The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1886-07-21
WATER, NOT BLOOD.

Although the Gallatin is one OF the
hest watered valleys i'll tie west, the
matter of water supply Cor irrigation pur
poses has been for the past two weeks
the most vital question with which the
farmer has had to deal for some time.
Last year the unusual rainfall supplied
an abundance of moisture, and the con-
seouent difficulties attendant upon gen
eral irrigation were avoided. But this
year the conditions are reversed, an
unusual drouth compels the lowland
farmer to water his growing crops from
the mountain streams, by the process OF
irrigation. The law governing water
rights provides that the oldest appropri-
ator shall be the first to divert water to
the amount of inches he is entitled to,
but in many cases this year, especially il
he is located some distance from the
upper end of the stream, the first appro-
priator goes without water, while ne
who delves at the head of the stream
appropriates the water, without the con-
sent of the law, and to the detriment of
the ranch holding that heretofore lnval-
liable adjunct: 1.-THE Oldest water right
in the country" The misused man ap-
niles to the law for reiief, but by the
time hg can obtain it's tardy assistance,
his crops are burned up or else there is
no need for water. This state of affairs
breeds more feuds and i'll feeling among
farmers than any one thing connected
with farming. and although each year,
by meetings and agreements. they en-
deayor to adjust the matter satisfactorily
to everyone, by the time summer comes
again. every man endeayors to obtain
more than he is entitled to, and the
golden resolves count for naught. Farm
ers arm themselves with sh tguns and
sleep near the heal gate of their bitches,
dams are torn out and men lose their
reason. Their very dependence and
that of their families rests upon the
crops. and to see them burned up while
others mis-appropriate that which will
nourish and save them, is more than
human flesh and blood can endure.
This general scramble for water is often
engaged in By those unentitled to water
at all, who by sheer physical force or
threats of bodily injury, obtain that
which never belonged to them. A case
is reported to us of two young boys, dur
ING the absence of their parents, who
armed themselves and compelled prior
appropriator to allow an amount of WAGER
double that required to flow to their
fathers field. The only manner by
which this disagreeable feature of Gala
fin valley farming can be amicabiy and
everlastingly settled, is by an increased
supply of water. The strong, whether
thew are entitled TO rights or not, whl
alNays override the weak. An uninter-
ested ditch tender may be engaged to
distribute the water according to an
owners vested right, but while ne is at
The head, those at the bottom OF the
ditch are mis- appropriating the water.
A law as strong as that of the Medes
and Persians will not obviate this state OF
affairs; an abundance Of water, water for
every one willing TO pay for it, is the
only feasible solution of this important
question. There is approximation for
all when it is diverted by proper chan
nels to where 1t can be used. The laud-
able enterprise of the West Gelatin
Ditch Company, which succumbed tenn
porarily TO the lack of capital necessary
for its completion, is one of the projects
by which the farmer can tremendously
achieve that end 'deyoutly to be wished