Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-02-23
SAVING SOIL.
Full Text of the Petition For
warded the War Department
at Washington,
Setting Forth the Why and
Wherefore of Tongue
Rivers Misdeeds.
PROTECTING TIE PARK.

fuI. Teft oil the comm nunicationf orWarded
to the War Department.
Ii will be remembered that two
weeks ago citizens committee
called upon Col. Gibson, at Fort Keogh'
to secure that Off GERS interest in for
warding movement to change the
channel of Tongue river and protect
the Park. Col. Gibson heartily en-
Outraged the scheme, and the petition
and plan as drawn up and forwarded
after receiving the favorable endorse.
ment of the Colonel-is AZ folio VS.:
To the Honorable Secretary Of War,
Washington. ID. c., through Col.
Gibson, commanding Fort Keogh'
Mont.
SIR:
have the honor TO transmit here.
with sketch of the Tongue river
front Of Miles City, Mont, with meas
urements and explanatory remarks to
which invite your attention aud in
connection with which beg to make
the following statement of facts:
Miles City, Mont, is located on the
east bank OF the Tongue river, aud
surrounds portion OF the Fort Keogh
military reservation comprising, orig.
lnally ,25 acres, retained by the gov
ernment for bridge aud ferry ap-
proaches to the main reservation on
the west side of the river. At the
time the present city Of Miles was 10.
caied-Msrch, ls7S,-the measure-
ments of this portion OF the reservs-
ton were as follows: I,05O #. on E., n.
aud s. boundaries. Now ii is 1850 fl.
on E., 700 #. on n. and 100 II. on s.
boundaries.
As you are probably aware, the
Tongue river is a mountain stream
having its head waters 200 miles TO the
south Of Miles City and into which in
Its course, many continents empty, all
heading from the south. Under these
conditions the spring breakup is
caused by an excessive flow Of water
from the south, breaking up the ice in
the vicinity Of Miles City while II 10
still very strong and heavy from 80 to
40 inches thick, which in its hesdlong
course is jammed against the banks
with such resistless force as to cause O
great erosion wherever the bank is
high enough to offer an impediment
and the set Of the current Is against IL.
As will be seen by reference to the
sketch inclosed, the Tongue river in
It's approach TO the location OF Miles
City and at distance of about 400 feet
distant from the southerly line lof the
reservation, comes around . sharp
bend, and takes northeasterly course
directly against Its east bank and the
full force Of the current swollen TO the
enormous volume attained at the sea
son Of breaking up, and crowded with
immense cakes of heavy Ice is directed
against this bank, which being COM
posed entirely.of slluvial soil resting on
the gravel bed of the river is cut and
ground away by these powerful forces
like 40 much cheese. There 10 ample
evidence in the configurstlon Of the
land here, that years ago the course OF
the river lay In the direction indicated
on the sketch but through some cause,
trivial perhaps In itself, II was diverted
to the east, and has ever since been
wearing away the right or east bank
OF the river at this point. Since the
settlement Of this town In 1878 this
fact has been as patent to every resi-
dent as the rising OF the san. but only
Of late years have the encroschm hment,
Of the river been regarded with appre'
hension. A reference to the sketch
referred TO will show that since 1888
the bank has been washed 10 the ex
tent Of 800 feet and as each year
washIngs are more extensive than tn
previous year IL has come to be re
gsrdsd a. . settled fact that II 10 onl.
q question Of time, and perhaps a yer!
short time, when the enoroachment
Of the Tongue river will be upon pri
vste property and valuable improve
ments. Indeed In the past two years
but particularly the breakup Of 1881
private property TO the north Of tn
reservation, indicated on the sketch a
blocks I, . aud 10, suffered TO such al
extent as 10 deprive Il Of any marke
value.
Relief 10 the extent demanded b.
the situation IL not within the powe
; Of n young and struggling communit!
like this TO attempt The plan suG
gested in the accompanying report
in the opinion Of parties competent
Judge the only sure means Of prote'
tion and at tbs ssme time the least o.