The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-05-24
GOVERNOR DECLARES
STATE MUST GUARD
ITS WATER SUPPLIES
Says Missouri River Commits
sion Should Bring Out
Workable Plan

Expressing keen interest in the pos
sibility q Missouri river development
and its general relation to conserva-
ton in North Dakota, Governor
George F. Shafer Monday issued
statement pointing to the necessity
for constructive investigation and
planning to the end that adequate
steps be taken to effect proper con-
servation of our state water re-
sources"
He called attention to the general
flood survey of the federal government
and said when reports Of the federal
and state engineers are available 1t
will be possible for the Missouri river
commission to proceed with a study
that should bring forth workable
plan to permit water conservation
development that will be statewide.
The governor said he had called on
the state engineer to prepare a pre-
liminary tentative plan showing the
various sites known to him within the
state that are thought practicable as
dam sites for water storage purposes
and other waterway development.
Since the construction of the Pan
anna canal. which greatly diminished
transcontinental traffic on the rail-
road" Gov. Shafer said. freight rates
have been relatively high. All this
has served to hamper development
and to more or less isolate us from
the great consuming centers of the
nation. 1t has always been my belief
that the proper utility of the Missouri
river as an actual channel of COM
merce, would tend to relieve this Sec
ton from economic isolation.
Survey Is Authorized
During the last four years, as re-
suit of congressional action. army en-
gineers have been continuously en-
gagged in surveys within our state. I
have followed closely the operations
of these engineers and noted the areas
in which they have been engaged. The
navigation interest became more con-
crete after the passage by congress of
the rivers and harbors act of 1880,
authorizing survey of the Missouri
to determine the feasibility of i'm
provement of the river from Yankton,
S. D., to the mouth of the Yellowstone,
for navigation.
Through the Missouri river COM
mission of North Dakota close con-
tact has been maintained at all times
with navigation interests, with the
national river and harbor congress
and with the Mississippi Valley De-
velopment association.
Flood control, power development
and water conservation. and diver
sion. while directly connected to navi-
CATION of the Missouri nevertheless
DIVORCES therefrom. but any study or
plan that involves flood control, power
development. diversion or water con-
servation also involves navigation.
Following the crystallization of
sentiment in the eastern part of the
state for water conservation, definite
projects were proposed for the diver
sion of part of the waters of the Mis-
souri, into Devils Lake, the James and
Red rivers. There has been much dis
cussion and consideration given to this
project by citizens interested.
Benefits Readily Discernible
1.-THE far-reaching benefits to the
Devils Lake area and to the eastern
part of the state were readily discern
IDLE should it be possible to complete
a project Of this kind. My personal