Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-06-27
@zl6@s|ResgD
yhE BISMARCK IRRIGATION PRO-
JECT

This section mas been extremely
fortunate this season in being blessed
with an abundance of rain so that now
good crops seem to be assured. The
oldest settler can remember but two
or three years that seemed to be so
favorable to farming as this one has
been up to the present time. He can
also, if he will, remember what so
many seem anxious to forget, that
the few years of sufficient rain
fall have invariably been followed
by dry periods when the farmers could
not do nearly so we'll and that some
times these dry periods have extended
over a number of years. Those who
have lived in the semiarid belt for
twenty-five or thirty years have seen
group after group of farmers following
each other, encouraged by the year or
two of sufficient moisture, occupying
and cultivating the lands, and in a few
years more relinquishing them to their
creditors, who, at the commencement
of the next cycle again dispose of them
at new profit to the next group Of
incomers from the east. Some, how
ever, hold on to their lands and by
Intelligent and persistent labor, are
successful and, in the end, perhaps
acquire competency. This fortunate
result will, we hope, become more,
rather than less, general, through the
more intelligent selection of seed,
more thorough methods of cultivation,
rotation of crops, and summer fallow-
ing. North Dakota has great future
before it, agriculturally, because,
through the practice of the more en-
ightened methods of dry farming, it
will be seen that but very little of its
surface will be cultivated without
profit, and, with the decrease of the
supply of free public land, practically
every acre of North Dakota lands will
be priced at its true value and that
value will be above what it is general
ly thought to be at the present time.
But there are some sections of the
state that are more favored by
nature than others are. Though all
the land is good, some tracts are bet
ter than others, and the best are the
tracts that are susceptible of irriga-
ton. From an agricultural standpoint
tract that is irrigated is many times
better off than any similar tract not
irrigated, other things being equal
That seems radical statement but it
is literally and absolutely true and
! we do not have to go far to demon
strate its truth. Right here at home
one can well afford to pay city prices
for lot and provide city water for it's
irrigation for the cultivation of a gar.
den, feeling assured that the expendi.
lures will be far more than repaid.
Look at the lands along the Missouri
river. Where are there any agricul.
tural lands so valuable as the irrigated
lands about Billings? Go there even
in this abundantly rainy year and you
will find almost as much difference be.
tween the nonirTigated lands of Bis.
marck and the irrigated lands of Bill.
Iings, as there is between the moon
light of the night and the sunshine of
the day. Where in the one case $40
per acre seems a high price in the
other $50 to $3.50 varying with the
amount of cultivation, seems low. 1t
is safe to say that even in this climate,
other things being equal, one acre of
irrigated land is worth four that are
not irrigated.
Why not apply common business
principles to our present situation
The merchant when prosperous, in
sures his business and his buildings
against disaster, and so it is in every
other walk Of life, Even the farmer,
] in many localities, insures against
hail and other causes OF failure. This
IS the veTy year of all years when
common sense should teach those who
have the opportunity of insuring
against certain future drouth to do so
while they can. The abundant rains
have demonstrated what water will do,
and we now hope for good crops this
year. although even now a failure is
possible. II we get them what would
help the community more than the
expenditure by the government Of
$350.000 in the community, most Of
IL for labor and supplies? And what
better or more PORTABLE insurance
could we have than that proposed by
HE government, certain and sum
cient supply Of water? The mainten-