Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-09-18
IRRIGATION.
Written for the Tribune.

~ 49,
A very important lesson can be learned
from the extreme dryness the past summer.
It is fast becoming evident that the resi-
dents Of Montana must adopt Il thorough
system of irrigation, or light crops will be
the result. The value of irri gation has al
ways been very u~njUstly underestimated,
or people are unwilling to eypend the nee
essary money for irrigating purposes, de-
pending upon rainfall for their supply
Of water; but as the rainfall for the past six
months was only 4.S9 inches, irrigation is
everywhere a necessity.
The beneficial effects of irrigation are
always clearly manifested; notably
that il and around Greedy,
Colorado. This city now contains
about $500 inhabitants, a number OF
handsome residences and public buildings,
has beautiful shade trees and lawns, all
built up within fifteen years in 4 place for
merly covered with cactus and sage-Orush
and the abode Of prairie-dogs and jack
rabbits. The change has been made pos
sible only by irrigation. The water supply
for Greeley and vicinity is taken from the
Big Thomson River by q canal tHcnty-siX
feet wide and five feet deep, and carried
thirty-one miles. II is Of sufficient capac-
ity to irrigate g, 300 acres, and 10000
acres are now under cultivation. Within
q few miles from Greeley is the farm OF
Governor Eaton, which is irrigated by
water from the Larimer and Weld Canal,
which takes is supply near Fort Collins
from The Cache Ill Poudre River by 4 canal
thirty feet wide, five feet deep, and forty
five miles long, calculated to irri@ate So,
600 acres, of which $4,000 are now under
cultivation.
1t is scarcely possible TO conceive of
more violent contrasts than those on 4
short ride from this city. On one side Of
the road might be seen 4 dry, sterile, for
hidden country, with nothing to rest the
eye for miles in the distance. On the other
side i ditch perhaps three feet wide CARR
cd a bright running stream, and beyond
were waving fields Of grain, corn, or alfalfa
with In occasional tree or line Of trees, the
Green being ali the brighter when compar-
~ 18Th +,,o settle 60 closely .,df.cont
The appropriation OF water for Il canal Of
the size before mentioned is about 1881
cubic feet per second. The laW requires
.t.,+ .i ,ra4o. IL, ,,a,-.r.5 -. III ,,n,l
u -. ..-., a-,.;,. 4. t.a Il,
~ <arn.rj.. -, .aa,..la =,
- -,1zs a.. -, ,na..+,;,
m,,,+ - 80 i,.b Thi ,ro..nra i. aai,
=, 49, a.a,,ti+-- f,,.;na. n,n+i,,.-.1,
.,., lin j.
III. ..+t
j.. -. .r4h. UT. n,,;.5 u.
- .a., ~ -
se+, e,a ~ So ro ~ ..9.;. foot
aanz ..,4 = :. o1s;,,,.1 4,,.+ 49,,
-. ,, ,e
VI 5fty-Hva. ril.is question Of TIL .dsty7'
If Water /. one III Thu un -attIeE ones, every
man hsy:2@ bis own iaeas ageagdjag 20 the
skill he G~.a,I4vs IA the use OF .=T-or the
cbsy.e.~ .aa asa. ,.t.e tai.zis to no
"a. .3alm. the Low grounds 81 !. farm
saa;a Ia Income more moist tbrt3.9rh srn,-
sga ana u re4nir@ le,s irrigation. II some
eases one and IL some ca5es eEen 9ecom
in n1arshy. One OF the great difficulties
IS the seepage and evaporation. For ez-
ample: Allowing twenty-five per cent for
these losses, il so cHhic iaat ~ second
were allowed = enter 1t the head e. the