The Minneapolis journal., 1904-11-21
A. Government Scherne..@

: The government scheme for irrigation M the
vicinity of. Bismarck, for which $3.50, 900 has been
set apart subject to the approval of the ~secre-
tary Of the interior, contemplates pumping
plant drawing water from the Missouri river.
Engineers Of the reclamation service have been,
working on the plan for some time and have ap-
proved the mechanical details OF the plan There
are lQaOA to- AZ 600 aeres of .Ia1d son, the Mis-
souri, river bottoms about Bismarck that can be
,irr1ga ted by such a scheme. These lands with
supply Of water drawn from the river, will be un-
usually productive and sown to alfalfa will pro-
duce' several crops year. "...
On some Of the bottom lands south Of Bis
year without irrigation but the year was excep:;
tionally favorable. With irrigation the yield
will be- largely increased. Alfalfa is worth
about twice for purposes of feed what prairie
hay is worth, and at SO to $40 a.. ton. on the
land, with two or three good crops year, fthe
value Of such a crop is apparent. It is esti-
gate this acreage will be about $40 an acre, the
payment for which would extend over ten years,
or 81 an acre year. -, t'''' S~st'~- ~
/ General interest is developing in the: subject
of irrigation In the state and some of the more
enterprising land owners will not wait for the
government, but will make experiments, them
selves. If the systems being builded prove sue
cessful there many thousands of acres both
| along the Heart and Missouri rivers that: can be
Irrigated and converted into fertile and highly
productive. tracts: An experimental Irrigation
reform School. at :Mandan another year, for the
raising of celery radishes, melons and other sal
able products = ltNW1ll furnish needed employ
ment for the inmates and if successful will make
the institution se1f7supporting to some degree, if
not entirely. .,as,.sI - - = 1& ,- 49,
| Dispatches from Washington with regard to the
appropriations that have been made. for North
Dakota are misleading In that they state that
Isl 200 600 has been allotted to- the state for the
Fort Buford project. Fort Buford is in North
Dakota, it is true but the project is along the
yellowstone river from Glendive, and the Yellow
stone river: is in. Montana; to which state this
project should properly be accredited The yell
lowstone river enters North Dakota about twenty
miles below Fort Buford and this is the only
part of the project" in North Daketa-the rest
being in Montana. When the enterprise Is al
luded to as the Fort Buford project, the tall of
the river is wagging the dog to a remarkable eX-
tent.
Perkins a Candidate. q:
=, Colonel William T. Perkins, formerly of this
state, now of the Northwestern Commercial COM
pany, is a candidate for governor of Alaska to
succeed Governor Brady. Perkins has excellent
Nome citizens, who want an active, energetic
business man for governor. Endorsements of Per
kins for the position have been forwarded by the
administration and supreme court Of North Da
kota, in addition to many that have been volun
Itarily presented by eastern senators and repre-
sentatives. Perkins was one of the Alaskan del
Iegates at the Chicago convention that nominated
Roosevelt and has always been an ardent Rcose
. velt man. =: t-''
Governor Bartlett, who has been in charge O,
the North Dakota exhibit at the worlds fair
will return after the close of the exposition X
assume his duties presiding officer of the state
! senate, having been elected lieutenant governor
for a third term at the recent election. He ha
! proved capable superintendent Hof the exhibit
at st. Louis and his friends hope he will b,
/ continued manager OF the, exhibit at Portland
! at the Lewis and Clark exposition, in case th
t state makes an appropriation for display there