The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-01-26
THURSDAY. January Is. ls.s;.
>ytIf, IRRITATION.

fioH. ihtiotiucfb b htHitSeiithti''
Huffman of Custer county in the house.
is a measure of such vast Importance 10
the state and involving ST. much thai is
new 10 almost everybody Ghatwholesome
Of it by those VINO feel them
selves competent. is undoubtedly desired
by all who feel that some measure akin
~ this mus, he adopted 1T this session.
As IA large amount of the Wnrs. provided
for by the bill will be done in Custer
county. and with the intention ot hav
ing all who may haze ideas on the sub.
ject made acquainted with what it is
proposed 10 do. We have carefully ai-
OF the original. have aimed 10
present to our ~rea,irrs in concise and in
telligent form jus what the bill propns
es to enact.
departments 10y the main range of the
Rockies. The governor To appoint two
commissioners for each department.
these four to compose the State Water
Aoul1liisSiJIi. AiitSt appointments "
not made. However. until the depart
ments havr separately voted or the
proposition to issue bonds for the con
struction If canals. bitches. dams. reser-
voirs and other public irrigation works.
These elections are to be called in each
department within sixty lays after the
passage of the act. and If carried the
governor will then appoint the commits
siOners. who must be of different politi-
cal parties in each department. and who
serve for two years at a salary of $1,000
per year Department No. /. east of the
mountains. is authorized to bond for
s6.M0.0o0. and department No. :, west
side. for s4.oo0.GGo. bonds to rua not less
than twenty nor more han fifty years. 70
bean interest at FIVE per cent, and not to
he sold at less than par.
The act declares that all bodies of
water within the boundaries Of each lie
partment Shall hc the property of such
department. and subject tn the eyclu-
siye control of the State Water Con-
mission. Tie employment Of a state
engineer is provided for who shall sur
yey and prepare plans for the cons'ruc-
ton of the various classes Of work men
toned.
All canals. reservoirs and othc" de
partment or distric: property for the
construction or repair of which bonds
]. ma, have been issued are ir~resocablv
pledged for the payment Of the principal
and interest thereof: provided the Issue
Of bonds in any one department shalinot
have exceeded s5t0.ero per year Ecr the
first two yeafs. and no furtaer issie
shall be auinprcd except by IL vote Of
the people. All qualified voters may
vote at these elections without new req
istry. Proceeds III bonds 10 ba deposit
ed with state treasurer. subject Ia the
check Of State Water Commission.
Each commissioner gives d bond in the
sum of S51.ean. After the sale ri bonds
and a.pu.it If proceeds Us above. the
commission may enter into contracts for
construction Of canals. bitches. etc. Al!
work exceeding e1.ase in value except
emergency repairs 10 lie advertised and
let ia the lowest responsible bidder.
The commission may under existing
laws condemn canals. fumes. bitches,
right Of way. water rights. sites for reg
eryoifs and dam sites. but wherever a
private water 81 ditch right * so con
3,,., ,nJ .,1-,, -. ,,,.s,, -F.il
return to the owner an demand. through
the public ditch. the quantity of water
to which such owner shall show himself
to be entitled. i'm which ease the owner
shall be entitled 10 no damage. but his
right to the water shall he perpetual and
free of toll charges.
As the work progresses the depart
ments are 10 be sub-divided into districts
and after the completion IF the work in
any district. or enough Of it to justify
the distribution Of water the commits
sion is required toappoint asuperintsnd
ent for such district. whose duty il
will be to keep the works i'm repair. reg
ulate the supply of water. and generally
to execute the orders and enforce the
rules adopted by the commission.
Taxation is provided for much in the
same way that the special stock taxes
are now collected in this state. The
county assessor prepares a complete roll
Ut the taxable property in this county
and forwards it to the state water com
mission who establish a rate of tax for
each department This is collected with
other taxes by the county treasurer. but
is RENTED direct To the state treasurer
who places it to the credit Of the state
water commission. 10 be used in he
payment of the annual interest on the
bonds and the nHcsa expenses 81