The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-07-06

North Dakota should urge it..
claims for federal assistance for ir.
rigation development, W. G. Black
state engineer, believes. Mr.. Black
and others interested IN irrigation
are much enthused over the speech
made " President Warren G. Hard,
ing at Spokane last week, declaring
the speech shows that the President
is conversant with the needs of the
west and will aid in the development
program.
Inc President, in speaking of the
west at Spokane, said in part:
1--WE want the west to be a land Of
homes and of the freest opportunity
for the establishment of the families
possessing Independent means of live
lihood. 1t is recognized that the very
different conditions Of the plains and
mountain areas compel many modifi-
cations Of the policies that have serv-
ed so well in other parts Of the coun-
try. Those notifications are being
wrought out gradually, with view
to promoting here that wide diversi-
hcations of industries and occupations
which is invited by your variety of
resources, and which is the ideal
state of modern society.
81 spoke moment ago of the fact
that as rule the utilization Of ma
lures resources commonly results in
their increase rather than their di-
intuition. That is peculiarly true of
one especially valuable resource Of
your mountain west; / mean your
water The flow of a great river that
runs away to the sea without being
utilized for power or for irrigation,
is wasted forever. To prevent its
development is not to save it for the
benefit of distant future. If it is
to be of service tomorrow, it must
be harnessed today.
Water for Power and Irrigation.
'Our whole view of the relation of
water to western development has
changed much in the last generation.
Only few years since these waters
were looked upon az potentially use
full merely for irrigation and agri-
culture. We entered upon great
program of irrigation enterprise in
that era when we had as yet but a
vague notion about the dual purpose
that your notion about the dual pur-
pose that your water resources ought
to serve. But now we know that the
same water can in most cases be
utilize1 both for power and irriga-
ton. Thus the great power devel-.
opment will mark the sites of indus
trial centers, adjacent to which swill
grow up rich areas of intensive 4gri-
cultural production. The industrial
population will provide markets,
without impossible transportation ex-
penditure, for the products of the
soil; and in turn the people on the
soil will afford markets for the pro-
ducts of industry.
Transportation will be increased
and cheapened through electrification
Of the railways; and in the light of
what we now know about all aspects
of this subject, we may confidently
look forward to a generation in which
these young and vigorous common
wealths of the west will boast as
great population as the entire ma
ton numbers today, capable of living
for greater part within itself, repre-
senting the widest variety of occu
pations and interests, and having it's
problem of transportation largely
solved for it because it will be so
nearly self-sufficient and self-con-
tanned.
1T is doubtful if there is in the
world such a region Of varied op-
portunities and universal wealth
as this mountain empire Of yours.
Your country presents its invita-
ton and its opportunity to who
ever is capable Of a contribution
to human well-being; to science,