Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-02-13

the aid or river navigation from Ben
to the Gulf.
Secretary Ralph w. Anderson of
the Wilton Commercial club said that
with Bismarck and Washburn, made
great sea ports by reason of the i'm
provement of the Missouri river,
Wilton, midway between and an in
land town, would be able to pick up
a few crumbs of prosperity from the
rich citiy's table, so to speak. He
believed the development of river
traffic would bring prosperity to
wide expanse of country contiguous
and therefore all sections should feel
that it was common cause in which
all should be a unia.
r. M. Calderwood of Williston
spoke Of the general benefits to all
the vast country lying near the great
waterways that would result from the
Improvement of the Missouri and 9TH
er rivers and that his people were
with this movement and it had their
hearty endorsement.
Judge q. A. Lamb of Wilton ex-
planned the Washburn-Pa Painted Woods
irrigation project and showed how
even and hilly land used for pastur-
ing would be enhanced in value, as
the bottom lands could be used for
grain raising and the highlands for
grazing. He said 10000 acres would
be under irrigation in this project
by 1910.
G.. w. Wolbert of this city said
some men would rather knock for
nothing and board themselves than
boost for pay. He explained the
failure of the Bismarck irrigation
project by saying that the farmers
did not understand it at the proper
time and feared that it was politi-
cal scheme. He called attention to
the fact that in Cass county last week
a farm that had never raised as large
crops as Burleigh county land ordi-
narily did, had been sold for $50 an
acre, and that with irrigation these
lands would assure every year the
largest crops ever heard of in this or
any other region. He said the Com
mercial club was organized for bust
ness and that through its means it
was hoped to greatly aid the develop
ment of the city and the surround
ing country; that while the club was
primarily a Bismarck organization,
its assistance was always available
to any community on the Slope to
assist it or the general development
of this great region.
State Engineer Atkinson stated
there were 100000 acres of land in
North Dakota that could be irrigated
with a nine-foot lift of water and
10000 acres more that could be
watered by damming the coulies. He
spoke of the feasibility of the project
for river improvement and said that
water navigation was essential in
getting the best results in returns
from the freight tonnage from our
| broad acres. His talk was full Of in
terest and was listened to with the
closest attention, as his line of work
placed him in close touch with the
matter under discussion, subject tc
which he has given considerable
study.
After more music by the band
Chairman Gilbreath closed the meet.
ing by announcing the program fol
today which is as follows:
At 2 p. m. the convention will be
called to order at the house chamber
at the capitol, when addresses will
be made by Congressman Ellis Of
Kansas City, who is a member of the
waterways committee and thorough
~ familiar with the matter Of pro.
motion of navigation on the inland
] waterways of the country. Governor
J. A. Johnson of Minnesota, is also
expected to be here and make an ad
dress. The program is SO far prepar.
ed by Mr.. Gilbreath for the meeting
is as follows:
/ Prayer .................Re Rev. Magir
Address of Welcome Mayor Smytt
Response .......... A. M. Packard
Address ........ Congressman Ellis
Address ...... Gov. John A. johnson
Some other additions will be made
to the program which is not yet com
pleted.
! The ladies are particularly invited
to all sessions of the congress.
Geo. c. Call, secretary of the Mis-
souri, River Navigation congress a
| Sioux City, Iowa, is here and vii
address the congress. Congressman
Ellis and a number of other promi
nents will arrive on the noon trail
today.
/ Mecue At Minot
Mfnot Optic: Attorney General Mx