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

Au ollOldl, prominent Ill NOTlHeTI
Pacific management, was recently asked
why his road did not advertise the adj
vantages of Montana as an agricultural
state, and the reply was: "Do you sup
pose we are going to bring farmers tc
Montana to starve? If your people will
provide sufficient irrigation for the land
we will bring in $4,000 immigrants every
year"
Such is tie situation tersely stated. 1t
is evident that water must precede set
Element. Some system must be devised
that will procure the funds and proceed
at once with the work. The
impression. is gaining ground with
many persons that it is the
office of the state to assume the I'M
d%ertaking, because it can obtain the
means in any amount and at the lowest
rate of interest. Again, it can employ
the services of the most expert irriga-
ton engineers and proceed more syste-
matlcally and comprehensively to exc.
cute the plans laid out.
The argument is that any debt in
CURED would merely be a temporary
charge upon the state as the tolls would
oon make the investment more than
self sustaining, and when each district
became sufficiently settled to justify an
issue of bonds secured upon the local
canal and lands under water, a full re-
endorsement could be made to the state.
with ownership and control henceforth
directly in the hands of the water users
In effect the plan contemplates the
loan of the states credit to bridge over
a short i~nterregnum while the immi-
grants are being brought in and located.
1t possesses the great advantages of
preserving the water and all profits to
be derived therefrom for the use and
benefit forever of the people themselves.
1t is expected that a small addition to
the usual annual charge for the use of
water would provide a sinking fund
which would eventually %extinguish the
bonds and leave supplies thereafter free
for all time.
Any advantage accruing from such a
result would operate to largely enhance
the value of the lands to which the free
right attached and provide in the way
of increased assessments a basis fol-
handsome future for state and
county purposes.
Without charging upon details, advo.
Gates of state aid believe that the organ.
ization by the Legislature OF an lrriga,
ton board with power to expend ten
millions of dollars to be raised as needed
by sale of state bonds, the commits
sioners wonld be justified in undertake
ing simultaneously the development OF
irrigatlng facilities in the valley of the
Yellowstone, Missouri, Smith, Muscle
she'll, Sun, Boulder and Beaverhead
rivers east of the range, and the Deer
Lodge, Bitter Root, and many others in
the west. The Inauguration and prose,
cution of the work would, it is claimed
double the population within three
years of every city and town under the
influence of the improvement and so en-.
nance property values that the increase
of taxes would meet the entire annua,
interest charge imposed by the bono
issue, even were no tolls collected.
Here is a question that should have
discussion.
While Helena has no territory imme-
diately tributary likely to be selected
for improvement, her citizens would 70
joice greatly if neighboring communities
received any accession Of population OF
additions to her financial resources by
reason of a liberal policy of state aid.