The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-10
IS NOT SMOOTH SAILING,
Considerable Opposition Shown ia
tho Huffman State Water
Commission Bill.
It Came UP for Discussion Before
the Irrigation Convention
Yesterday.
AL OF tho Counties Wore Repressnted
Except Dawson, Fergus aud
Silver Bow.

All OF thu Counties Were represented,
Except Dawson, Fergus aud
Silver Bow.
The state irrigation convention Was
called 10 order yesterday at IL =. M. In the
Board Of Trade rooms by IL. r. Rolfe. Of
Great Falls. chairman Of the executive
committee appointed by the hrst irrigation
convention which was called by Ex-Gov.
Toole. About sixty delegates were present.
The oounties not represented were Dawson,
Fergus and Silver Bow. Mayor Curtin. Of
Helena. Welcomed she delegates in tho fol-
lowing address:
Gentlemen of the Irrigation Convention:
This convention 10 opportune. conRratu-
late You upon the tims. place and purpose Of
your meeting. No subject 10 engaging the
public mind more and lone deserves moro
considsrats' and thorough attention than
the question of irrigation. Every msn of
experience or observation in this state ap-
preoiatss the great possibilities that await
a we'll directed and comprehensive system
of irrigation. Various and divergent views
are presented as to the manner of accom-
plishinR the most beneficial results. Should
the state. under the constitutional provis-
ion declaring tho use of water to be "a
public use." assume to regulate and con-
troll that use, or shall the whole matter DO
lsfS TO individual or corporate control?
"Your convention 10 composed Of gentle
NOR possessing . wide range of learning.
supplemented by close observation and OK
p~erisnos OF all that relates TO = proper solu-
ton Of the questions submitted to yeur
consideration and discussion. and ] have
nc doubt that the conclusions you reach
will 90 far towards moulding public ssnti-
msnt and shaping legislation In the right
direction.
"You will find that quite a number of the
citizens of Helena have been active and
garment in pressing the irrigation question
upon the attention of the people, conscious
that a speedy and proper solution Of II will
result in great and permanent prosperity to
tho whole state.
"Omittins any suggestions at this time a.
to the proper methods to be adopted or
recommended. and assuring you that no
community in the state feels a livslier in
tsrest in the result Of your elaboration. l
extend you q most cordial Welcome to
Helena"
Gov. RiokardG sent q letter expressing his
regret at his inability TO be present. Com
mittees on credentials and permanent or
Ranization and order Of business were ap-
pointed, and the convention took a recess
until two .. m, when the committees rs-
ported. The convention adopted the re-
port of the committee recommending the
following permanent officers aud an order Of
BUSINESS President. II: r. Rolfs, of Gas
cade; secretary, s. b. Robbins, of Cascade;
w. II. Sutherlin, of Msagher.
After some preliminary discussion on the
subject OF irrigation generally and the
reading of paper on the subject by John
M. Robinson. of Gallatin, the roll Of the
Of irrigation in each. None of the
delegates were prepared to make
reports in detail such AZ we're published
last year in the proceedings of the first con-
%vention. but it seemed to be generally I'M
derstood that the gentlemen appointed
from each county on this question would
submit reports later which will be
incorporated in the proceedings of
the convention. Informally. Cascade
county reported lots Of dry bitches. l. ID.
lots of water in his section, but what was
wanted now principally was moro ditohes.
and the farmers would like to own the big
ones. Crops had been very successful the
past season. The coded portion of the
Grow reservation recently thrown open to
for the small farmer who would raise
chickens, fruits, hogs and such pro-
ducts. Helena. Bate and other towns which
now import their articles of consun ton
by the thousands Of tons would give the
small holder of land a ready market for the
products OF his farm. DR.. G. c. Swallow
said this was just what Montana needed;
men who would be content with 1G0 acres;
We don't want the big farmers. Fred
Whiteside, of Missoula, echoed these views.
be provided. and then it would be time
enough to invite the small farmer to Quilt
vats tho land.
Some startling facts were brought to
light by G. H.. Wight. of Cascade, as to
the amount of money paid ont by the poo
pie Of that county for food brought into the
state thht,Mr. Wright said should be pro-
dooed here. The figures were prepared by
the Great Falls board of trade for the
farmers' convention r~ecently held at that
place. Mr.. Wight said that the importa-
amounted to $400. 900. OF this amount
$25, 900 went for eggs and $40. 900 for butter.
he did not know what the fGut es we're fof
Helena. Butte and other towns but he was
sure that the total for the state must be
tana: The hope OF the state il irrigstion,
and by 1t the drain can be stopped.
What Is probably news to most of the
people of Helena is furnished by Major
Anderson. of the Gallatin county delegation.
and oorroborated by j. Nj. Robinson, of the
- 1"A@ sso ~ =
the Gallatin county farme 9 was that they
could not always dispose of all their pro-
ducts. There was = prejudice against flour
made there, although enough was turned
out BY the mills to feed half of the popula-
ton of Montana.
Tho mills had tried to sell their -four in
Helena and Butte but with Indifferent snc.
cess especially in the cal itnl city. lilo
mlllers however got a ound this difficulty
by placing the Montana flour in Minnesots
sacks and no one complained. All the
eggs, bacon and chickens raised in tho Gal
latin valley were consumed there. The
only thing they export d was the barley
which has been pronounced to be superior
to any other raised in the United States.
Peter Winnie. of Helena. told tho dele
gates about his experience in Colorado, a
state which had zone all through what
Montann is now dealing with. He had
seen Denver grow from a small place until
it reached a opu alton with a paw roll of
II, 900 mechanic. All the difficulties had
been overcome by patience. and 30 it will
be with Montana. Referring to the preju-
dice against Montana -four. he said he
thought perhaps it was NOT made light. He
had sampled some himself which was not