Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-08

w so lar ID the future
as to picture scene
like this on the banks OF the ditch. yet
the fancy is not overdrawn, as with
the immense capabilities of the ditch
when completed, rs demonstrated yes
terday, all things are possible.
AT an early hour yesterday morning
the tide Of travel set toward the Tongue
river road, and every species ofvehicle
or beast of burden that could be pressed
into service, was soon en- route TO the
dam, hauling or carrying its quota Of
human freight. The occasion was one
which Miles City has long looked for
ward TO, and though only the precur-
sor OF that grander event, distant per
haps month, when water shall flow
through the entire length Of the COM
pleted ditch, the realization of the first
step in our great future was witnessed
with Intense qualification by the large
assemblage which had gathered In re
sponse to the invitation Of Mr.. Jordan,
Unlike other puplic events of this ma
ture, there was no ceremony observed,
but when sufficient time had elapsed
for all the visitors to gather at the dam,
two sturdy laborers assembled the
tower above the headgates and with
out further ado, commenced work on
the screws that lift the gates and ad-
nit the water into the ditch. The
river being high, there was at least
nine feet of water at the gates and Ms
they rose the enormous pressure Of
this head sent seetbing and bub-
bling stream into the ditch, almost
Immediately filling 1t to its fullest ca.
psciiy. Altogether, the gates were
raised one foot and az the water
danced along the crowd followed, the
next point of interest being the flume
under Pumpkin creek, distant from
the dam about quarter OF mile; this
fiume or conduit carries the entire
volume OF the ditch under the bed of
Pumpkin creek In box ten feet wide
and four feet deep. The descent 10
made ut very sharp grade, rising on
the other side more gradually and
emptylng into the ditch, which from
this point down to Squaw creek, some
three aud half miles has been com.
pleted; the pressure at the headgates
and fall at the upper bank Of Pumpkin
creek, soon forced the water through
the ilume and up the incline and in
less than fifteen minutes from the
time the gates were opened the ditch
belos Pumpkin was bank full and a
very satisfactory test of the sunken
aume accomplished. After half an
hour spent in watching the flow al
this point, dinner was announced at
the camp at Kings bluff and the Wis.
itors prepared to get there" those
most interested in the ditch following
it's course aud critically watching the
action of the water and on the lookout
for weak spots. Fortunately these
were found to be few in number, and
occasioBed by the industrious gopher,
whose burrows in two places gave vent
to the water, and which can be readily
stopped ~. From Pumpkin TO Squaw
creek the ditch has been cleaned out
and widensd to It's maximum Of ten
feet wide by four feet deep, and in
about au hour and y half the advance
gusrd Of the flood made it, appearance
At SIuaw creek. where substantial
nume haa been built crossing the
creek nbovo lis llow. II not being the
intention 81 let the VISITOR go beyond
this point M present temporary flooi-
"a ~ had been built In thel over end