The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-12

Companies.
water Under the Ditches Two Dollar par
Inch per Annnm-Yicld and Price
OF Products.
In the irrigation convention on Saturday,
when the timc came for reports from tho
different counties on the state OF irrigation
within their borders, @. A. Gregory, OF boze-
man. was chosen by the Gallatin county
delegates to report for their county DO
said:
"Gentlsmen of the convention, you have
heard many interesting reports and now
you may not wish to listen to any more. I
would be uncomfortable to be found speak
inp to an unwilling audience"
Cries of HGo on, go n l.. 'Gallatlh
~eounty!'' were heard, and he continued;
/ will give you an honest summary result
Of observation and inquiry as to irrigation
ana agriculture in the Gallatin valley in
Montana. I despair to give you perfect
figures, but / will at least avoid the error OF
overstatement, even to crafty the PRIDE OF
this valley, rich enough and prosperous
enough as it il, whom fairly stated.
The mileage of private farm dltches IN
the Gallatin valley. i. O., the cultlvable
portion OF Gallatin county, Mont, 1t would
bs exceedingly difficult to give. Some at
tamnt. however, must be made in order
that a stranger to the situation may form a
tolerably correct idea Of the extent OF If
rigation in this locality.
Hundreds of miles of private farm
bitches exist; these come out Of some
twenty or more creeks and streams, includ-
ing the East Gallatin rivera small feeder
TO the West uallatin, which latter is q
strong mountain stream of heavy fall to
the mile, and Of large capacity OF Howags,
whioh T will state later on: so that portions
Of more than q dozen townships are sup
Piled, moro or less, with irrigation faoili-
ties, and some thoroughly. This valley, SO
far az the cultivable area is concerned.
NAV be roughly said to be four townships
wide by five townships long. allowing great
~sinuosity on the marginal exteriors, mainly
slopinp with undulations from south to
north, with counter slopes from the cir
cumference; everywhere surrounded by
mountainous country, which is lndented
with deep cuts or canyons on the eastefly
and southerly borders, from which issue
permanently flowing streams: From all
those streams except the West Galiatln
river every drop of water is con
yate farm bitches, and utilized for
irrigation. From the West. Gallatln river,
also. many bitches are taken for farm use;
from this river alone are taken out tho
three large canals owned by incorporated
companies, named in order OF time OF con
struetion. the Gallatin Canal company. the
West Gallatin Irrigation company. and the
Excelsior Canal company.
Nv far the greater part of the water of
this river runs to waste; it is many times in
its fowage the volume of all the water
taken into its tapping bitches.
valley, from which conserved waters are
drawn. Up tbs Bozeman canyon, there is
Mystic lake, some fourteen miles from
Bozeman, some 1000 feet in height above
this valley, where q dana TWENTY-FIVE feet
high is being built now to hold back water,
to DO ran down the natural channel OF great
and rapid fall, and then to be drawn OF
into bitches for foothill and bench-land
irrigation. The capacity of this pond may
be understood from its size, about one mile
long by one-half mile wide, and great depth
may be secured.
The only land companies are the Manhat-
tan Mailing company and the West Gallatln
Irrigation company, the latter constructing
a large canal to supply water TO its own
lands, and grantees of it's land, and still
owning some 25, 900 acres; the former OWL
ing 100 acres in townsite at Manhattan and
some 10000 acres for it's own farming pur-
poses, mainly for the cultivation of barley.
The Gallatin Canal company's ditch Is
twenty miles long; cost said to be about
$50, O0D; built about thres years ago; taken
out of the east eide of the West Gallatin
river, we'll up to the canyon; carries about
5000 inches, it is said; built with inexpen-
sive headgate and wing sieve dam of nc
great cost.
The Excelsior Canal company's ditch is
twelve miles long; built in 1890-91; cost
about $4,000, as estimated, and built by
svndicate Of farm owners under it. supply.
ING water to its stockholders only; carries
about s, 600 inches, it is stated; built witt
slight structure of h%eadgate, and no dam.
The largest and most costly canal ia tina
of the West Gallatln Irrigation company
constructed 189O-91, and at present some
twenty-four miles in length, on a high line
to cover bench lands; taken out of the west
side of the West Gallatin river; still il
process Of extension in length,
L~ocation.-The canal is taken out of the
West Gallatin river near the center of Sec
20 3S 4E.. Montana, and runs through SEQ
tions 2S,2 81, 16, land 4 in 3S4E. and through
sections SO, 81, 81, 20, q, 90, 16, II, 20, L
and 18 in rs AZ, ending near the center O:
Sec. IS, IS 4E., about twenty-four mile
from its head. A plat and profile of thu
canal shows it to be very crooked, and thu
ground is more tortuous than the plat, be
cause there are many short and sharp turn
that could not be shown on a plat of small
scale. This was necessary IN following tn
contour of such a rough and broken coun
try as most of the canal is built over, whic,
is a succession of long ridges and dee
gulches, pointing in a general directio,
toward the northwest.
5 Dimensions. Canal is finished t
twenty-four miles. The first 300 feet froI
the head is twenty-four feet on the bottom
and from there to the twenty-third mile
narrowed to fourteen feet on the bottom
but widens in many places to sixteen an
eighteen feet. Tho narrowest place on tn
bottom anywhere in the whole twenty an
a half miles are full fourteen feet at tn
twenty-three and and a quarter miles frol
the head, and the next three miles is wide
and shallower, but is intended to carry tn
same amount of water as the rest of til
ditch.
Grade.-ls constructed on q fall of Gle
to 100 feet, or three feet to a mile, excel
the first 1,300 feet below the bend has a ia
of two and Il half feet IN the 1,30O feet, c
over ten feet to q mile.
nlopes.-Are one to one, except in soil
rock. where is is one half to one.
Banks.-Are from five to eight feet his
above the bottom of the canal, and q
from twenty-five to forty-five feet wide
their base, solid and firm. and slopes even
m both aiAas. All the earth and rock FRI