at the point
of diversion high enough to carry the
water in a great main line canal clear
over into the center of the state OF
North Dakota. and distribute it there
through a system of smaller canals
throughout a very large extent OF
country.
OF course. the construction of such
a system as this would cost many mil
ions of dollars and require a number
of years in building. but its magnitude
is no objection to its construction
Other countries are building irrigation
works on an even larger scale. The
great Chenab System in India, bull
within the last ten years. and which
occupied between thre and -four years
for its construction, starts with a cana
$50 feet wide. carrying ten Thousand
cubic feet a second of water and irri
gates more than a million acres o.
land. 1t is not the temper of thu
American people to confess before try
ing that they cannot do things whicl
other nations actually have done
And when We can go to India ant
look upon such great systems as the
Chenab System OF the Gauges System
and other immense irrigation systems
built in that country by the British
Government. it cannot be said that /
is impracticable for II Government t.
build in this country irrigation systems
costing as much and %irrigating as lars'
areas as those in India. applause.
But we nave a great advantage owe
India because the people of India ar
so poor that they do not expect to ge
more than twenty-five to thirty dollar
a year upon which to support thei
family and themselves. and many o
the natives live on twelve dollars
year. That is hardly proper to sa,
that they live-they do not live. poo
%, tHCs viz dIh htt Nof 'i'S ~
gaunt famine. Every yea million
die for want of food to keep soul an
body together.
Drainage inc Irrigation.
There is one feature of irrigation
development in the state of North Da
kota which must never be overlooked
That is. that drainage must go wit
irrigation. and in the construction O
every irrigation system yer built i
this state. there must be coupled wit
it and simultaneously constructed
drainage systm which will carry ava
the surplus water seeping from the ir
rigated lands. II this is not done tn
water-logged and instead OF their pro
du%ctiveness being improved by irriga
ton. it may be injured or even de
stroyed. This merely emphasizes tn
fact that irrigation after all is a sci
ence. and that its development neces
states education and training alon
scientific and technical lines.
Mead ~ Education