Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-02-04
IRRIGATION IN MONTANA
Report of T. II. Newell of the United States
Geological Survey.
Facts Concerning Irrigation in Fergus County
and Montana in General.

Facts Concerning Irrigation in Fergus County
and Montana in General.
We are in receipt from It. H. Newell,
OF the United States general survey,
his report on Irrigation in Montana"
contained in Census Bulletin No. 153.
The following extracts relating to the
state in general and to Fergus county
in particular will prove of interest.
The statistics were collected in 1890:
In Montana crops were raised by ir-
rigation in the census year ending
May 81, 1890, on $50, $50 acres. In
addition to this approximately 217,-
600 acres were irrigated for grazing
purposes. In this bulletin crop acre
age only is given. The aggregate num-
Der of farms in Montana on June L,
1890, was 1864, and of these 3,7O6,
or about two-thirds, contained irri-
gated areas, the remaining third being
stock ranches upon which no irriga-
ton was practiced. The total crop
area irrigated or these 3,7O6 farms
was only % per cent of the total area
OF lands owned by the irrigators.
The average size of the irrigated
farms, or rather of Irrigated portions
OF farms on which crops were raised,
was IS acres. Using the word ''farm"
to include only those areas upon
which crops were raised, h following
classification has been made: 30 irri-
IL - - A .--za -. aI
l23 of from 800 to $40 acres, and
42l of from 16O to 800 acres. These
$40 farms contained an average OF
BOT acres each, and had a total area
of 1858 acres, or a tritie over one
half of the entire amount watered in
the state. The remaining 3,13O farms
under 160 acres in size comprised
nearly so per cent Of the total irri-
gated area, and averaged So acres
each.
The average first cost OF bringing
water to the land throughout the
state is estimated from the statement
of the farmers to have been S4.63 per
acre, ranging by counties from 50 per
acre up to SIT per acre. The average
selling value placed by the irrigators
upon their water rights is $15.04 per
acre. This is the price which the
water rights, if transferable without
the land, might be expected to bring
per acre. The average annual expense
of water rental or of maintaining the
bitches, of repairing breaks in the
headworks or main ditch, and of
cleaning out the sediment, wherever
this is deposited, as estimated by the
farmers, is 95 cents per acre, the aver
ages from the different counties rang
ing from 43 cents to $3.O7. Deduct
ing the average annual expense for
water, % cents per acre, from the av-
erage annual value OF productions,
which was S12.96 per acre., it appears
that the average annual return per
acre is S12.O1.
FERGUS COUNTY.
On the west are the Little Belt noun
tains, and near the center OF the
county is the Snowy range, whose sum-
mits rise to attitudes OF over 5000
feet. To the north of these lie the
Judith mountains, rising to heights OF
5000 and 5000 feet. These ranges
divide the county into two topo-
graphic basins, that OF the Judith
river on the northwest, and that OF
the tributaries of the Musselshell on
the south and east. The melting snow
from the lofty ranges gives rise to
many small streams, which finally
unite into one or the other OF these
two drainage systems. The county is
comparatively well watered, contain
ing as it does a large number of creeks,
each of which can be easily and cheaply
used for irrigation. There are thus
many small bitches owned by individu-
ais, and few, If any, corporations or
associations of irrigators.
The drainage basin of the Judith
river is partially surrounded by high
mountains, upon the slopes of which
is excellent summer grazing. Ranch
men have taken up a great part OF the
land along the stream, and have con-
structed small irrigating bitches for
the purpose of raising winter feed.
The majority of the farmers had little
means, and the bitches were built in
the cheapest possible n as tenn
porary expedients. Greater economy
of water would be attained by the
construction of one well-made canal
to take the place OF a number OF these
small bitches. Already on many of
the tributaries of the Judith river
more bitches have been constructed
than can be supplied with water dur
ing a part OF the crop season, and
the irrigators on the lower parts
OF these streams have been unable to
sufficient water to save their
The discharge of the Judith
river itself during the SUMMER is very
small, from the fact that many OF the
streams are evaporated
from the sandy channels, or are en-
tirely used in irrigation.
Land is still being brought under
by new settlers, although
the water rights OF the older inhabit-
remain unprotected, and appar-
emily a condition of affairs will ensue
i'm which the irrigators at the head
waters will be the only one who can
be sure of his crops. The snow melts
rapidly ON the lower SUBMITS and
flows away in May and June, the
streams becoming very small in July
and August, so that it will be neces-
sary to store the water, which is not
needed in the spring, for a few weeks
only.
During years of unusual rainfall
crops are raised in the Judith basin
without irrigation. For example, in
1887 and 1855 large crops OF cereals
were raised in many instances in this
manner. In 1889, however, nearly all
the crops on non-irrigated land were
lost, and owing to the scarcity OF
water in the streams the yield on
lands under ditch was in many cases
small. In 1890 also the SHOWS were
light and the results were disappoint-
ing. Many of the ranches were taken
up originally after years of abundant
rainfall, when the old grass was thick
and heavy, and there was every indi-
cation that crops could be raised
without the artificial application OF
water. Unfortunately it has been
found that this can not be done in
most