Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-02-15
ADJOURN

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people OF the state today. What
was the condition here a year ago
last fall? The condition was that the
farmers could not ship their grain
to the markets, the railroads could
not handle the crop that was raised
here in 1906, and thus this trans
portation problem is the great one
which concerns us here today. We
have only begun to develop. but with
our modern system of farming the
time is near at hand when every
foot of North Dakota soil will be
utilized for something, and when
that day comes, as come it will and
soon, what are you going to do with
the transportation problem? Why,
the mayor said today that this i'm
provement would be for the benefit
OF the entire country and it will.
because you can't improve any one
part of this great country of ours
without it being a benefit to the
whole country. But what will 1t do
for Bismarck, the capital city of the
state? What will it do for Mandan.
that lies here adjacent to the great
coal fields and the great clay fields
OF the state? It, will make here in
time the Twin Cities of Mandan, and
Bismarck that will in time rival the
Twin Cities of Minnesota in popuia,-
tion, il you get that commerce start
ed here upon this. river. And then
1t is going to be a benefit to us in
another way; it, benefits the state OF
Missouri because Of the great num-
Der OF acres of land that will be re-
claimed if this river can be- control
ed: The same benefits Will accrue to
the, state Of Iowa, the state Of. Ne
braska and to South Dakota. but
there is still another benefit which
will accrue to us; we do not claim,
we; do not admit that this is an arid
country or that it is absolutely nee
essary to have irrigation, but we do
claim that there are parts of the
state where we can produce a. great
deal more with irrigation, than with
out it. II these waters. are con,
trolled, the system, no. doubt, win be
BY damming up the Missouri and
Yellowstone in Montana where the
sides Of the river are, not sand as
they are here. but where the sides
of the river are rock and; in. this
way keep back the flood waters in
the spring in great reservoirs, letting
the water come, down as need II
and and thus giving us all seasons Of the
year the same volume OF. water. A,
the same time the farmers Of Mon
tana and certain parts of North Da-
kota can use the water for any, pur.
pose (even for drinking if they want
to), and SO it will be a benefit to
us along these lines. It is going to
be a benefit to us in a great many
other ways, but it is now. nearly six
o'clock andtI do not want to detain
you any longer.
l am sure that the exposition OF
this great question by Congressman
Ellis has well repaid you for coming
all the way to Bismarck, to attend
this convention, and am sure too,
that this splendid audience Of enter
prising, energetic citizens coming
here in the interest of the navigation
problem Of this country has well re-
paid Congressman Ellis for his long
trip from Washington.
I thank you for your kind atten.
ton.
Governor Burke was followed by
Hon. Geo. Call, Of Sioux City, Iowa,
secretary Of the, Missouri River I'M
proyement congress. who said:
Hon. Geo. Call.
Ladies and Gentlemen: feel that
I can address you as neighbors, since
we are on the same Missouri river,
even If we are six or seven hundred
miles apart. We are neighbors and
1t Is only in neighborly spirit that
/ am here today. To return a party
call, if may use the phrase, paid
US by your honored governor and
the goodly number Of your prominent
citizens who came to Sioux City to
learn and to teach the waterways
question that Is before the country.
You are entirely safe. Il did not
come here to talk. I.have no speech.
a speech or talk is unnecessary, the
ground has been SO thoroughly Gov
cred BY. MI. Ellis. We know, that
where there is water, navigable wat.
er, every American citizen, all the
people of America VIII see to it that
water is made navigable for boats.
we know that there Is enough water
IN n the Missouri river. properly d.
rectea, to- carry all the commerce of