The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1903-12-05

up each Of these streams separately, so
as to give an intelligent idea of the sit
uation as the reclamation service under
stands it.
To begin with, every reservoir and
ditch project intended for the irriga-
ton of North Dakota soil must be
constructed or begun, in Montana.
The fall of the land is SO gradual as
to prohibit any undertakings of this
character within the state.
The most desirable North Dakota
project, and the one which the reclaim
alton service hopes to develop, is located
near the junction of the Missouri and
the Yellowstone, in the old Fort Bu-
ford military reservation. Here are per-
haps 10000 acres of good soil which
could be irrigated successfully, the dam
to be built in Montana.
SO far as the Missouri River is con-
cerned elsewhere in the state, the only
possible way to make it available for
irrigation would be by pumps, and the
cost of this work makes it prohibitive
There are, however, small tracts of
ground along the river which could be
supplied with water, but they are
small and add no weight in favor of
any general plan
The Little Missouri has some flood
water, but not great deal Its banks
and bed do not offer opportunities for
reservoirs or dam sites, and work of
that character undertaken there would
be far in excess of the benefits to be
derived.
The Knife, Heart and Cannonball
rivers show the same condition. The
flow of water in each is very small,
and they do not cover any irrigation
project which the reclamation service
thinks should be proftably UNDER
taken.
Father east, of course, there is
water in abundance in the James river.
but that territory is in the semi-hunid
region referred ito above and the .reclaan-
alton officers are confident that works
constructed there would be permitted TO
go to decay in seasons of sufficient rain
fall.
So, with the stream measurements,
the amount of water available. reser.
voir and dam sites and the level
character OF the country against the
proposition, the feeling here is that
no large irrigation work ought to be
undertaken in North Dakota. But
the government engineers are disposed
to continue their investigations, and
to give the state the benefit of every
reasonable doubt Numerous small
projects can be developed there. but
these, as the matter is understood here,
are not what the state wants.
1t is argued by the engineers that the
development OF reservoirs, ETC., in Mon
tana, alfalfa grown there to be eaten by
cattle on the North Dakota ranges.
would be of more direct advantage to
the northwest generally, and especially
to the twin cities, than the expenditure
of large sums in North Dakota.
Practically all of the country between
the reservoirs and the James River
would increase in value. the state would
invite settlers, the purchasing power of
its citizens would increase, and vast
stretches in the western counties. now
only partially remunerative. would COM
nand god price. All of this would
benefit the twin cities, the trading CEN
tiers of that section. To expend the
same Sims in North Dakota. on the
other hand, would accomplish a very
small portion of the good just alluded
to, and to that extent decrease the pur-
chasing power of the people.
The North Dakota members and sem
ators have repeatedly conferred with
officials OF the reclamation service, and
always with the. same result. | may
say, also, that the reclamation service
IS unanimously opposed to the McCum-
Der bill, which proposes to have experd-
ed within each state the sums raised for
irrigation purposes in that state.