Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-06-07
Northwestern NeDs

can be retained in the spring and pre-
vented from or delayed reaching the
lower Mississippi, where they U
untold loss, and be applied to the soil
to produce a vast harvest. Now the
richest soil is carried by he rivers
down to the gulf states, where it is
deposited by the sluggish Mississippi
to build UP its bed. 1t then finally
overtops its dykes. floods millions of
acres and Sits up the entire bottoms.
Thus h richest prairie soil is ruth
lessly swept down to owe the gulf
states or into the Golf Of Mexico, en-
ginecrs claim.
WIN Ask for Commission. 7
Another purpose of the congress will
be to ask by resolution the secretary
of the interior to appoint a commits
sion OF expert engineers of which the
state engineers of Montana, North Da-
kota and South Dakota should be
members.
1t is proposed that this commission
shall make a thorough survey and
investigation Of the Missouri river
and its tributaries in South Dakota,
through North Dakota and to the
head OF navigation nea Fort Benton,
Montana, for the purpose of deter
mining where dams a be construct
ed across the river; for the purpose
of controlling Hood waters, diverting
and storing them for irrigation pur-
poses; and for the purpose Of deve1-
oping h~ydro-electric power to be dis
tributed throughout the state to sup
ply electric power for railroad and
commercial purposes.
Big Sum on Hand.
According to the report of the rec
lamation service for 1S20-1921, there
is $12.211 1851 in the reclamation
fund of b federal treasury to the
credit Of the state Of North Dakota
derived from the sale of the public
lands of the state, and that accutnu-
lated interest on about that amount
which has beer loaned to other states
brings the total to approximately
$20,000.0o0. Montana has $14,177.-
22s.34, and South Dakota $.616,-
1899, as shown by the same report.
All members of former congresses
session. All state, county and city
officials are ex-officio members.
Boards Of city commissioners, mayors
OF cities and presidents of CONNER
cial bodies may appoint five or more
delegates to represent them on this
occasion. Editors Of the daily and
weekly papers of the state and citizens
interested in irrigation and the de-
velopment of the state Ignite deposits
may also attend.
The congress will also consider the
location and establishment Of large
electric plants at strategic points near
extensive Ignite deposits for the pur-
pose OF furnishing electric power fo-
pumping at small irrigation projects.
There are twelve states directly in
terested in flood control. a question
that will be considered by this 1rri-
cation congress, with a representation
eight-efght representatives in the
United States congress, all OF whom
are interested in flood control Of the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers-states
carved out Of the old Iuoisiana Pur-
chase. These states will doubtless be
disposed to Join in this general move
ment.
Montana, North and South Dakota
are the states most vitality interested
waters of the Missouri and Yellow
stone for the purpose of irrigation and
the development Of hydro-electric
power. There is more than 1874, 0o0, 0Oo
in the reclamation fund Of the ma
tional treasury to the credit Of these
three states. This money is either
lying idle or being loaned to other
states. when it's need is imminent at
the present time for the development
OF the v1s of these three
great states. A concert Of movement
on the part of these several states
and their duly elected representatives
in congress will release. this fund and
promote the vast agricultural and
commercial possibilities OF the valleys
Of the Missouri and Yellowstone and
their tributaries.