The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-11-24
5000 at Meeting
To Boost Diversion
Persons From All Parts Of State
Attend Session Held At
Devils Lake
U. S. ENGINEER IS PRESENT
Comes to Look and Listen, Not
Talk; Will Visit Proposed
Dam Site Friday

Dam Site Friday
Devils Lake, N. D., Nov. 24.-More
than 5000 persons attended q mass
meeting here Thursday night In the
interest Of the Missouri river diversion
project.
Major Philip B. Fleming, army
engineer and personal representative
Of secretary Of the Interior 1ckes and
Frank w. Murphy. regional public
works advisor, attended the state
wide gathering.
Major Fleming said he had come to
North Dakota to look, listen and not
talk He said he was "pinchhitting"
for Colonel H. M. Waite. deputy adj
ministrator Of public works. who was
unable to attend.
Murphy said the dam at Garrison
should be built and added that fed
cral officials are becoming convinced
that unless the ground waters OF a
great area in North and South Da-
kota are replenished it will be "disas-
trous" for the territory.
This work should have been done
IS years ago." said Murphy. Il be-
lieve 1t will be done now. You can
not stay the approach Of q desert UNI
less waters Of the Missouri are inter.
cepted and put to use. This dam will
have to be built on the Missouri river.
We must have diversion to save these
two states"
Many Express Views
Spokesman for scores OF delega-
lions throughout the state offered
their sentiments backing the Missouri
river diversion project, including
members Of the North Dakota Public
Works Advisory board.
s. ]. Doyle. chairman, said that
ii we lose all the other projects applied
for in North Dakota and get Missouri
river diversion our labors will be
qualified successfully.
Thomas Noodle, Williston, and
Henry Holt, Grand Forks. also spoke.
The meeting was opened by Mayor
Harry E. McHugh. who introduced S.
w. Thompson. president Of the diver
sion association. On the platform
were Mayor Fleming, Doyle. Noodle,
Murphy, Nellie Daugherty, Minot.
Democratic national committeewo-
man. Professor Howard Simpson and
Halvor Halvorson Of Minot.
Simpson, who Is state geologist,
said the water question in North Da-
kota is greater than depression.
He said so years ago there were
5000 lakes in North Dakota and now
the state is facing a condition OF
drought and dried up streams.
He outlined the diversion problem,
stating that the project was not to
Grain the Missouri but to take the
peak load Of floods and divert it into
eastern low lands, into the James
Sheyenne. Red rivers and the Devils
Lake basin.
Means True Conservation
He said 1t is true water conser-
walton program. The project Is one
which could employ 20 600 people fol
number of years. It Is an economic
factor. one which would supply water
TO cities Of North Dakota and farms
with adequate water.
Scores OF stories were related BY
spokesman, from various communities
where they described farmers hauling
water to feed livestock where wells
were going dry.
AnNnSNn ev%Ao knre ssroisA~ thu A3V,or-
sion plan were DIR. John Crawford OF
New Rockford, Otto Brech Of Drake
Mayor Jack Patterson Of Minot, DR.
w. H. Porter o. Cavalier county. Ton,
Clifford Of Langdon. John Kehoe Of
Cando, Walter Mcdonald Of Minne-
waukan, Edwin Traynor Of Stark
weather: Maurice Ryan. secretary Of
the Greater North Dakota association
Fargo: John Moses Of Mercer county
Judge AloiS Wartner Of Harvey
Mayor Christianson OF Cooperstown
Halvor Halvorson Of Minot. and Gul
Lamb. Michigan. president Of the
North Dakota Taxpayers association
| A special train from A6inot arrived
about 4:30 and. headed by the Elks
drum and bugle corps. paraded
through the streets.
Three other bands, including the
governors band Of New Rockford
Harvey and the Devils Lake boys
concert band, appeared IN gigantic
demonstration.
From Devils Lake Fleming and
Murphy went to the Garrison Dam
site Friday, inspecting the area to b
affected by the proposed diversion
project.