Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-05-23
PROBLEM OF IRRIGATION
Question Of Irrigation in the State OF North
Dakota Discussed By Hon. T. S. Under
hill. :, :s&% 49,. -

tue Natlonal Irrigation Association, in
The Tailsman: The organization of
State Irrigation Association at Bis
marck, Oct. q, 1908, has awakened q
general interest in North Dakota in
the subject of irrigation, and has
brought to light q, number of limited
private irrigation plants. which, great
~ to the encouragement Of our irriga-
ton interests, show what can be done
by the application OF water in this
state.
That portion Of. North Dakota west
OF the Missouri river known as the
west-Missouri section, or Cow coun.
try contains more than $4,000, 900
acres. Since the advent Of the white
man it has been principally used for
free grazing, being well watered by
the Big and Little Missouri, Knife,
Heart and Cannon Ball rivers, with
their numerous spring creek tribu-
taries making it -eminently live
stock country. The live stock indus
try growing to large and profitable
proportions, this became distinctively
prosperous section of the northwest.
The income of the farmer settler
and small ranchman, who have grad
ually spread out in scattered settle
ment throughout most of the territory,
has curtailed the free range, making
it impossible to maintain the large
ranches in their historic glory, as
they were in the ranching days of
President Roosevelt and the Marquis
de Mores. The cultivation of grain
crops in this semi-arid section has
been Improbable, but a side issue of
stock-growing has maintained the
farmer settler and homesteader in fair
ly prosperous condition. It has en-
couraged further settlement, recently
in great numbers, with their flocks and
herds, until the danger point to our
chief industry is reached. ~ ~
The problem of winter feed for our
live stock is before us. An unlimited
free range is no, longer available.
Seeing danger of loss ahead, the ten
dency is to quit the business and thus
an industry of national importance is
endangered. Recent limited expert
ments in irrigating a few acres Of fod-
der crop has given such satisfactory
results that We are led to believe that
with government storage of food
water in sufficient number of avail
able locations, that not only will the
live stock interests be maintained but
agricultural uroducts assured, and new
homes for thousands made possible.
The slogan, "Uncle Sam is rich
enough to give us all farm" has set
tied the west. and now that the settler
is here to a possible living extent, will
Uncle Sam aid in giving the means of
sustaining the homesteads in prosper
sity and multiplying their numbers?
The change in conditions here has
been so gradual that not until recently
has the real situation been realized.
To meet this coming change, l have
for a number Of years been expert
menting in irrigating q few acres, and
have been uniformly successful In
growing full yield Of fodder crops In
most adverse seasons, when, on other
land, crops were q failure. II 35 .ys9s. /:
It is too expensive for the average
homesteader to maintain dam on
even small creek. The foods will
wash out an ordinary dirt dam have
done SO repeatedly for me. Solid, per,
manent structures are required, par
ttcularly in the larger streams. When
the government has built these dams,
as contemplated and provided by the
National Irrigation Act then with our
abundance Of cheap fuel ~ Ignite
coal-the pumping of these imp ounded
GOO0 WAISTS 10 t6IduAC As4AAO 5wAAA tNSA $500
" be practicable. Another Important
consideration Is that evidently We ore
within the great artesian basin lln'
though 1t ID undeveaoped a this sec
ton. II Is clearly within the scope q
the national irrigation law to invests
cate the practicability o. this resource
with these developing agencies,
western North Dakota win continue
a important factor n suppl ing life
giving products 70 commercial and 81 n
I dustriai enterrgise and 70 national
prosperity.
No where III the semi Arid belt nowa
! Is great = wealth 81 YER O through
Inc western portion of NORTH Daasot \
me tributaries q the Missouri have %
{ drainage DISTRICT u more thAn ~,