The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-07-19
Why Not 1rrigate.

Montana, the editor of THE NEWS
made thorough examination of the
means used in that locality for irriga-
ton, particularly in what is known as
the Gallatin valley, one of the richest
agricultural valleys in Montana. It is
estimated that nearly one-half of the
grain raised in Montana is grown in
this valley. The soil is light sandy
clay, and to Dakotan looks as if it
would not raise navy beans. The un-
cultivated prairie land is thinly covered
with stunted growth of grass, thickly
dotted with prickly-pear cactus, yet on
this land enormous crops of grain are
annually raised by the means of irriga-
ton. We were told that wheat aver
aged from 40 to SO bushels per acre,
though variety known as goose
wheat, large kerneled winter wheat,
is the kind used, and oats attain a
weight of from SO to 40 pounds to the
bushel and the yield from IS to 80
bushels per acre. It is only by irriga-
ton that barly can be raised to per-
fection, and it is claimed that the finest
barley in the world is raised in this
valley. A large syndicate is being
formed to go into barley raising on a
large scale as soon as the canal is fin
ished.
The manner of getting water on the
land is as follows: This valley is sur
rounded by towering peaks and noun
tains that are covered by snow nearly
all the year round. The gradual melt
ing of this snow forms number of
ever-running streams. To get the water
out of the river beds onto the land, the
settler goes number of miles up the
river until he can get the required ele-
vation, and then cutting a ditch from
the main stream, gradually carries it
along the bank until he reaches cou-
lee or depression, when it is carried
out on the fiat. The ditch is then run
across the highest end of the land to be
watered and lateral bitches running
through the field, at intervals Of ten
rods or so. When he wants to over
flow the land he dams up the bitches
crossing the field, and after an acre or
so is watered, he opens up the dam
and makes another dam farther. down
in the field. This is continued until
the whole field has been overfowed.
After witnessing the mode Of irriga-
ton in this valley, we are still more
convinced that the Missouri river can
be utilized in the same manner. Judg-
ing from the present appearance of
the Missouri slope, with it's heavy
growth of grass and vegetation, irriga-
ton may not be needed here for some
years to come, but it has been found
by past experience that sufficient rain
fall, or rain just at the time when most
needed, cannot be depended upon, and
even in the most favorable seasons the
yield may be greatly increased by the
application of water.
The water supply In the Gallatin val
lay referred to is as yet limited and
only sufficient to water small portion
Of the valley, but the representatives
Of Montana have been doing some tall
talking and hard work and have sue
ceeded in getting an appropriation to
build a large canal through the valley,
taking the water from the Yellowstone
river near Townsend, and work viii
be commenced at once. This canal
will be about rs miles long and win be
free to every bona fide settler. Why
cannot the same be done for North
Dakota2 Such 2 canal would water
thousands of acres Of uncertain agri-
cultural lands, afford cheap means Of
transportation for coal and grain, and
it could be built at much less cost than
the Gallatin canal, as wages are much
lower here than in Montana.
II No.