The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1904-10-07


attendance was large and there was a
lot of enthusiasm in the movement
Senators Hansbrough; and McCumbers
and Congressman Spalding Of this
state and Senator C1app of Minnesota,
Congressman Stevens Of Minnesota
and President Maxwell az the Nation
al. Irrigation association, were among
the speakers.
The resolutions review the history
OF the movement, call attention to the
Missouri river plans, ask for govern
ment substation for irrigation expert
ment work, Endorse Engineer Chan
dler's work, ask for the appointment
OF permanent state engineer, a
change in the state laws to authorize
more extended work, commend the re-
quest Of President Williams for a
large representation to the national
convention at Ell Paso, request
postponement of the coal leases on
school lands in the area likely to be
affected by the irrigation projects
and thank President Roosevelt for the
active interest he has taken in the
movement, both national and state
One of the interesting features of
the convention was the report of State
Engineer. Chandler, who summarized
his work as follows:
Irrigation is not a time-worn topic
for discussion in our state. North Da-
kota is not absolutely dependent on
irrigation as are some of the mountain
states. In many seasons 1t is possible
to raise f1rst-class crop here with.
only the natural water supply, the
rainfall. There has been fear that
speaking Of irrigation might be consid-
cred derogatory to the region and held
to imply the land a desert. For such
reasons irrigation has not yet been
largely practiced, nor until recently
have it's benefits in point of larger and
more certain crops and greater suita-
btlity for intensive farming been gen.
orally recognized.
The state is years behind other
states in this respect, and justifably;
for irrigation has been considered
here as matter of choice, not of ne
cessity. But with the continual
growth of our population, irrigation
will in many portions certainly be
adopted and employed to the fullest
extent, thus making possible and facil-
itating profitable agriculture on
smaller farms and causing the river
valleys to be more closely settled and
the state to increase in wealth from
the diversity of its agriculture.
Tn all the uoctorn ctotoo u,horo ;,r;
cation Is to any extent practiced it
has been found advantageous to en-
ploy a state irrigation engineer or
oether equivalent board or corps to
perform such duties as are concisely
described in the following extract
from the laws of Wyoming.
"Sec. 1O4. The state engineer shall
ments and calculations of the dis
charge of streams, from which water
shall be taken for beneficial purposes,
commencing such work upon those
streams as are most used for irriga-
ton or other beneficial purposes. He
shall collect facts and make surveys
to determine the most suitable loca-
ton for constructing works for utiliz-
ing the water Of the state, and to as
certain, the location of the lands best
suited for irrigation. He shall ex-
anime reservoir sites and shall, in his
reports, embody all the facts ascer-
tanned by such surveys and examina-
tons, including, wherever practicable,
estimates of the cost of proposed irri-
cation works, and of improvements
of reservoir sites. He shall become
conversant with the water ways Of the
state, and the needs of the state as
to irrigation matters, and in his re-
ports to the governor he shall make
such suggestions as to the amendment
of existing laws or the enactment. of
new laws as his information and ex-
perience shall suggest, and he shall
keep in his Office full and proper rec
ords Of his work, observations, and cal
culations, all of which shall be the
property Of the state"
Hitherto no such work has been
done here except locally by individual
enterprise, and for a, few months last
season by a small party belonging to
the United States reclamation service.
Very little is yet known concerning the
irrigation possibilities Of this region.
AS a natural result, despite the fact
that North Dakota has contributed far
more to the reclamation fund than any
other state except Oregon. she has
been assisted from it but slightly,
while other states that have contrib.
uted little to the fund are so fortunate
as to be the location Of immense sums
in extensive works that will contribute
greatly to the Development; and up
building Of those states. But in such,
states It was because examinations and
surveys had been made for many:
years and had been finally carried out
to such. pint of accuracy and refine
ment that the necessary funds were
the only thing still lacking. It may be
q long time before that point is3reach-:
ed IN our state. as regards projects
large enough to merit the attention