Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-08-22

to flax and water is applied as well
as possible to the crop, but gener-
ally fails from much benefit from
irrigation the first season, but it
serves to assist in rotting the sod
preparing the land for convenient
deep blowing the following fall or
spring. At the same time in average
years a crop of sufficient value is
produced to repay the cost of labor
and seed and often good profit
above this. The means employed for
leveling the surface, whenever it Is
required, is deep blowing, followed
by good narrowing. There are no
special devices used, each farmer de-
/ pending on his own ingenuity to de-
wise methods and means to repare
! the land.
Leveling Seldom Necessary
Under the most of the projects the
natural smoothness of the fields
| makes it possible to conduct water
! over large areas without leveling, al
though it would undoubtedly be
worth the outlay necessary to
smooth the fields through the great
er ease in the distribution Of water
| and the increased yield of crops.
The average cost of leveling and
smoothing is about $3.50 per acre.
| ,, The most common method of ap-
| plying the water is by furrough irri-
cation. A. small ditch extends along
| the upper boundary of the tract to
| be irrigated and IN the lower en-
| bankment of this small ditch open
ings are made with the spade and
the water flowing through these
openings so made is conducted to
the burroughs and flows down.. In
irrigating such crops as corn, pota-
! toes and vegetables, the usual prac'
| tice is to make burrows midway be-
tween the rows with a light ploW.
Openings connect the ditch bank
with the head of burrows, chek
dam consisting of earth or manure
being placed in the head ditch oppo-
site the lowest furrow Of the strip.
The funds necessary on the part
of settler for successful start on
a farm under the different irrigation
projects will not vary much Farm
units under the reclamation service
projects in the state so far estaD-
lished are 100 acres. The land under
the projects which is open to home
stead entry must be entered under
the provisions of the reclamation act
which imposes conditions supple
mental. In general these conditions
are as follows: Actual and con-
tinuous residence is required for
period Of five years. At least one
half Of the irragable area of each
farm unit must be reclaimed for
agricultural purposes; persons who
have resided upon and cultivated
their lands during period OF hVe
years will not thereafter be re"
ouired to continue such residence
and cultivation, and they may there
upon make final proof of reclamation
and residence. The same credit for
military service as granted under the
terms of the homestead act Is al
lowed soldiers, sailors and members
of the marine corps, but no patent
shall be issued any homestead settler
who has not resided upon, improved
and cultivated his homestead for at
least a period of one year. Payments
| of the cost of construction of works
may be made in ten annual install
| ments without interest.
Average Prices Of Land.
All projects have land held in pri-
vate ownership by parties having
land in excess of the farm unit al
lowed by the reclamation service,
| which can be purchased at from $l5
to $35 per acre and generally ar
rangements can be made with the
owner, or with local bankers where
by, if desired, this land can be pur-
| chased with payment down OF from
SO to IS per acre and the balance
extending over term of years ar
ranged to suit the convenience or
the purchaser Or it can be purchased
on the crop payment plan, in addi-
ton to which he will pay annually
in ten equal installments, without
interest the cost per acre that the
construction of the, project has cost
together with the annual mainten-
ance and operating charge. From
the above it will be seen that 1t is
necessary for the intending settler
to have some money. How much
will depend somewhat on the family
he has and whether he homesteads
the land Or purchases. In addition
to the outlay for and it will be neces-
sary to erect a small structure to
serve as a dwelling until he Is able
to build to suit his taste. The cost
for teams and implements sufficient.
to handle 100 acres of irragable
land will not be far from $1,000>
Previous knowledge Of irrigation
methods is not necessary. The gov
eminent has an experienced irrigator
on each project, whose duty it Is, to
teach the settler the proper method
of irrigating. Many men have come
to North Dakota with far less money
and, in fact, with only pluck, energy.
and perseverance,, who today are
wealthy, The settlement of the state
/ has been made by such hardy races
as the Norwegians, Swedes, Canad-
ians, Germans. Russians, and native
Americans from the older settled
states. All classes of foreigners
make good citizens, especially after
becoming Americanized, and. many Of
our most successful farmers are Of
inSl a q