Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-01-28

back to the government by the
water users in ten annual payments,
it means the payment OF about 81 per
year per acre to pay for the irriga-
ton works. In addition to this there
will be charge to cover mainten-
ance and operating expense, which, it
has been estimated, will not exceed
So per acre every year. This is be-
lieved to be maximum cost and it
is altogether probable that the actual
operating cost will prove to be much
less. -.
The estimate of operating cost is
indefinite for lack of complete data
covering the following points:
First, most important factor is
cost of coal; this has been taken at
50 per ton delivered, which is be-
lieved ito be safe figure. .s. tx
The second important factor is the
amount of water which can he Oh
tanned rrom Apple Creek by gravity
which will of course materially cut
down the operating expenses of the
pumping plant. ..@ ".
The third important factor is the
amount of water that will be used
on each acre of irrigated land. The
present estimate of operating ex-
penses is based on pumping sufficient
water each year to cover the entire
area to the depth of two feet. If the
lrrigating water is used economically
the quantity required may be very
much less than that estimated. in
which case the cost for pumping
would be CORRESPONDENCE diminished.
In order that the people of Bis
mrcka may avail themselves of the
governments offer to construct these
works, it is necessary for them to pro-
coed in accordance with the plan
which has been arranged by the Sec
rotary of the Interior for carrying out
the provisions of the Reclamation Act
as follows: 1893 4, J.
An organization, which may be
known as the Bismarck Water Users
association, must be incorporated un-
der the laws of the state by the several
land owners of the tract which is to
be irrigated by the proposed works.
The form OF. articles of incorporation
which has been approved by the Sec
rotary cf the Interior for such asso-
Citations must be followed. After the
association has been organized and Of.
ficers elected 1t shall notify the land
owners of the tract to subscribe for
stock in the association and the gov
eminent will not proceed in the CON
struction of the works until all or
nearly all of the land included under
the irrigation system has been signed
up in the water users association.
The land owner in signing up for his
land agrees to begin to perfect his
water right in accordance with the
prescribed regulations as soon as
water has been provided for his land,
by using the water and paying the an.
nual installments required.
The government in order to insure
the paying back of money expended
for the construction of works requires
lien upon the land and the object
of having a water users association is
that the government may be relieved
of the difficulty of dealing with indi-l
vidual land owners and may in place.
of this deal directly with the associa-
ton, which will be responsible for the
payments due the government from
the individual land owners.
After the association has been form
ed and the land signed up the govern
ment will proceed with the construc-
ton Of the works and after having DE-