Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-11-25
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NORTH DAKOTA AND THE lRRlGA-
TON LAW.
In a recent issue of the St. Paul
Dispatch we find an editorial, severely
criticising the attitude Of North Dako-
ia with reference to the national re-
clamation act. The opening of the
article follows:
That irrigation congress" which
met and discussed and resolved
at Bismarck, in North Dakota, last
summer, was but the demonstration
that statesmen who look on gov
eminent as job to be worked
for local interests, had awakened
to the fact that, in passing the re-
clamation act, they had let slip
fine chance to @get something for
their states and districts. The
motive behind It all is to get that
act amended so that it can be
administered by politicians in
stead Of the secretary of the inter-
ior; administered, as the river and
harbor bill is, in the interests
Of localities more than Of the ma
ton. And the ultimate purpose is
to obtain the spending Of the re-
clamation fund in the states or
territories from the sale Of public
land in which it was derived.
We confess our surprise at an edi-
torial of this character in newspaper
that pretends to. represent the COM
mercia1 and industrial progress of the
northwest, with which the prosperity Of
the city of St. Paul is inseparably con-
nected. The statements above refer
red to are without shadow Of founda-
ton in truth. The Irrigation congress
called at Bismarck last year was to
arouse public interest in a matter Of
vital Importance to the state, but
which had been either overlooked or
looked upon with no great favor-the
Increased prosperity that would result
: to North Dakota If the fertile lands
in the western part of the state were
put under an assured supply Of water.
The congress had its result in enlist
ing the interest Of the state, and a
fruit Of it is seen in the appropriation
just" made by the secretary Of the
interior for the development Of irriga-
ton projects in North Dakota There
was and is no desire to have moneys
spent in North Dakota purely as a
political Or arbitrary act of the re-
c1amation service. But there are
many projects in the state capable of
development, as is proven by the re-
ports Of the engineers, upon which this
appropriation Of the secretary Of the
interior is based.
That North Dakota has contributed
the second largest single amount Of
any of the states concerned is a state
ment of fact which has been made in
the discussion Of this irrigation law,
to assist in bringing the attention Of
the people of the state to this great
work. North Dakota does not ask that
money be spent here because it has
contributed this large amount. But,
having contributed this amount, it
does claim that projects in this state
should be investigated and if meritor-
1ous or favorable should have con-
sideration. This position is we'll
taken, the prophets Of the Dispatch to
the contrary Notwithstanding. And
North Dakota will continue to urge its
own claims, even if the Dispatch con-
tinues to oppose the clairns OF the Sec
tion to which it looks chiefly for its
support and that Of the city in which
it is published.
North Dakota, particularly the west
ern part of the state, is capable of
higher development, with an assured
"APP15 VI "eAtSi upOu itD 11uu, ludu
any of the states where complete
irrigation must be practiced. Why,
then, has this state not the right to
look after its own interests? Has it
NOT, equally With Nevada, Arizona,
New Mexico and other remote COM
monwealths, the right to present its
claims and projects and ask their con-
ssideratfon. The Dispatch IS eaptious
critic. It's criticism Of North Dakota
is based upon a misstatement Of facts
and is the work Of a small-bore critic,
whose mission is to heap criticism
upon q project that he does not Under
stand. i. Il. s555, IF ggssg5 E
The secretary of the Interior, It win
be noticed has approved the Bismarck
pumping project under the provisions