Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1903-11-16

provision reserving flowing streams
and natural water courses to the
state for irrigation, mining and manu-
featuring purposes, was adopted upon
the advice and suggestion of Major
J. W. Powell, director of the United
States geological survey, who in a
speech before the constitutional con-
vention of the state pointed out the
difficulties that had arisen in other
state from the accrued rights of pri-
vate corporations and persons to the
water and urgently advised that the
constitution be so safeguarded in this
respect that no corporation, body of
men or capital could get possession
of the waters of the state. Major
Powell was student of irrigation and
agriculture as depending upon irriga-
ton. He had made study of the
matter in many states and knew
where the stumbling blocks lay And
not only did he urge this constitution
al provision, but he stated, after a
geological study of the state, that it
had all the running streams, coulees
and ravineS necessary to store up the
surplus waters and turn them upon
the land in the season of necessary
irrigation.
Not only did Major Powell address
the convention upon this subject but
he met leading members of the con-
stitutional convention informally and
outlined to them the provisions that
he thought should be incorporated in
the constitution to make national lrr-
CATION possible and successful Act
ing upon his advice and suggestions
the constitutional provision was en-
acted as it stands today. to prevent
the gobbling up of water rights by
individuals, thus making the land sub
ject to their greed or desire.
Major Powell visited Bismarck on
Monday, August 5, 1889, in company
with Senators Stewart and Regan OF
the U. S. senate committee on irriga-
ton and arid lands. His address was
devoted largely to the matter of irri.
CATION, and liz the light of subsequent
events, was almost prophetic. In.
stead of expressing fear that the
constitutional provision that he sug
gested was detrimental in any way tr
the project of irrigation, Major Powell
urged it as ESSENTIAL TO THE
SUCCESS OF EVERY IRRIGATION
UNDERTAKING.
His address of that day will Be read
with widespread interest now. wher
the matter Of irrigation has com:
home to us with such force. He said
Mr.. President and Gentlemen of the
Convention:
am not accustomed to speak OF
occasions like this. In the first place
never made a political speech in my
life, and it seems to me l am almos
out of place here. When I was bo!
they used to bring to the table thu
u.nner, and the finest things wer'
at the last of the feast but somehow
in the high falutin dinners they giv'
now they fill the people with wine
and viands of many kinds, and thel
end with cheese and hard crackers
think that is what your presiden
is doing today. He wants to top of
with something very plain. know
nothing about the silver question, bu
have studied somewhat the subjec
Of irrigation. I was a farmer boy an,
had been engaged in farming, an
have spent a good deal Of time study
ing many other problems which inter
est your people. | remember in m
childhood my father moving into II
linois. Then | remember when Wis
consin and Minnesota were MAXIM
states. and now you are making tw
states Of Dakota. All these years
have watched the march of prOgres
across the continent, and have see
all this western half of America gro'
up as it were from wilderness.
the questions that practically interes
the people who are engaged in farm
ing, have made some study, an
in my remarks I will confine myse
wholly to some practical question
relating to irrigation, and then / wi
show what the Constitutional Conver
ton should have to say about then