The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-11

cleaning lateraE on the Belle tOurcne
project is done once in every four
years and cost $l34.00 mile in 1882.
Those cleaned with q Ruth ditcher
cost 5000 a mile. Most Of this can
be done by the water users on the
Bowman project.
Operating personnel will be q sup
erintendent who is q practical irrt-
gator and can assist the settlers in
laying out their laterals and other
problems. The completed project will
need three ditch riders for about
eight months q year. The estimated
o. and M. cost per acre on the fully
developed project Is Use.
The Hazard Of Water Logging
The most malignant nalady to de-
velop on irrigation projects has been
the white DEATH" the sudden ap-
pearance years after the project has
started Of the ground water table
near enough to the surface OF the
ground to evaporate and leave crusts
OF salt. These are usually white
although q few types are black. :.
The reasons are simple. The soil
is porous. More water applied to the
ton increases the amount which
passes down through the root zone.
This slowly raises the ground water
table located upon some impervlous
strata beneath, along which 1t flows
at q very slow annual rate to the
outlet perhaps in q river or q spring.
Not every project nor every piece
Of land eventually becomes water log
ped. Some underground conditions
| are such as to accomu1odate an In
creased flow Of sub-surface water
without . dangerous rise In its eleva-
ton.
The solution Is not so simple. Some
preventive measures are: analyzing
the soil to locate areas containing SUI
ficient amounts Of alkaline salts to
make them unsuitable for irrigation;
providing deep waste water bitches to
remove water quickly and not allow
| it to collect in low places and seep
away: installing observation wells IN
which to watch the rise Of the ground
water tables: and finally just waiting
and watching to see where the malay
is likely to break out.
The Bowman project Is favored
again In this matter by its long and
narrow shape. It averages only about
mile and half In width. Through
this the main stream channel cuts q
lmeandering course. "Good natural
surface draining is provided by the
gentle slopes toward the stream ana
down the valley and the terrace IS
/ cut by frequent small channels which
might be used by drainage outlets"
says the report Of the Army Engi-
neerS.
It Is very possible that the Bow
man project management being fully
appraised and forewarned and taking
all possible precaution will be able 10
forestall and perhaps postpone IN.
definitely this most serious OF all
irrigation hazards.
Irrigations advantages have been
widely advertised. And the youth
are demonstrating that many Of
them are true and correct. But It Is
no panacea for all agricultural Ills.
It must take its chances with the
weather and the markets. It Is not
entirely independent of rainfall. Crop
Yields are always reduced by drought.
But when failure is complete else
where irrigation is Of course life
saver. On the other hand It may
produce q bumper crop which Is not
worth harvesting.
There is no substitute for careful
and intelligent farm management
with q liberal portion Of luck now and
then.