The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-11-18
POLITICIANS WANT
IRRIGATION SPOILS
Continued from First Page.

BuIoTd 70 cost $I,20O,O0O; one at Bis
;m MAJ "a pumping project, to cost $780,
project, to cost $500, 900. The two two
pumping projects have been cordially
recommended to the secretary Of the in.
terror Tor adoption, and it is expected
that ne Will pass upon them within the
next ne 1od two weeks. At Bismarck about
Trenton about $4,000 acres
The cost OF this work per acre is con-
siderably less than the cost where ex-
penslVe reservoirs are built, but the
cost OF annual maintenance is consider
ably greater, averaging from twenty
hooded by reservoirs, and about $3.50
an acre for land flooded by pumps. Still
thee. projects are attractive, and it is the
belief of officers Of the reclamation bu-
reau that numerous other pumping
plants soon can be proftably con-
structed IN the state, and that in the
end North Dakota is to receive in irri-
cation works the full value of the con
tributions she has made and will make
to the general irrigation fund.
~ Want Political Pull.
This statement, however, does not sat
lsfy those North Dakota politicians who
control Of the irrigation fund. Under
such; control they believe the state
would receive almost at once the full
benefit of its contributions, and what
they object to is the small way in which
the government is taking up the work.
Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming, to say
nothing Of other states in the irriga-
which will cost considerably more than
the total Of their contributions to the
irrigation fund. This is due to physi-
cal conditions in those states, which are
mountainous and well watered, and will
therefore lend themselves to irrigation
constructions work at a minimum cost
per acre forsthe land benefited. North
Dakota, on the other hand, is a level
plain, without important streams, ex-
cepting the Missouri, and sloping up
SO gradually to the foothills of the
mountains as to render expensive the
construction of such irrigation works
as her people seem to want. This is the
nub Of the difficulty.
What the president will do, in the
event such bills are passed by congress,
cannot be forecast, but it is believed he
come operative with his consent.
What Irrigationist Says.
Today your correspondent had an in
teresting talk with high official of
the government on the questions here
presented, and he said: '-.'
The only thing back of this move 1.
7 graft-nots open stealing, Of course, but
graft such as politics is usually respon.
sible for. The present policy of distribut
ing the Irrigation fund, without regard tt
| state lines other than the law demands
and in places where the Typographical
conditions are most inviting, is founded
on common sense and fairness to tn
country as a whole. The moment thi
TO- 49,
of scientists of approved impartiality ant
turned over to the politicians, it will
; begin to: be failure, and one Of tn
:; most ,stupendous farces for which gen
it erous government was ever responsible
. The: one thing which has made it a sue
cess and attracted to it the eyes Of tn
, entire world, Is the fact that it is II
charge of scientific experts, who hav
J ne axes to grind and to whom ,practica
politics can make no successful appeal,
The argument in favor Of making ou
Ina ional irrigation Experiment. the foot
| eballs of politics. is lunsound from start tt
finish. and Il shall be greatly surprise.
liz it should be received with any con
u siderable degree of favor. 49,
The densely populated eastern section
} of the country has never been enthusias
} tically in favor Of the irrigation venture
chiefly because it provided for taking
Jlarge' sums Of money annually out of tn
/ general fund Of the government, and
lkthe western states which feel like Nortl
y Dakota should develop strength. for thei
proposition, the east. might improve tn
opportunity thus offered and combine t
1 repeal the; law, except for the project
already contracted for..ss
: Dominating the situation, however, 1
the president, himself an irrigation ex
pert, whose steady. hand and patrioti
mind may be depended upon to do tn
:. right thing. am perfectly willing t
leave this entire matter to him. I be
:. lieve that: he would veto the FIansbroug
bill and. the! bill providing that the irri
cation question be turned over to a pc
4 litical commission. The policy which nov
controls the experiment will, If let alone
bring about, in time, the greatest irrl
t cation success the world has ever seer
The Irrigation Fund.
Following is statement showing tn
= condition Of the irrigation fund at tn
: beginning of the present fiscal yeal
! The sum set opposite the name of eac]