The Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1893-1901, 1893-10-30
THE.IRRIGATION PROBLEM.


nifty persons. interested directly IN
directly in the progress of the Miles
City irrigation ditch towards compile
ton. were present, Notwithstanding the
inclemency of the weather, which was
excuse enough for anyone to absent
himself. OF the large number present
not more than half a dozen were stock
holders in the ditch company, the others
being mainly those who own land along
the line OF the ditch, on the successful
operation Of which depends their future
and the maintenance Of a value on their
lands. The chief interest in the meet
ing was developed in regard to the posi-
Dion Of those land owners who we're so
located as to be able to take water from
the ditch. and yet we're not interested in
the enterprise either as stockholders or
or the owners of water rights. Some
weeks ago the JOURNAL called the atten,
ton Of these people to the provisions of
the state law under which the Miles
City ditch was incorporated and is OPP
Grated. which at the time was new to
the writer, and proved to be such also to
the readers. which. in brief, were that
ditch company is not compelled to fur
nish water to persons not stockholders or
owner of water rights. unless there is a
surplus of water after supplying all who
have legal claims upon the company.
This being true. and the present situation
being that the ditch does not now carry
enough water to supply those who have
legal claims upon it. and further that
the company is not in a condition imam
cially to increase its capacity beyond
what may be legally claimed Of it. it fol-
lows that the work of enlarging to be
done this fall will only be t. the extent
of meeting such demands. and that
those who have no legal claim for water
will be denied it next summer, unless
they became stockholders or owners of
water rights. This condition of affairs
was clearly explained to the meeting by
Mr.. Jordan. the president Of the ditch
company, and thereupon the discussion
began. which was carried on by Messrs.
w. n. Haynes. c. +. Kline, A. NJ. Cree.
Thomas Glib. \. Hall, j. S. Truscott.
Towner Savage, S. Gordon. A. Millard,
Mr.. Kircher, H. Weaver and others. In
an informal way the subject was quite
thoroughly discussed. and it appearing
from the drift Of the arguments pre-
sented that the greatest benefit to the
community at large could be most
quickly attained by the sale Of water
rights, a motion prevailed that it was
the sense Of the citizens meeting then
assembled that this policy should be
adopted by the ditch company. This
motion received the unanimous support
Of the meeting, and wal accepted by the
company as expressing a carefully d.
gested opinion.
The citizens meeting then adjourned.
and was followed by a meeting Of the
stockholders of the ditch company. at
which a resolution was passed anthoriz-
ing the trustees to follow out the policy
indicated at the citizens meeting. and
later the trustees held a session and
acted upon the instructions SO far as
possible by appointing a committee con-
sisting of W. n. Haones and NJ. kircher
to call upon everybody interested for the
purpose of SECURING participation in the
benefits to be derived from the ditch.
either by the purchase of water tights or
stock in the ditch.
The situation, as gathered from the
statement made by Supt. Haynes and
others connected with the ditch enter.
prise, is simply this: With a compare.
lively small amount OF work in widening
the canal at points where it chokes now
and retards the flow, it's capacity can be
increased to the volume necessary to
supply all who have legal claims upon it,
and unless the means for more extensive
work is forthcoming. this is all that will
be done this fall, but it is the desire OF
the company to so enlarge the canal this
fall, Tor during next season il a dredge il
used that there will be water for all,
even though every acre tributary to II
should be put under cultivation. This
means an enlargement to four or five
time the present capacity Of the ditch
and such a work can only be undertaken
with money.
1t was suggested by n speaker that
he was willing to put in a team or two
on the work and take his pay in water
which would be all well enough il such
a programme could be made general all
along the line and at the right time. but
it will readily be seen, that in a work Of
such magnitude as is here contemplated
the desultory work Of a team or two here
and there at odd intervals would be Of