The Dickinson press., 1905-02-18
summary Of Report Of State Engineer {
r chanA1ae

f.. Chandler.
Among the customary biennial re-
ports of the state officers published at
this time, there appears a pamphlet of
about ninety pages with the title, First
Bienniel Report of State Irrigation
Engineer, prepared by Prof. E. F.
Chandler OF the State University"
Irrigation is comparatively a new
topic in North Dakota. Little general
interest was taken In it until since the
passage Of the National Reclamation
Act. But since it has been realized
how great benefits might result to the
state if there were suitable locations for
the work OF the Reclamation Service,
there has qeen a remarkable awakening
of interest in many portions Of the
state.
1t is not possible to expect the ef-
forts of the federal authorities to be
excrted in our behalf without co.opera-
ton on the part Of the state; nor, is it
doubtful but that in the aggregate more
of the benefits of irrigation will in this
state accrue from small individual or
cooperative projects than from the
larger projects that the Reclamation
Service carries out. 1t is therefore
incumbent upon the state to take proper
action for the investigation and further
ance OF this work. North Dakota as yet
has no Legislative provision for this, but
the State Irrigation Association, after
securing subscriptions to a guarantee
fund to meet the necessary expenses
pending the action of the legislature,
requested Governor White to appoint
a temporary state engineer, in order
that the earliest possible beginning
might be made, the work be outlined,
and the subject fairly presented before
the session of the legislature. This was
done early last summer and this formal
report therefore appears.
A portion of the report consists of a
discussion OF irrigation laws. their neces-
sity, possible defects and essential
features. In any region that employs
irrigation, definite and clear titles to the
use OF water are as necessary as definite
landmarks and property lines for land
nowership. Fair and equitable water
regulations are desired by the city resi-
dent who intends sprinkling his lawn
from the hydrant, but are of infinitely
greater import to the farmer who uses
irrigation, whether he depends upon it
for his whole livelihood, or merely 10
insure more comforts or Injuries.
From the nature of the case, the grant
ing OF rights to, and supervision of the
use OF the streams is in the province of
the state. A suggested irrigation code
which makes detailed provision con.
corning the duties Of the state engineer
and other officers who should carry
forward the work is printed as an ap-
pendix, this being nearly the same as
Senate Bill No. 1 under consideration
at this session. This is recommended
by Prof. Chandler to the favorable con.
sidcration of the legislature and the
opinion expressed that the interests of
the state will be promoted by the enact.
ment of a code embodyihg at least the
essential features of this, including APP.
preparations at least sufficient to secure
the entire services of some competent
engineer Of long experience in an irri.
CATION state to serve as state engineer
here where irrigation is just beginning.
A description of the different river
systems of the state with respect to their
possibilities for irrigation follows. This
is based chiefly upon the field work OF
the past season. and does not pretend tc
any completeness as the funds and time
available were limited so that no work
was done on some streams and little
more than a rapid reconnaissance was
made anywhere. This is only an at.
tempt to sum up the possibilities of the
different sections in order that the resi-.
dents, and also the agencies of the state
and federal government, can be aided
to see where attention can most advan-
tageously be directed to secure imme-
date development.
Some interesting figures in regard to
the amount of water flowing in the diff
ferent streams is included. This is the
most prominent feature in the reports
of the engineers of some other states,
and is ordinarily the branch of the
work demanding the first attention and
most continuous consideration, for the
reason that without definite knowledge
OF the quantity of water ordinarily
to be expected in the various streams
any plans for the utilization of that