The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-08
THE IRRIGATION PROBLEM
A Bozeman Man Discusses the Sub
ject as a Matter Of State
Interest
An Argument that Older Com
munities Should Aid to De-
velop New Ones.
Captain Taylor Calls for Prompt Action
by the Legislature to Protect
Game and Fish.

Game and Fish.
To The independent.
1t is an encouraging feature that men 80
capable as Mr.. Shuart take sufficient inter
est in the proposed scheme of stste-aided
irrigation TO show up the objectionable
points in the Hoffman bill, snd is is only by
obtaining the views of those who make .
study OF conditions that anything like per-
feotion in legislation can be reached. Is 10
a very easy matter 30 draft laws relative to
ths ordinary subjects of legislation. because
landmarks are numerous, but in the case in
question We are travelling Il new road with
no defined tracks to guide US.
The irst departure from the Spanish law
Of appropriation is the Wright bill OF Cali
fornia, in many respects confessedly An Inn
perfect measure. This Hoffman bill differs
only In pled9ing the credit of the state
divided in two departments Gin order 10
avoid constitutional restrlctions) TO raise
funds for canal construction with the
belief that smaller districts may subse-
GU ntly become sufficiently populated, (by
reason of the canals being built) Il shall
acquire sufficient accumulated wealth,
on which nu issue of local bonds
may be based. large enough
80 buy the completed can ais
given the larger districts, and reimburse
them for the original outlay. This is sub
~stantially the Wright bill in the final ter
mination, but it provides intermediary
for the loan of tho credit of the settled por.
49,. - ~. -A.A~ - a-.AI> 49, -,aaJnl
portions to even up and make a growth OF
population. The theory of the bill is that
the canals will soon be self supporting and
that the guarantors SO to speak OF the de-
partment bonds will not be called upon to
meet any actual liability. In effect the
cities OF Helena, Butte, Bozeman, Great
Falls. MissoulA and other oommunitiss,
possessing means and credit say to the land
owners and residents of the agricultural
valleys, 1--WE have by mining, stock iaising
and other ventures not dependent ON irri-
CATION accumulated large wealth, which en-
of interest. 1t is essential to our future
growth that the agricultural resources OF
the state be developed. We realize that
this il q matter difficult to accomplish
without the assurance OF water for ir-
riQation, and water can only be OBJ
tanned by an outlay SO great shat
private capital can be enlisted only
by promise of large returns. You cannot
organize small districts las undsr the
Wright billy and sell your bonds, because
you have no basis of credit. II you should
auceeed in inducing capitalists to build
canals you place a yoke on your necks for
years to come. and if you should succeed
after organization, in selling bonds at all.
it would be at such q high rate Of interest,"
rs to confiseate in advance much Of the
fruits of your industry. The increase in
growth of our cities will be slow unless We
stimulate in some manner the productive
energies of the people. to do which we are
this because We know VI will largely ben
eft eventually by the proceeding. We
know that it will encourage railroad sxten-
sions, assist in developing mines. and help
stock raising by afordlnR ample supplies of
food"
Such language is merely a proposition by
the heart to send blood to the e1trsmities
for the nourishment of the whole body.
Now. Mr.. Editor, this seems to me not only
. measure OF wise statesmanship, but of
business e1psdisnoy, of which We have no
better illustration than the building by the
state of New York of the Erie canal through
an issue of bonds based upon the entire
wealth of the state. This canal and moth
ing else put New York in the front AMI of
population and wealth and advanced its
chief seaport to be one OF the great cities of
the world. When we see now in the light
of results the influence of the great achieve.
ment, how small do the adverse arguments
become. The Erie canal has paid in tolls
many times its original cost. and now "a a
regulator Of freight Ia worth hundreds of
millions to the producers Of the west. The
state Of New York at that time was poor
and sparssly settled. The sections remote
from the canal apparently had good cause
x~H ~. te- n-l r- -. -l1lA@ L.
man. Dewitt Clinton. for the magnificent
result. This is not q time in Montana for
narrow measures.
We know we have in natural resources
the Rrandest country in the world, but re-
sources are nothing without population to
develop them. Land capable of raising
forty bushels OF wheat to the acre is no bet
ter shan the sandy desert unless cultivated:
that it will be cultivated is certain, but will
it come IN time to do the present residents
any good? Nj. Shuart's able article dwells
upon the ownership by the government and
railroad of much OF the land likely to be
improved. 1t would seem to me a matter Of
no iIn Importance who owns tho land. or who
benefits by the Improvement, provided onlv
that they become settled. If government
land. 1t IN open to homestead entry, and
that belonging to the raj road would be put
upon the market at prices to be sold. The
railroad would have TO pay taxes and Ia en-
'sAoN AZ AeN" " bho bIiIEhN- ho EiGhI-
est Encouragement to private investments
IN canals is that there Is not sufficient land
developed nor sufficient capital or facilities
ut hand to secure the needed occupants.
AS to cost, the estimate of $40 per acre for
water development is usually considered
ample. If the state appro riats ten mil
lions of dollars il could develope LOCO. 900
acres of land, and the knowledge becoming
common IN eastern states that such a body
OF land was open for settlement would
draw MANY immigrants. Great Falls re-
quires for its future advancement tho de-
velopment of the Sun River valley. Booze
man will quickly double its population if
the Gsllatln was fully utilized. and the
same may be said of Butte, MisAoula,
Townsend, Billings, GIendiye, Miles City
and other communities, each with its trib-
utarY. ihe way to create wealth il to
stimulate activity in useful directions. and
no debt to bring 1t about Is a burden be-
cause always Belf-sustsinlng.
ENTERPRISE.
Bozeinau, Feb. +.
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