Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-05-16

Col. Lounsberry said he first came
to Bismarck "a years ago and broke
and put into crop the first ten acres
of ground in this vicinity. He spoke
from his own experience and constant
residence in the state for "a years,
and in the western part Of the state
there was a lack of moisture and a
full crop was seldom had. True there
were years when the distribution of
the rainfall was such that monstrous
crops were raised, but in no country
and certainly not in a sub-arid region
could sure crops be raised without
irrigation. This Bismarck project
was of great Importance to the citi-
zens of Bismarck and the people on
the Missouri river benches were fortu-
nate in having the opportunity to Sc
cure government aid and water IN
abundance for their lands. 1t would
turn these valleys into miniature
Paradises. He explained how much
private irrigation projects in the
| vicinity of Buford had benefited the
| ranchmen. Even on the open Buffalo
grass benches application of water
had caused the luxurient growth Of
wheat grass, permitting the cutting of
two or three tons per acre. The peo-
pie of this section would be blind to
| their interests if they allowed this
opportunity to slip. Lands that were
now worth S. to SIS an acre-not
really worth that-would, under irri-
cation be worth $50 and SIS an acre.
What Is Being Done in Williams
County.
The colonel reviewed briefly the ex-
perience of different ones with irriga-
ton projects in Williams county and
he declared the people of Bismarck
do not seem to realize what. irriga-
ton means. Up in Williams county a
water users association has been
formed and the Williston project is
assured. The people are enthusiastic.
many of them having come from
Montana know what Irrigation means
and they are willing to do their part
to insure the aid of Uncle Sam, In
tensified farming means much to the
| taxpayers. It means many families
In small area, means better school
privileges, increased county revenues
and lower taxable values. It benefits
the merchant, the professional man
and the artizan. Irrigation on the
Missouri slope would make the land
more productive and more valuable
than Red river valley lands or Ohio
or Indiana lands.
irrigation Means Sure Crops.
Mr.. Chapman of Williston, an old
time resident of Bismarck, now one of
| the national bank examiners for North
Dakota, was called upon and also
recited the experience of Williams
county irrigators. The case of George
Grlnnell was cited and he himself
with others had demonstrated that
with irrigation sure crop could be
raised every year. There was not so
much lack of moisture in the west
ern part of the state as there was
seasonable rains. The moisture doesn't
| come when it is most needed He
was surprised at the seeming lack Of
interest in the irrigation project at
Bismarck. 1t would be of inestimable
value to this community.
Who Will Be Benefited,
Mr.. Fellows said this brought I'D
the question of who is to be benefit
ed by the irrigation project. Is it
the government? The government
loans the money for ten years without
interest. Is it the engineers? No
engineer it allowed to acquire or own
a foot OF land. Is it the district? In
a measure, for what benefits individu-
ais benefits the whole community. II
Is the owner Of the land who will be
most benefited. You have a rich and
splendid soil in this section. I have
travelled great deal and investigated
many irrigated regions and in no state
are the lands richer or likely to pro-
duce better under irrigation than here.
You simply want water at the right
time. He had been amused at such
remarks as with rains like we are
having now we won't need irrigation
In this country" Mr.. Fellows de-
clared that this cloudy rainy weather
was just the time the irrigator would
open the foodgates on his land. 1t is
just the time the application of water
does the greatest good. The ordf-
nary showers and rain storms moisten
the ground to shallow depth only.
With irrigation we furnish "a inches
OF water, and in flooding the land it
would be soaked to a good depth, far
below the roots Of vegetation and be-
yond the possibility of the sun and