The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-12-19
IRRIGATION IN
NORTH DAKOTA
SENATOR HANSBROUGH DIS
CUSSES THE OUTLOOK.
Officials Have. Not Yet Located Any
Large Projects-Missouri River AZ.
fords Sufficient Water - Lands
Benefited Must Bear Cost = Coal
Supply Assures Success.
From The Journal Bureau. Colorado Building,

From The journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington.
Washington. Dec. 19.-In view Of
the reports thus far made by the
geological survey in regard to irriga-
ton possibilities in North Dakota,
Senator Hansbrough was asked to-
day what he thought of the outlook.
He said:
Investigations thus far made in North
Dakota by the reclamation service, while
they are not of an encouraging nature,
must not be assumed to be final The
great irrigation projects now. in process Of
construction in several sections Of the
west are those which the geological sur
vey had carefully examined several years
before. the irrigation act became a law.
North Dakota being in the humid belt. the
government officials have not as yet taken
definite steps toward locating and devel-
oping large enterprises. We know that
the Missouri river flows thru nearly 500
miles Of North Dakota SOIL and that there
is sufficient water in the stream to irri-
gate an extensive territory. There is
but one question to be solVed-What
means shall be adopted to get the water
onto the land? Engineers who have tray
ersed the river say that owing to the
slight fall in the river, gravity projects
are impracticabe. Yet this view is not
accepted as conclusive, for there is rea-
sui 70 UcllcNS lIldI tllS IlVST Cdl DS rldppcu
at a point In Montana and its flood waters
diverted so as to bring them across the
Yellowstone into North Dakota.
But, accepting the theory that gravity
projects are impractcable, which do not
admit no one doubts that the water may
be pumped into reservoirs on the high
| lands on both sides of the stream. Under
the irrigation law the lands benefited must
return to the government the cost of the
works. 1t was this clause In the bill that
secured its passage. Like all new legis-
lation, it was closely scrutinized. Con-
+ cessiOns were necessary. 1 have never
I bad any doubt that when national irri-
cation was successfully inaugurated con-
! gress would not be niggardly in the mat
ter Of financial assistance. The time
! will also come when the item Of imme-
diate compensatory benefits will not stand
in the way of development. The advan-
! tages to the nation at large will be taken
into consideration and will outweigh the
|. value Of local returns.
To begin with, however, we must keep
faith with the government, and thus lay
| the basis for a more liberal policy. This.
] am sure, was the. thought the president
| had in mind when, in his recent mes
sage, he advised against the amendment
of the law for the present. Next year
| the government engineers will take up the
question of pumping plants along the Mis-
souri, The matter of cost will assuredly
be the controlling factor. I believe that
with the endless supply Of coal which has
| been found to -overhang the waters Of
the river for great distances, there will
! be doubt this score. The pump
is not a new feature in irrigation science.
1t has long been in use in Asia and In
Europe. With an abundance Of cheap fuel
and many natural reservoirs at hand. it
is more than probable that North Da-
| kota will do its part in the matter
of irrigation, and that the hopes of many
conservative men who have refused to be
carried off their feet by the extravagant
! claims of over sanguine vet sincere people
will be realized. w w Jermane.