The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1904-05-14
N. D. IRRIGATION.
Detailed Report Of the Mork
Done in the State.
Facts That Will Interest People
Watch Progress of the Work.
Great Possibilities of the Work
in This State.

Watch Progress of the Work.
Great Possibilities of the Work
in This State.
The United States census bureau
has given out the following prelim-
mary statement concerning irriga-
ton in the state of North Dakota
in 1902
Irrigation in North Dakota is
restricted almost exclusively to q
comparatively small section in the
extreme northwest. It is princi-
pally used in growing native grass
for pasture or hay, and the most.
common method is that Of flooding.
This is accomplished by: placing
dams in the streams and coulees SO
that considerable quantities Of wa
ter during the early spring freshets
are forced to flow ont over the adj
jacent lands. One such flooding is
ordinarily sufficient to produce a
good crop of hay.
The state is divided into three
drainage basins, namely: Missouri
River and tributaries, Mouse River
and tributaries, and Red River of
the North and tributaries. Almost
all the irrigation is praoticed within
the drainage basin Of the Missouri
which traverses the state diagon-
ally from northwest TO southeast.
Mouse river crosses the northern
boundary, and after making a large
detour southwark, reprosses' into
British territory. Red River Of the
North forms the eastern boundary,
and its basin lies entirely within
the humid region.
Although the rainfall Of 1902 was
generally ample for farming pur-
poses, the total area in this year
shows a remarkable increase since
1899: This, no doubt, IA largely
accounted for by new settlers open
ing up farms in the northwestern
part.
In 1902. the farms on, Which irri-
CATION was reported numbered 102,
and s.l0,384 acres. were. irrigated
Sixty-nine systems, supplied with
water from all sources in tho state,
were constructed at an initialppst
Of $45,o87, an. average of N,64per
irrigated acre. There were as miles
of main canals and ditchea.: These
figures represent an INCREASE sIpo'e,
1899 Of l15.1 per ceptin aHlnbff Of
acres irrigated, So.9:per cent @@9, the
number Of farms, and 1866 pe.
cent; !! liz. il total 4 tel construction cost.
The Missouri river and tsibgta-
ries supplied fifty systems which
irrigated 9,44 acres belonging to
|eiRty-three farms. The total con.
struction outlay for the 81 miles Of
main canals and bitches and other
irrigation works was S40,976, ap
average Of $4.28 per irrigated acre.
Ten farms with an irrigated aEaa Of
676 acres were supplied with Yater
from the Mouse river and trjbuta-
ries. The ten systems represent a
construction cost Of B,8gST, an av-
erage Of $5,38s per iIriSated acre.
Two plants in Barnes o. pumped
water from. Cheyenne glver, aetrlb-
utary Of the Red River Of theNorth
and irrigated six sores on two farms.
These plants we're CONSTRUCTED at
an initial cost Of $500. D.,
Five Systems costing 5000 were
supplied with water from springs,
and 256 acres belonging to five
farms were irrigated therefrom at
an average coat Of 1924 per irrl-
gated acre. There were but two
acres reported ss irrigated from
wells, the total cost Of the we'll sys-
tenn being $l76. ).
4k:;::;;::;;::;;;;;;