Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-12-25
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1A1ev 'SA ~ ~ -@1A11--1S II
Senator Hansbrongh, in recent
Interview made the following state.
n,ent IN reference to irrigation in
this state:
5 Investigations TINS far in Nortn
Dakota made by the reclamation SER
vice while they are not Of an encour-
aging nature must not be assumed
10 be final. The great irrigation
projects now in process Of construc
tion in several sections Of the west
are those w4ich the geological survey
had carefully examined several years
before the irliga9ion act became 9
Ilaw. North Dakota being in the
humid belt, the government officials
| have not as yet taken definite steps
toward locating and developing large
enterprises We know that the Mis-
souri, river flows through nearly 500
miles Of North Dakota sell, and that
there is sufficient water in the stleam
| to- irrigate an extensive territory.
iTherees is but one question to be
solved that means shall beaadoptedi
Ia set tine wate QUITO the land ? En-
Eginesrs who have traversed the river
say that. owing 10 the slight fall
the river, gravity projects are I'M
practicable, Yet this view is not
faccepted as cJnclusve, for there is
reason to believe that the river can
be tapped at a point In Montana, and
4 lite Hood waters diverted 50 as TO-
bring them across the Yellowstone
into North Dakota.
But, accept ing the theory that grav-
Iity projects are impracticable, which
III do not admit, no one doubts that the
water may be pumped into reservoirs
/ on the highlands on both sides of the
stream. Under the irrigation law the
4 Hands benefited must retnrn to the
5laogernment the cost sff the works
81 Ii was this clause in the bill that se--
! cured its passage. Like all new
a legislation, it was closely scrutinized,
Concessions were necessary. i have
never had any doubt that when ma
/ tional irrigation was successfully
inaugurated congress would not be
3niggardy in the matter Of financial
assistance. Tne time will also come
when the item. Of Immediate COM
| pensatory benefits will mot stand il
4 the way of development. The advan,
II tages to She nation at large vii be
taken into consideration and vii,
loutweigh the value Of local returns.
TO pegin with, however, we must
keep faith with the government and
thus lay the basis for a more liberal
ipolicy. This am sure was the
n thought the president mad in mind
when. in his recent message he ad.
vised against the amendment of tht
law for the present Next year the
government engineers will take nj
the question Of pumping plants alous
the Missouri The matter Of cost vii
assuysdY be the controlling factor
81 r believe that with the endless sui pl,
, of coal which has been found to over.
Ihang the waters OF the river for grea
distances, there will be no doubt or
this score Ine pump is not new
feature in irrigation science. It hal
4 long been in use ia Asia and Europe
a Win an abundance Of cheap fuel and
= many natural reservoirs at hand, j
a is more tnan probable that NORTH
d Dakota will do its part in the matte
3 Iof irrigation, and that the hopes Q
q many conservative men who hav'
n refused to be carried off their feet b.
q the extrayagant claims Of over san
4 8Eguine vet sincere people will 1e real
ized. Il.