The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1905-02-18
STATE ENGINEERS REPORT

Among the customary biennia
reports of the state officers pub
lished at this time, there appears {
pamphlet of about so pages with
the title "First Biennial Report Of
State Irrigation Engineer" pre-.
pared by Prof. E. E. Chandler, o.
the State University.
Irrigation is comparatively a new
topic in North Dakota; little gen.
eral 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
we're suitable locations for the work
of the Reclamation Service, there
has been a remarkable awakening
Of interest in many portions of the
state. SIZE
It is not possible to expect the
efforts Of the Federal authorities
to be exerted in. our behalf without
cooperation on: the part'of the state
nor is it doubtful but that in the
more of the benefits of
irrigation will in this state accrue
from small, individual or co-operat-
i've projects than from the larger
projects that the Reclamation Ser
vice carries out; it is therefore in
cumbent upon the state to take
proper action for investigating and
furthering this work. North Da.
kota as yet has no Legislative pro-
vision for this, but the State lrri-
cation Association, after securing
subscriptions to a guarantee fund
to meet the necessary expenses
pending the action of the Legislat-
ure, requested Governor White to
appoint a temporary State Engin-
eer, in order that the earliest pos
sible beginning might be made, the
work outlined, and the subject
fairly presented, before the session u
Of the Legislature. This was done
early last summer, and this formal
report therefore appears.
A portion of the report consists
of discussion of irrigation laws,
their necessity, possible defects and
essential features. In any region
that employs irrigation, definite
and clear title to the use of waite,
are as necessary as definite land.
marks and property lines for land
ownership. Fair and equitable
water regulations are desired by
the city resident who intends spin.
king his lawn from the hydrant
but are of indefinitely greater i'm.
por: to the farmer who uses irriga,
ton, whether he depends upon il
for his whole livelihood or merely
to insure more comforts or luxuries
From the nature of the case, thu
granting of rights to, and super
vision of, the use of the stream il
in the province of the state.
suggested irrigation code which
makes detailed provisions concern
ing the duties of the state enginee
and other officers who should carr,
forward the work, Is printed in al
index, this being nearly the sam
as Senate Bill No. / under consid
Grafton at this session. This is rec
commended by Prof. Chandler t.
the favorable consideration Of tn
Legislature and the opinion ex
pressed that the interests Of tn
state will be promoted by the en-
actment Of a code embodying a
least the essential features pf, thi
including appropriations at leas
sufficient to secure the entire SCI
vices of some competent enginee
Of long experience in an irrigatio;
state to serve as state engineer her
where irrigation is just beginning
Copies will be ready for distribu
f;on in a fnw dove ond con no ~