The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-01
OWNERS OF LAND
DELAY IRRIGATION

North Dakotans Favor Projects,
but Hesitate to Make Re-
quired Payments.
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington. =, at4s,nn
Washington, Oct. la large
proportion Of the owners of land in
western North Dakota are favorable to
the establishment of irrigation projects,
but they are not eager to pay the price
necessary for the insurance of crops.'
This is the sum Of the Investigations
of F: H. Newell, chief of the irrigation
that state. Mr.. Newell's remarks on
the subject are interesting in view of
the coming convention of the North
Dakota Irrigation association. He
says:
All the irrigation projects in which the
government would interest itself would
require pumping to put the water on the
land. This IS the most expensive form
of irrigation construction, and when con-
structed 1t costs more per acre to main
tain the works than the l1igh-level reser-
vor system. We are not preparing es-
Inmates Of the cost Of the construction Of
irrigation works SUCH as would have to
be several months before anything def
mite will be known. I can say now, and
have told the owners of the land which
would be included in some of the proposed
projects, that it will cost from $50 to $50
an acre to build the works. and the an
nual cost Of maintenance will be anywhere
from 81 to SIS an acre.
But it will pay, undoubtedly. I have
told the settlers that, but they have not
entered very heartily into the spirit Of
the thing. They are now planting their
sections Of land, $40 acres, in wheat, and
| are getting a fair return for their invest
nent. They are, apparently, not willing
ITO have irrigation works constructed, for
which they will have to pay large sums.
I Nor are they inclined to go into intensive
agriculture, which would be necessary if
| they adopted irrigation, and would mean
! a departure from their present method.
Where they now raise wheat they would
have to turn to dairying. This would
mean getting UP early in the morning for
most of the year to milk the COWS, where
now the bulk" of their work is done in
nine weeks Of the summer It was gen
orally agreed that irrigation and the new
industry would pay, but 1T was a case OF
/ ''Let the other fellow have it. I don't
want it at the price in money and Ia
bor.'' .
Pumping Systems Work.
That irrigation by means Of pumping
stations is a success has been demonstrate
. ed in California, where the works cost as
much as $100 an acre in some instances
OF course, climatic conditions are different
on. the coast, but it would pay to es-
tablish these works in North Dakota.
But the government can't do anything un.
less the settlers consent. They are to be
the ultimate owners Of the works an6
the government is asking their consent
and agreement to pay for them as pros
pective partners. If they will join the
partnership, we'll and good. If they refuse
the government can do nothing I have
told the owners the exact facts, so fa1
as they are in: my possession, and they
will have to do the rest.
The Mouse river project is one OF
those in the construction Of which the
settlers have been asked to cooperate
| Water for irrigating the land under
this project must be pumped from the
maintenance will be large Whether
I or not the project will be pushed fur
Their will depend upon the owners them
| selves. ,...., -.
Engineers of the reclamation service
have been investigating conditions
along the Little Missouri with view
to the construction of irrigation works
The indications are, however, tina
, whatever projects are. planned will in
, volve the use of pumping stations, will
the consequent high cost. Fortunately
> Ignite can be had in abundance, am
this will serve Ito. keep the cost Of op
Grafton and maintenance at a mini
mum figure; but still the cost will b
considerably in excess OF that for oper
. ating plants in the more hilly: country
: Fort Buford Project. ~. "a.
II Mr.. Newell reports progress in tn
- engineering work in connection wit
: the Fort Buford project. There is som
p doubt in the minds of the officials .
the reclamation service as to whethe
. there is sufficient authority, for dam
ming the Yellowstone, which will b
: necessary to. supply. the reservoirs
: Whether or not additional Legislation
, will be necessary will soon be deter
n mined. Meantime negotiations with tn
:. owners of the land to be irrigated ar
g in progress, but the results, so far a
= :. encouraging. Some Of the private owl
= ers hold as much as q thousand acres
y The law says that no one settler sha
- have more than $50 acres. It will b
!. necessary, therefore, for each one Q
. the large owners to dispose of his SUI
lis Just now. While they don't say S
9 in words, these owners want toget a
much as they can for their lands, an
they would prefer to hold them unit
the works are completed, and then Sc
to settlers at the government price, {
J. in excess of that, if it can be had. Th
large owners are holding off from JON
ing the Water Users association, sue
+ as is formed where irrigation, work
l. are established, to facilitate govern
y ment control of the land until the irr
& CATION works are paid for. The ass,
Citation has absolute control, and thr
d it all sales are made during the4col
q struction of the works and the tie
years in which the government is b
r ing repaid for tssoutlay. f E, IN
T. It is believed here that these lare
e owners will see the desirability Of ha'
/; ing the project completed and that the
s. will join the partnership by subscri1
g. ing to The contract WHICH the govern
IT ment has adopted.