Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-09-30
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PUSH IRRteATloN.,

PUSH IRRtGATloN.t
The irrigation congress in session
at Mandan had to consider the future
development and appli Of q great
idea accepted, says the st. Paul Globe.
No one any longer questions the value
Of our national irrigation policy, and
no voice is raised against 1t. It is
mere Justice to say in this connection
that the country owes this. one Of the,
things most fruitful Of splendid posi-
1 bilities today; more to the: active sym.
5pathy and support of Mr.. James ].
! Hill than to any other man. BY his
strong faith, his intelligence and his
aid he helped to make the irrigation
I idea understood in the years when
educational work was necessary. It
only needed to have it understood in
order to have It accepted. Without
the support that he gave it would still
be unfamiliar and struggling for a
future. Its unanimous acceptance by
the people Of all parties and all sec
tions is one portion of the colossal
work that he has done for the great
west and for the whole country. E3
The policy being definitely adopted,
II remains to work out its details for
the greatest good Of the greatest num-
her. North Dakota has q ir ghtful
claim upon the country that is deriv-
ing SO SO large portion Of the funds to
he used in irrigation work from the
proceeds Of North Dakota lands. North
4 Dakota may be imm ensely benefited
by practical irrigation work. There
are great areas OF land that can be
made highly productive by the appli-3
cation Of water. There are other
great areas where crops may be rem,
dered absolutely certain and abundant
every year il the uncertain rainfall
can be; supplemented BY a limited
water supply used according to the.
seasons need There is an unlimited
supply Of coal available for pumping
water on to lands that would thus be
made to blossom like the rose IL the
funds necessary could be had. HI There
are few states where irrigation work
would produce more immediate or
greater returns than in North Dakota,
and there is none better entitled to
its share OF federal expendi ture
| These are matters to be urged by
public opinion upon the administration
of our scheme for the reclamation Of
arid lands. That administration thus
far has been rather too academic. It
has studied II the irrigation problem
from strictly scientific standpoint,
4 with rather exasperating Indifference
to detail. It has matured and is pre-
pairing to carry out several great pro
jects Of whose ultimate benefit there
is no doubt. There IS no reason why
4 in the meantime policies Of minor
scope, but no less benefcent effect,
should be neglected. There is no
reason why the communities that
! furnish the money for the prosecution
of irrigation should be ignored The
work before friends of irrigation now
i is to secure general and practical
application of money and OF work
where il will produce the largest inn
mediate benefit and where such atten-
ton Ita Il is Justly due. The irrigation con
gress will tend powerfully to this end; !.
and il has behind 1t the sympathy and
support Of the entire Northwest, as
it should have the aid OF all our repre-
sentatives at Washington.