The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-24
THE irrigation Engineers REPORT
Summary 81 First Biennial Report d Prot Chandler rsa
ton Matters Statistical and Valuable information

Among the customary biennial re-
ports of the state officers published at
this time there appears pamphlet of
about ninety pages with the title First
Biennial Report of State Irrigation En-
gineer, prepared by Prof. E. F. Chand.
Ter 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
Tor the work of the reclamation serv-
Ice, there has been remarkable awak-
ening of interest in many portions of
the state.
1t is not possible to expect the ef-
forts of the federal authorities to be
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 or cooperative projects than from
the larger projects that the reclama.
ton service carries out; it is there
Gore incumbent upon the state to take
proper action for the investigation and
furtherance of this work. North Da-
kota as yet has no legislative provision
for this, but the State Irrigation asso-
citation, after securing subscriptions
10 guarantee fund to meet the neces-
sary expenses pending the action of
The legislature, requested Gov. White
10 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 legis7
!ature.. This was done early last sum-
mer, and this formal report therefore
appears.
A portion of the report consists of a
discussion of irrigation laws. their ne
:essity, possible defects, and essential
features. In any region that employs
irrigation, definite, clear titles to the
use of water are as necessary as def
mite landmarks and property lines for
land ownership. Fair and equitable
water regulations are desired by the
city resident who intends sprinkling
his lawn from the hydrant, but are of
Infinitely greater import to the farmer
who uses irrigation, whether he de-
pends upon it for his whole livelihood
or merely to insure more comforts and
luxuries. From the nature Of the
case, the granting of rights to, and SUI
pervision of, the use OF the streams is
in the province of the state. A suggest
ed irrigation code which makes detail
ed provision concerning the duties of
the state engineer and other officers
who should carry forward the work is
printed as an appendix, this being
nearly the same as senate bill No. l.,
under consideration at this session.
This is recommended by Prof. Chand-
Ter to the favorable consideration Of
the legislature and the opinion ex-
pressed that the interests of the state
will be promoted by the enactment of
I code embodying at least the essen.
tial features of this. including appro-
priations at least sufficient to secure
The entire services of some thorough
" competent engineer of long expert
ence in AN irrigation state to serve as
state engineer here where irrigation is
lust beginning.
A description of the different river
systems of the state with respect to
atheir 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 any
where. This is only an attempt to
sum up the possibilities of the differ
ant sections in order that the residents
and also the agencies of the state and
federal governments, can be aided to
see where attention can most advan-