The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1905-02-23
IRRIGATION IN NO. DAKOTA
Short Outline Of the First Biennial
Report Of State Engineer
Chandler.

cation Engineer, Prepared by Prof. E
Z. Chandler, of the State University"
Irrigation is comparatively a new
topic IN North Dakota; little general
interest was taken in it until since the
of the national reclamation
act; but since it has been realized how
great benefit might result to the state
II there were suitable locations for the
work OF the reclamation service, there
has been a remarkable awakening OF
interest in many portions of the state.
1t is not possible to expect the eff
forts of the federal authorities to he
exerted in our behalf without cooper
alton 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 individ-
ual of cooperative projects than from
the larger projects that the reclama-
ton service carries out; it is therefore
incumbent upou the state to take pro-
per action for the investigation and
furtherance of this work. North Da-
kota as yet has no legislative provision
for this, but the state irrigation associ.
alton, after securing subscription to
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 be-
ginning might be made, the work be
outlined, and the subject fairly pre-
sented, before the session of the legis-
lature. This was done early last sum-
mer, and the formal report therefore
appears.
A portion of the report consists of
discussion of irrigation laws. their
necessity, possible defects, and essen.
tial features. In any region that en-
pioys irrigation definite and clear IT,
ties to the use of water are as neces-
sary as definite landmarks and proper
ty-lines for land ownership
A description of the different river
systems of the state with respect to
their possibilities for irrigation fol-
lows. This is based chiefly upon the
field work of the past season, and does
not pretend to 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 attempt to sum up the
possibilities of the different sections In
order that the residents, and also the
agencies of the state and federal gov
ernments, can be aided to see where at
tention can most advantageouslyb be di-
rected to secure immediate develop
mcnt.
Some interesting figures in regard
to the amount OF water flowing in the
different streams is included. This is
the most prominent feature in the re-
ports of the engineer of some other
states and is ordinarily the branch of
the work demanding the first atten-
ton and most continuous considera-
ton, for the reason that without def
mite knowledge of the quantity of wa
ter ordinarily to be expected in the
various streams any plans for the ulti-
sization of that water cannot be pro.
.perly made. This is explained at some
length in the report, but few such
measurements are included this year.
One chapter explains the different
methods for measuring the flow of
streams-by floats, by weir, by cur
rent-meter, etc.-with the advantages
and difficulties of each, and should be
assistance. to the non-technicai resi-
dent who desires some method by
which he can without unreasonable
effort of trouble measure stream in
which he is interested or make a rough
estimate of the quantity of its flow.
A brief summary of the different
surveys made in North Dakota by the
U. S, geological survey or reclamation
service with irrigation in view of in
cluded; and some other topics of inter-
est appear.
In an appendix the articles of incor-
poration of the lower Yellowstone Wa
ter Users association are printed. The
organization of associations somewhat
similar to this has been insisted on by
the reclamation service as prerequisite
to the beginning of construction work
on any extensive project in regions
where the land is already largely in
in private ownership; this, as we all
know. is the case in most sections of
North Dakota.
It has been assumed by many that
any consideration of irrigation implied
the region of desert. and therefore
should be rejected with scorn. But it
is fact that even in humid climate,
where the natural ra infall will always
produce crop large or small. that ir-
rigation is sometimes very profitable,
not merely because Of the more certain
returns thereby assured, but on ac-
count of the larger or more valuable
crops that it may assist in securing.
The recognition of this fact is spread
ing over the country and irrigation be-
coming more popular accordingly. For
this reason irrigation is one of the
questions of the day in North Dakota,
and the report is one of the early at
tempts to give us information on the
subject. Forks Herald.
News Notes.
Mrs. Inga stigberg was appointed
postmistress at ottofy, Nelson county,
vice John Iverson, deceased.
A Minneapolis man.is figuring on
starting -four mill at Bismarck.