The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-11
IRRIGATION Has Drawbacks
As Well As Good Features

tering. The big snow winter occurred
in 1862, which followed the drought
Of 1893 or 1894. That Is only q seven
year span. In 1883 big floods occurred
On all our rivers. In 1879 small
actually padded its way up
the James river from Aberdeen to
jamestown. It Is just q row Of in
termittent puddles now.
Looking ahead into the future, II
or IL years from 1927 Is 1898 or 1899.
But no one knows whether or not q
coincidence as exact as that will con-
tinue for another turn Of the wheel.
In the records studied it varied from
seven to IS years. That would bring
the wet cycle back some time between
1894 and 1912, not very precise pre-
diction, to say the least. In view Of
the unusual drought conditions one
would wishfully expect the reaction to
come within the next few years.
There is a popular tradition that
as soon as irrigation is proposed in
North Dakota it starts to rain, illus
trating perhaps the human perversity
Of inanimate weather. It is at least
safe to say that If the Bowman prof.
ect is built now it will meet q series
# wet years early in its career which
will tempt settlers to refuse water If
they can avoid paying for it.
Irrigation Pioneering Experience
The new settler has not only t0
learn to irrigate but he has to meet
certain expenses peculiar to irrigation
There is the cost Of preparing the
land. On the North Dakota part OF
the Lower Yellowstone project the av-
erage cost Of this was $l4.88 an acre
according to the 1880 U. 8. Genus. It
included clearing the land Of brush
leveling and grading rough areas, and
building farm laterals and farm irri-
cation structures. The largest item Of
expense is brush clearing. The Bow
man project will have none Of this
About half the project has been plow-
cd at one time or another. Prepara-
tory costs are estimated at S. an acre
or $500 per 100-acre tract at reason
able wages for men and teams. Farm
buildings are an additional expense
Settlers should be financially pre-
pared to meet those expenses. Some
will need credit. How much can be
handled by local banks will depend on
how the land is encountered with OBJ
legations to the present land owner
and to the government.
Local Taxes Will BE Raised
Local taxes will be raised by the
coming Of settlers. On the Belle
Fourche project taxes on irrigated
land run from 75c to 500 an acre
under the present reduced status.
Most Of 1t goes for schools and local
government. A large number OF
children came in with the beet help
families. Present taxes on the pro-
posed Bowman project are about l5c
an acre. No influx Of beet help is
anticipated for the railroad Is just q
few miles too far away. The school
population will increase some Of
course. Considerable road improve
ment will be necessary in places to
keep the water off the roads. Taxes
are estimated at SOC an acre unless
improved methods Of trucking make
beet culture feasible.
Operation and Maintenance
A long slender thread Of waite,
hung on a hillside behind thir
embankment Of earth 80 miles long
on one side and 20 miles on the other
side Of the project requires careful
and constant attention. Cloudburst.
cut 1t open. rains fill It with muc
and rodents burrow in the banks