The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-11-26
bitches.

The work of redeeming the fertile
bench lands of Montana is being carried
on more extensively and successfully IN
the upper Marias. Teton and Sun river
region than elsewhere in the territory,
as is manifest by the numerous 1rrlgat'
ing canals now in course or construction
in that section, and which, when COM
pleted, will make valuable for agricul-
tural purposes hundreds of square miles
Of as rich land as the sun shines on.
This portion Of Montana, being natu-
rally well watered, and the streams OF
such d character that the water can
easily be turned upon the bottoms and
benches adjacent, is destined to become
famous for the production of grasses
and grains. and will consequently give
support to a large population. 1t will
be in the coming years, with the great
changes that are in. store for Montana,
| the wheat field Of this portion of the
northwest, and we doubt if it will even
yield the palm in the production Of No. /
hard to Dakota.
One of the most important enterprises
Of this kind is the Dupuyer canal or
may be of interest. From the good to
be accomplished by this project the
reader can readily conceive of the grand
benefits to accrue from a number of
c1,al, lsfahaS IN af fpana of nrnhahly
greater extent and proportions.
The Dupuyer ditch taps the stream oil
the same name about five miles from its
confluence with the Marias. The ditch
is 8 feet 6 inches on the bottom and II
feet 6 inches at the top, and will carry
5000 inches Of water. It's length, so far
as projected, is some seven miles. After
winding about the hill side for a little
more than two miles it attains the top
Of the bench, following q ridge from
which the land slopes gently on either
side, and which can be readily irrigated
to an almost unlimited extent. This
land is all Of an alluvial nature, the soil
being black, soft and deep and entirely
free from gravel. Better land for wheat
growing and general agriculture cannot
be found, and it cannot fail to become
an important factor in adding to the
wealth and prosperity of northern Mon
tana. As now projected land the work
is almost completely this ditch will irri-
gate fifty sections of land Of the charac-
ter described, showing it to be an enter
prise Of no small magnitude. But it
can be extended either to SchultZ's cou-
lee or the Dry Fork of the Marias, and
its value as q "land redeemer'' largely
increased.
Joseph Kip was the protector of this
ditch, and he afterwards secured the CO.
operation Of G.. E. and w. G. Conrad,
Chas. Price and others, who are enthu-
siastic over the enterprise and are car
rying it through to completion as rapid
~ as possible. It is not by any means
a 'sland grabbing scheme, as several
sections of desirable land remain open
to entry, and it is desired that they
should be taken up by parties who will
settle upon the same ana take advantage
of the opportunities given.
Besides this ditch there is an impor-
tant one on Birch creek, completed a
large canal tapping the Teton, which
will cover an immense stretch of bench
between that stream and the Muddy;
canals under construction from the
north and south forks of Sun river-all
Of which will have an important bear
ing on the development and progress Of
this portion of Montana, rendering it,
although farthest north, the most extern
sive and prominent agricultural section
| Of the territory.