The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-01-30

the bluffs bounding the river back to
the mountains, are locally known as
''bench lands"
The effect of these characteristic bench
lands upon the agricultural development
Of the country is at once apparent. The
settlers have from necessity occupied the
low bottom lands along the streams and
have taken out the water wherever pos
siblc to cover these narrow areas while
the broad, level bench lands (the rich de-
posits from ancient lakes, now cut and
gashed by every stream) rise high above
the flowing water and usually defy all
individual efforts to bring the water up
on their rarched surfaces. Much of this
land on the top of the benches is OF
wonderful fertility.
Montana is the most nOrtherly state
Of the arid region, and thus probably,
taking all things into considerations, the
agricultural land requires as a whole
less water than that Of any other state.
although it may actually receive as much
or more. In fact, in the northwestern
part of the state crops are often raised
without irrigation, the rainfall in Ordi-
nary seasons being sufficient for all needs.
Many of the bottom lands, and even the
benches when not irrigated, yield in ia
vorabln years from one-half ton to one
ton Of hay per acre, this quantity, how
ever, being increased several fold where
irrigation is practiced. Some of the
! stock ~raisers state that hay raised
without the artificial applica-
ton Of water. though less in
quantity, is much better IN quality, from
the fact that irrigation destroys certain
OF the valuable native grasses. In many
parts OF the state the rainfall is usually
sufficient to bring the crops almost to
maturity and often only n watering is
required.
WATER suppl
Stream measurements have been well
distributed over the state, and rivers
have been studied at points where the
results might be of the greatest value in
the future development. A few of these
results may be mentioned as showing
the water resources of the state and the
regimen of the rivers. The results of all
measurements are given in second feet,
or cubic feet per second, since this is a
definite unit and the one recognized by
| all engineers. Tho second foot is a
| quantity Of water equivalent to a stream
| foot wide, flowing at the average rate
| OF l foot per second. One second foot
flowing for ono day will cover an acre
with two feet Of water. Passing owe
measurements Of mere local Importance,
it is interesting to note the
measurements of the Missouri river at
Craig, a point about forty miles
, north of Helena. Here the maximum
for the past two years was 1880 second
feet, the mini 8 um about 1,7OO second
feet, and the mean Ais second-feet or
for a year 3,412,737 acre-feet. This water
flowed from a drainage area of 17,615
! square miles, and would cover this area
to a depth of SO inches. An agricul-
turally important tributary of the Mis-
souri, is the Sun river, which flows into
it at Great Falls after passing through a
, portion of the northern plains. Measure
| ments were made Of the supply in this
river 10 miles above Augusta, showing
| that the maximum for 1890 was 4,085
second feet, the minimum 1GO second
feet, and the mean tbs second feet.
Especial interest attaches to this stream
from the fact that a number of expensive
| canals have been built to take water
from it, their aggregate capacity, or