The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-06-28
Mayor Bradford of Helena. Speaks of
Dearborn Canal En-
terprise.
IT WILL GREATLY Benefit GREAT FALLS
General Details of This Important
Project for Supplying
Water.
Important Sale of Acre Property to
Messrs. DOran and Kelly
of st. Paul.
MAYOR BRADFORD IN TOWN,

An Important Enterprise in Progress I'm
der His Care.
Hon. Donald Bradford, mayor of He,
ana is in town on business connected
with the Dearborn canal. This import
ant enterprise has beea carried out by
Mayor Bradford with much ability and
perseverance.
The main canal is complete and occu-
pies the only pass from Dearborn by
which water could be conveyed over the
large region that the system will traverse.
1t is intended to bring the water down
Simm's creek and Muddy creek to the
high bench southwest of Great Falls. 1t
Is intended to locate 100 to $50 families
on land tributary to Great Falls. They
will derive abundance of water from the
canal.
In connection with the canal, a great
reservoir, covering 1850 acres will be
formed IN the Dearborn canyon. 1t will
be go feet deep.
. Water is now being sent down Flat
creek and thence to SImm's and Dry
creek.
The Dearborn canal will render pro-
ductive a large region which needs only
a permanent supply of water to blossom
as the rose. The company are prepared
to provide water in abundance to actual
settlers, who are able and willing to cul-
tivate the land.
The canal is 20 feet wide at the bottom
and SO feet wide at the water line. At
present it will cover $4,000 acres of rich
land, and with extensions which are sur
veyed will U over 10000 acres. The
canal and 20 miles of extension will be
completed by Jan. 1, 1891.
MI. Wormser, who arrived yesterday
from Grand Haven, Michigan, will ac-
company Mayor Bradford over the site
of the canal and its laterals.
Settlers on land under this canal will
be supplied with water free of cost tor
the first year, and will be charged the
small sum OF 81 per acre per year for
what land Is watered afterward. When
1t is considered that irrigation in places is
an absolute insurance of a crop this sum
seems very small indeed.
A glance at the results possible with the
completion of this scheme and its effects
on Great Falls is in place.
The 1900 acres covered by the canal
does not all lie in a body, but extends for
miles, being surrounded by hills and
higher bench lands which afford excel
lent pasturage. This will make the
region a favorite for stock growers and
dairy farmers. But if one-third
of the land is cultivated in
wheat, at a low estimate, it would pro-
duce over 1 100000 bushels. Or put it IN
oats or barley and II will yield 1900, 900
bushels. Or if a part were planted in
small fruits and orchards. enough fruit
could be raised to supply the entire
state. These estimates are no wild Wis
IONS, but are based on facts which are
we'll established in parts of the state un-
der like conditions. With this large |
farming region to draw from as a source
Of supply, Great Falls will be benefited |
beyond computation. Her army of men,
n factories and smelters will provide a
good market for all the farmers can
'aise.
The projectors of this enterprise are
certainly to be admired for their fore
light and the pluck displayed in carrying
their plans until they have not only
made a good sum for themselves but have |
made it possible for hundreds of happy
prosperous homes to be built up. "He
Who makes two blades of grass grow
where only n grew before is a bene-
actor of mankind"