The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1904-09-28

such point Of accuracy and refine
rnent that the nece ssary funds were the
only thing still lacking. 1t may be a
long time before that point is reached
| in our state, as regards projects
large enough to merit the attention
and assistance of the federal govern
nfent. But an view 6f the general in
lterest now being manifested, lit iiiay be
hoped that this tifiie will be reasonably
/ short. stjs IA II
I'm order that work by the state
might be begun without longer con-
i tinred delay, this association, as you
are doubtless all aware, supported by
the financial backing Of some of it's
Epublic spirited members, requested
Governor White To appoint at once
state engineer I'M ,
After this appointment fell on me
in the middle of the summer each
Eweek's work showed fi,ore clearly how
great the possibilities here, how, much
work could advafitag geously be done
and in how many directions investiga-
Etiofis ought to be carried, until Il was
fairly staggered, although i was some
i what conversaf,t with the Situation
IL
tTiver gaging and stream measurement
RECLAMATION service Is doing In this and
one adjoining state. In the FIRST sea-
l,son (and a very short season. only a
j mere beginning has been made, but it
lis hoped that this may be OF value in
revealing what work ought to be done
/ in the immediate future and how it
4 should be conducted. "A detailed re-
Iport will be made to the governor this
winter, and the legislature will be ask
ed to consider the question and to de-
eide whether there is need for the
continuance of this line of work and
how extensively it should be carried
ION. 8 s}a ss SsGs3 i ss II.
This first seasons work may be OUT
4 lined in few minutes. .,a%
i Measurements Of the quantity OF wa
| ter flowing in the streams, and the
In1aintenance sof continuous records of
Il the flow for considerable number of
II years, allow the amount and custom
. / ary variation during each season in an
{ ordinary year to be known with rea-
sonable accuracy; this is prerequisite
to the most advantageous utilization of
the streams, just as an approximate
knowledge of the Acreage of his fields
is necessary to an intelligent farmer.
4 or as record of the measurements Of
his customer is needed by the success
| full coatmaker, hence, this line Of work
Il is sof prime Importance; but it is al
Iready carried on to considerable ex
tent in this state by the United States
. PROCLAMATION service under federal ap-
] Ipropriation, and furthermore is Of
much greater value when thus carried
on definitely through continuous per-
4 iod Of several years. So it did not
seem advisable that the work to be
! done under the direction Of your asso-
i ciation should be at first carried along
that line, except when, incidentally to
other work, occasion offered without
extra expense. sl.s
II The latter half of the summer I
spent with a small field party IN a
rapid preliminary survey or reconnais-
sance along some of our streams to de-
termine the location and extent of ir-
4 lrigable lands, the practicable sites for
reservoirs such as are needed to store
the spring foods, and the most feas-
lible methods of utilizing the water.
An effort was put forth TO make some
little examination of as much territory
as possible, and the work was car
I ried along most of the length of the
valleys of the Cannon Ball, the knife,
/ and the Little Muddy, besides some
smaller streams. These were not SCI
Ilected as being the only possible reg
lions for irrigation, nor as being nee
essarily the most profitable ones, but
because time was lacking for more
than very few of the many attrac-
tive propositions ineriting attention,
' lit was necessary to keep economy in
view in the work. to avoid needless du-
plication of work in covering terri
ltory where reclamation service or
I L other parties or engineers with the
same object have recently been or are
4 likely to be soon, to consider extent
Iof lands and the possibility of enlist
ling government assistance where tracts
suitable for further survey should be
!. found, and to be governed by accessi-
lbility and suitability for immediate
q Isettlement.
An extended report of this work
! Twill be submitted during the winter, ac-
conpanied by a schedule of the many
y other projects which ought to have I'M
Irnediate and thorough investigation,
Ibut for which the most convenient OPP
! portnnity has not yet offered.
In this connection. ! should be glad
q to hear from any who have such pro-
Fleets In view in their own vicinity, in
!. l0rder that iii the report at least a
g Ibrief mention may be made Of all
known possibilities, whether or not any
{ extended examination has been made
4 of them ANY details concerning lo-
~, ~ & ~ ~ <xf I'M.