The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1904-09-23
-. 2 . ~
IRRIGATION LAW NO:
HELP NORTHWEST
~ - -
Section Contributes LlbersiIyto
the Scheme. but Gets No
Return

Inc plan OF national irrigation OF
the arid lands Of the desert states will
make garden of Nevada and a para
disc of Arizona, but the fall of the Mis-
souri, is SO sight and the Dakota coun-
try SO fiat that it is doubtful If the
government will be able to see its way
clear to water these states by gravity
canals, and it is. also doubtful if the
plan of pumping from the rivers can
be carried out except at loss"
The foregoing statement was made
by United States Engineer f. Fl. New
ell when he was in this city after ex-
aiming the territory in which it was
proposed to lead out canals or install
huge pumps in North and South Da-
kota. ers4s. 3,
The collection of money for national
irrigation was commenced in 1901 and
has proceeded each year since, until the
total amount paid in to the government
exceeds $23.000,000. The allotments for
carrying on the work total something
over $21 100000, although in nearly ev-
cry state to which money has been set
aside for the purpose of irrigation the
entire appropriation has not been spent
and in North Dakota and South Dakota
the appropriations have been SO tied up
by legislative restrictions that not a
cent has been spent, and, according to
Engineer Newell not cent is likely
to be spent in the immediate future re
oregon has been the largest con-
tr1butor to the fund, with 81, loo, 249.
which sum was realized from the sale
of public lands. In Oregan SO, 000. 600
Will be spent in the improvements
about Malheur.
Nothing Spent in North Dakota
North Dakota comes next with coll
lections footing up $3.50, 209., ~. 80.
A provisional appropriation condi-
tloned upon the approval of the pro5eet
of $1,200,009 was made for some irri-
cation scheme at Fort Buford But
not cent has been expended from the
approp1 iaticn because the project has
not yet been approved. tc~ 80
In South Dakota, where the Belle
F'ourche plan received an apparent ap-
preparation of $2,100,000, conditioned
the same as the one in North Dakota,
not cent has been spent nor is there
prospect of expenditure.
Some of the states have only taken
part in the plan of national irrigation
from the standpoint of contributors to
the found and no appropriations, how
ever conditioned, has been made for
the expenditure of irrigation money
within their borders.
Washington Gets Nothing
Oklahoma and Washington are the
hardest dealt with in this respect.
From the state of Washington $685.
$50 has been collected, with f1bteta cent
spent nor any provision to spend one
out of the fund IL
Oklahoma gave up $2,729,896; sand it
also has no show for it's white alley
oil for 10. y, oh q o m
tributed; Kansas, with $11S,06O. and
Utah, with $2S5,S71, are not represent
ed at all on the. charge side of the gov
eminent ledger. es - ss,-ei
On the other hand, Arizona which
gave $195,375, gets $3,0eO,0OO for i'm
provement of the Salt river. valley.
Nevada, which gave up $56,S37, the
$3,0o0,000 to. make the Truclxee river
flow out on its barren plains, and
Wyoming. which gave about $1,000,00o,
Will have $2,250,00O given in return
When the original bill was up for
consideration in the United States SEN
ate Senator Hansbrough, of North Da-
kota, made a hot argument against the
incorporation-in the measure Of such a
provision as would allow the collection
of money in one state and expenditure
of it in another. He made 1.-The point
that it would be manifestly unfair to
North Dakota if the money from the
sale of public lands in the state should
be diverted from the state.
The injustice of the working of the
present plan to North Dakota Wash
ington and South Dakota. say residents
of those states, lies in the fact that,
especially in North Dakota. the lands
susceptible to sale for the benefit. OF
national irrigation have been heavily
drawn upon and a similar sum to the
one already realized would indeed be
difficult to raise from the same source.
Where the Money Came From
The following table gives the amount