Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-03-08

alone, Ia which can br added very
considerable area lying contiguous Ia
the forks and smaller tributaries OF
these .treamS. Bar in mind that this
estimate covers only the land that i.
susceptible of ECONOMICAL practical
irrigation; such ~ eau he carried INTO
-ucce,sfuI practice 10y an, one " bo can
run level and turn furrow, and
which entails no more .xp-ns. than
tue labor referred 10. Although 100.
0O0 acres il very small portion ot the
immense tract We have been look ing
over IL nu-t be remembered that Ih'
estimate comprises only the but'"m
lands la the valleys of The various
SIR. ans snd rivers, which valleys nj.
~ a rule narrow AMI quickly rl-e into
what l. knuwU M tho b' nch lAnd-,
which are much superior u the lot
tom lands for agricultural purposes,
hui owing To the greater expense 81 H.
rIga,Ing them hut little ha- been done
~ th,- direction these lands, however
ne iu-l ~ u u-c-ptible Of irrigation a.
the bott"m nd-. NJ, owing 10 the fai
4 the sttpum-, water eau be taken oul
IT any pont 4 -ufii lent level to Ir
rgsts the benches further down
tram. This work, however, il not
for individuals TO undertake. Sui
staDtial dams must he built aud larg'
canals dug many miles in lrDg' h, ana
,ucb sn euterpri.e requires capital;
but IL will not be long before the Al
tention of those who understand tn,
science Of irrigation on u large scal'
aud who have been 80 phenomrnallS
successful IN the srIi belt of COLORADO,
New Mexi,'o aud California, wh-r'
the condi ions are not nearly So favor
able M here, will have their attention
attracted To the opportunities offered
in Custer county for the build ng OF
ma bitches and with the building oi
ih, 81 bitches and the reclamation 0i
the inimpnse tract Of bench lauds, the
future prosperity ana p-rmHnency OF
this county 10 ss assured s the dali!
rising of the sun.
What has been said above In regard
to irrigation points only TO irrigation,
but from this IL must not be- inferred
that AM Getting forth the advantage,
OF Custer county ~ granger country.
for with all due respect for the exclu
live tilIers of he soil, do not regard
such n conclusion ~ desirable either
fpr The occupant Of the land or the pro-
perity ~ the community ut large. A.
our principal industry IL stock grow
ing, which just now, owing to com
biusliun of circumstances. 10 som.-
what depressed, let Us consider irriRa-
lion in connection with that. | be-
lleve that am not making an extra>-
agant statement when / say that IL /.
pretty we'll settled that the nld-time
-ystem of range raising must soon b.
abandoned aud safer, and therefore
better methods adopted, briefly thus:
To Craze upon the open range only
such numbers as ca. be fed and cared
for by the respective owners in ses'
sons OF severe weather. As the feed
necessary for this purpose cannot be
had except by irrigation, the number
of live stock To be thus maintained },
limited Of course, 10 the amount o
feed that eau be in this manner pro
ductd, aud, governed by its cost
Each acre Of our estimated 10000
acres should give one ton Of hay or IL.
equivalent in stock food, and Ms exper
ieuce in this country has shown, TAX
ing the history # the pact six months,
that il does no; require, to carry a
herd ssfely through, on an sversg.
over thirty days feeding, q simple
calculation will show that tbs amount
of irrigated land. will give an amount
of feed vtry much in excess Of what
would be required by any number Of
live stock that the range can sustain
Those doubling the practicabiity oI
this statement need go no further thar
Wyoming and points in central and
western Montana to verify 1t, for there
they will find practical stock men thu,
engaged and some of our own citizens
are preparing TO do likewise. This
makes stock raising perfectly safe
business; gives labor steady employ
ment instead Of intermittent, develops
aud enriches the country, and will be
found in the long run more stable and
profitable 10 all concerned
The land thus reclaimed would add
TO our ass ssment roll very materially,
thus reducing the burden Of taxation
besides constituting an A asset which
personal property as a rule is not
therefore the growth Of our
towns and villages would keep pace
with the reclamation Of lands in their
vicinity by irrigation, and all business
would he conducted on n substantial
and paving basis. Instead OF i'm