The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-02-02
NORTH DAKOTA IRRIGATION
4 Large CONVENTION Meets 1t Dis.
marck with Railroad Non and
Irrogationists.

Five hundred delegates attended
the Ssrigation congress at Bismarck.
in addition to many prominent rail-
road men and eminent irrigationists.
Governor Sarles welcomed the del
egates. After naming the committee
on resolutions, Senator Hanna and
Representative Chapman spoke on pe-
half of the state legislature. followed
by Prof. Chandler, state irrigation
engineer, who spoke of the investiga-
tions made during the past year as
to irrigation possibilities.
Professor Thomas Shaw. Of the
Minnesota Agricultural college, read
a fine address on Farming in West
ern North Dakota" in which he en-
phasized the possibilities of dry land
farming in that section.
A large crowd attended the after
noon session, when fluctuations were
received from the Montana Agricul-
tural association and others.
H. N. Savage, supervising engineer
of the reclamation service at WASH
ington, spoke at length on 1.-The Pol
icy of the Reclamation Service Re
garding New Projects" in which he
reviews the work of the department
on various places of irrigation and
the possible application for North Da-
kota.
In reply to questions he explained
the necessary steps to be taken by
the people before government work
would be inaugurated and the cost of
water when the work was completed.
His address was valuable as COM
plete exposition of the irrigation sys-
TEN and it's benefits, and made the
situation clear to all.
II. A. Storrs, engineer of the U. S.
reclamation service, who will have
charge of the irrigation work in
North Dakota, spoke on the ''propo-
sition of Pumping Water for lrriga-
He spoke of irrigation work in
Italy, known as the storehouse of
Europe, where the rainfall is far
greater than here, yet no dependence
is placed upon it. The detailed re-
suits of government Investigations
in North Dakota during the past year,
the Missouri river being decided as
the only feasible source of water sup
ply.
He said gravity irrigation was i'm
possible along that stream. and that
pumping stations were the only way;
plants could he installed at 81 cost of
$22 per acre, SO rental per acre for
operation and maintenance. He said
further that fuel gas could be secured
from Ignite coal at q minimum cost,
or electricity from central plants Mt
mines could be utilized to advantage.
It was proposed to construct pump
ing plants and canals to place three
inches of water on the land every ten
days; $55O,OOO being available for the
project, it only remained for the PEG.
pie here to fulfill the government re.
quirements to insure speedy install.
lation of the work.
S. B. Robbins, engineer of the re.
clamation service, spoke of the ''pos-
sibilities of Gravity Irrigation in
North Dakota"
In the evening Elwood Mead, direc.
tor of the irrigation department sta
tion at Washington, gave an interest.
ing address on Irrigation in Italy
and America" illustrated by stere-
opticon views of the results.
Resolutions adopted at the state ir-
rigation congress here recommend the
creation of the Office of state engi-
neer to take charge of irrigation and
drainage investigation, the passage
of I'm irrigation code by the legisla-
ture; that state take stock in the wa
ter users association, as allowed by
the national irrigation act; that the
legislature petition the federal gov
eminent to make drainage survey
of the Red River valley; that the state
experimental station investigate the
irrigation possibilities as an educa-
ton to farmers; asking congress for
use of rivers for irrigation purposes;
that the water users association be
encouraged by the legislature; that
the legislature pass a law for protcc-
ton of coal lands; thanked the agri-
cultural department at Washington
and the speakers at this congress-;
ask legislature to have 10000 copies
OF the irrigation congress- proceed
ings printed for distribution.
NORTH DAKOTA NEwsLETs.