Williston graphic., 1905-02-09
Resolutions of Irrigation Con
gress at Bismarck.

last night after best meeting since it's
Great interest has been:
aroused in the movement as the result,
of the session here, which was attended
by many members of the legislature
who announce they will do everything
possible to help the good work. ::.'.s d:
The resolutions, as adopted, were:
Your. committee on resolutions is
pleased to note the growing interest
manifested py the people of the state in
the subject Of irrigation. .",
The Investigations by Professor E. F.
Chandler, as acting state engineer, have
disclosed many small irrigation enter
prises, which can be successfully devel-
oped by private enterprise, and some of
these have already been undertaken. In
consequence of this we feel that the
money expended for this work has been
worth to the state hundred times its
cost, and we recommend the creation of
the Office of state engineer, and that
this official take charge of drainage
problems as we'll as irriga ton investi-
cations. -.
We further recommend the adoption
of the irrigation code, introduced in
the senate by Col. G. B. Little, after the
to make 1t conform to the provisions of
the state constitution, and still keep it
in accord with the national reclamation
act under which all aid from the nation
algovernment must come.
We request the legislative assembly
to make such provisions as will enable
the state board of university and school
lands to subscribe for and take stock in
water users association organized in
conformity with the national irrigation
act, approved June II, 1902, for all state
lands tributary to any reclamation SER
vice irrigation project guaranteeing by
trust deed to offer and consumate sale
of all such state lands not sold prior to
the time Of public notice by the secre-
tary of the Interior of lands irrigable
under project and charged Hereunder
at minimum price as fixed by the state
constitution and disposing of the same
as required by the national irrigation
set and in farm units as classified by
the secretary of the Interior, the pur-
chaser to pay the assessments made to
cover the placing of water thereon
We call attention to the drainage sit
uation in the eastern part of tho state,
where action Unnecessary for better sur
face drainage, the building of dams and
reservoirs to prevent the overflow of
streams and ask the legislature to re-.
quest the agricultural department at
Washington to make complete drain,
age survey of that portion of the state
at the earliest possible opportunity that
relief may be had for the farmers in
consequence of the lack of drainage and
the overflow of the streams. -~-.
The Agricultural prosperity OF. North
settlement made possible by the ex-
tension of irrigation by the individual
farmer, through the construction of
pumping plants, small reservoirs, the
conservation of moisture thru scientific
methods of cultivating the soil and sub
soil and surface drainage; we therefore
favor or experiments and Investigations
by the. Office of experiment stations and
other agencies. to determine the posi-.
bilities of the state and the methods
best auited to the states soil and eli:
mate: .
While urging our delegation from this
state in congress to preserveour streams
for navigation purposes we hereby
specially request them to ask for such
action BY the government as may be
necessary so that water can be appro-
pMated and diverted from interstate
and international streams, whether nav
igable or not, SO that water can be Sc
cured therefrom for irrigation purposes.
The legislative assembly is hereby re-
quested to encourage the organization
of water users associations, by making
the fee for filing articles of incorpora-
tion and issuing the necessary certifi-
cate, small minimue one of SIS, simply
to cover the necessary. expense to the
state. Further, that an act be passed,
authorizing the register of deeds of
counties to accept from water users
associations, organized in conformity to
the requirements of the United States
under the reclamation act books con.
tanning printed copiesof their, articles of
incorporation and forms of subscription
of stock, and to use such books for re-
cording the stock subscriptions of said
corporation; and the charges for re-
cording thereof shall be made on the
basiy of the number of words actually
written therein.
We feel that the supply OF native coal
is safeguard to our people as we'll as
SOuICe VI SlcdCly 1uCIcdScO WcdlCll, anu
we ask the legislative assembly to take
such steps as IN their judgement may
suggest to properly conserve and keep
for these deposits so the people can OBJ
tain the same at reasonable prices for
irrigation purposes as we'll as other nee
essary uses, by reserving the coal rights
when disposing of the lands, and max
ing such restrictions on the leasing of
coal mining rights on public lands as
will prevent this fuel supply from fall
ing into the hands of any monopoly.
This congress appreciates the efforts
of the reclamation service and the ag-
ricultural department to educate the
citizens of this state on the irrigation
question and in it's determination to find
feasible irrigation projects in North Da-
ko:a which can be undertaken in accord
with the provisions of the national re-
clamation act. We especially thank the
gentlemen representing these branches
of the government for their presence
here and their very entertaining and
instructive addresses, which vote. of
hearty thanks also extends 20 the gen
tlemen from Minnesota and Montana
who so kindly have come here and so
effectively described improved agricul-
tural methods and the results of irriga-