222 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION May 



as well satisfied with the results. They judgment seemed to be that the private 



said men had been led to take an inter- forests of the country were in reason- 



est in their woods, and, further, that ably good bearing condition. This, 



private owners tactfully handled were considering particularly the thorough 



entirely capable of learning and apply- democracy of Switzerland, should be 



ing the main principles of good forest very encouraging news to workers in 



management. In short, the general forestry in our own country. 



PROPOSED RECLAMATION WORK IN 



NORTH DAKOTA AND MONTANA. 



IF ENDORSEMENT OF THE PEOPLE IS SECURED. THE 

 FORT BUFORD PROJECT WILL LIKELY BE TAKEN UP. 



A MEETING of great importance to work could not be started until the 



the citizens of North Dakota and owners of private lands formed an asso- 



eastern Montana was held recently in the ciation and agreed to refund to the gov- 



office of Chief Engineer Newell, of the ernment the amount expended in the 



Reclamation Service. Senator Hans- construction of the work. The esti- 



brough, Congressmen Spaulding and mated cost is $25 per acre, payable in 



Marshall, of North Dakota, and Con- ten annual installments of $2.50 each, 



gressman Dixon, of Montana, were without interest, 



present. The lands belonging to the govern- 



The Fort Buford project in the Yellow- ment will be opened to entry to bonafide 



stone Valley was under discussion, and homesteaders and will be subject to the 



the detailed maps and preliminary esti- same terms. 



mates of the engineers were carefully The Fort Buford project is now in the 



gone over. The engineers' reports indi- position of waiting for the endorsement 



cate that the project is feasible. A of the people. The preliminary work 



canal 70 miles long will irrigate approx- has been done and the government is in 



imately 70,000 acres at a cost of $25 per a position to pass upon it so soon as it 



acre. This land is adapted to alfalfa shall be made acquainted with the 



growing, a most valuable crop in this wishes of the people. From now on the 



section, where stock-raising is the pre- people must take the initiative, perfect 



dominant industry. an organization, and present their peti- 



It was decided at the meeting to pre- tion in proper form to the Secretary of 



sent the plans to a board of consulting the Interior. 



engineers for final approval, before rec- The estimated cost per acre for this 



ommending the project to the Secretar}^ work seems somewhat high, but it is be- 



of the Interior for consideration. The lieved that the increased productiveness 



physical questions surrounding the Fort of these lands, under a canal system 



Buford project seem capable of solution, which will give them an ample water 



but the scheme is complicated by prob- supply, will prevent this cost from be- 



lems of another character which must be coming a serious burden on the settlers 



settled before the work can be begun. in this valley. 



The lands belonging to the proposed One of the North Dakota Congress- 

 canal system are largely in private own- men pointed out that if a permanent 

 ership, 50 per cent of those in North Da- water supply would increase the yield 

 kota and 65 per cent in Montana having of these lands to the amount of one ton 

 passed from the government. Should of alfalfa per acre, it would suffice for 

 the Secretary approve this project and the annual payment required by the 

 set aside a fund for its construction, government. 



