The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-10-07
irrigation CONGRESS- BIG SUCCESS
Interesting Addresses Delivered BY Men Of the North
west-Summary 81 Engineer Chandler Report

4, ~ go ~ saas s33,
and assistance Of the general govern
ment. But in.view Of the general in
terest now being manifested, 1t may
be hoped that; this time will be reason
ably short. 81 t
In order that work by the state
might be begun without longer con.
tinued delay, this association, as you
are doubtless all aware, supported by
the financial backing of some Of its
public spirited members, requested
Gov. White to appoint at once a state
engineer.
After this appointment fell on me
in the middle Of the summer, each
weeks work showed more clearly how
great the possibilities were, how much
work could be advantageously done,
and in how many directions investiga-
the state with their locations and post
Office addesses is being commenced,
and need your cooperation in sup
plying the names Of all such in your
own neighborhood, in order to make
this list as complete as possible. Also
facts will be collected from them later
concerning their methods and results,
and the differences between irrigated
and unirrigated crops, :
We expect thus to begin the accu-
mutation at suitable place in the
capitol of all .obtainable information
lions ought to be carried, until was
fairly staggered, although I was some.
what conversant with the situation
through having been in charge of the
river gauging and stream measurement
work that the federal government or
reclamation service is doing in this and
one adjoining state. In the first sea-
son (and very short SEASON. only a
mere beginning has been made, but it
is hoped that this may be fvalue in
revealing what work ought to be done
In the immediate future and how it
should be conducted. A detailed re-
port 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 con-
tinuance of this line of work and how
extensively it should be carried on.
This first seasons work may be out
lined in few minutes.
Measurements of the quantity of wa
ter flowing in the streams and the
maintenance of continuous records Of
the flow for a considerable number of
years, allow the amount and custom
airy 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,
or as record of the measurements of
his customer is needed by the success
full coatmaker, hence this line of work
is OF prime Importance; but it is al
ready carried on to considerable ex-
tent In this state by the United States
reclamation service under federal ap-
preparation and furthermore is of
much greater value when thus carried
on definitely through continuous
period of several years. So it did not
seem advisable that the work to be
done under the direction of your as
ISOLATION should be at first carried on
along that line. except when, inciden-
tally to other work, occasion offered
| without extra expense.
The latter half of the summer spent
with small field party in a rapid pre-
liminary survey or reconnaissance
along some of our streams to deter
mine the location and extent of irri-
gable lands, the practicable sites for
reservoirs such as are needed to store
the spring floods, and the most feasible
methods Of utilizing the water. An
effort was put forth to make some lit
tie examination of as much territory
as possible, and the work was carried
along most of the length of the valleys
at the Cannon Ball, the Knife and the
Little Muddy, besides some smaller
streams. These were not selected. as
being the only possible regions for ir-
rigation, nor as being necessarily the
most profitable ones. but because time
was lacking for more than very few
Of the many attractive propositions
meriting attention. 1t was necessary
to keep economy in view in the work,
to avoid needless duplication of work
in covering territory where reclama-
ton service or other parties of engi.
neers with the same object have re-
Gently been or are likely to be soon,
to consider extent of lands and the
possibility of enlisting government as
sistance where tracts suitable for fur
ther survey should be found, and to be
governed by accessibility and suita-
bility for immediate settlement.
81 An extended report of this work will
be submitted during the winter, ac-
comp panied by q schedule OF the many
other projects which ought to have Inn.
mediate and thorough Investigation.