The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-06-08
RECLAIM THE LAND
A Beautiful Stretch of Ground Allowed
to Remain Idle.
HOW 1T HAPPENS TO BE SO
With Proper Irrigation This Vast
Area Could Be Made Product
i've of All Kinds of Fruits
and Vegetables.

Missoula, June $50 long ago that
Il has become a matter Of ancient
history. the Canyon Ditch company
was organized and a ditch constructed
which carried sufficient water 20 irri-
gate the entire plain south Of the city.
The projectors OF this scheme were
men who were and are now deeply
interested in the welfare Of the city.
and who saw in the ditch proposition
a means Of making the vast stretch of
land, now idle, an area for orchards
and gardens. and TO make Missoula
the great supply point of the state for
fruits and vegetables. The ditch was
completed almost to the city limits.
and then the city council was asked to
grant a right Of way through the
streets of South Missoula in order that
water might be turned on the land or
the ranches beyond.
An ordinance granting this right OF
way along certain streets was pre-
pared and the aldermen promised to
support IL. Arrangements had been
made TO plant thousands of shade
trees along the avenues across the
river, where they would be nourished
by the water and 1t was predicted that
the suburb across the river would be-
come the finest residence section in the
state. The farmers in the valley be-
low had arranged TO conduct the wa
ter to their fields and gardens. and it
looked as though the expectations of
the ditch promoters would be realized.
But when the ordinance was brought
before the council IL was laid on the
table, and there II has remained ever
since. No good reason was ever given
for this action, and the people who
had looked forward TO the use of this
water were disappointed. The plain
south Of the town. instead of being a
productive area, is still waste land.
and where orchards and gardens
should flourish there is no vegetation
except bunch grass The soil is rich.
but no water is available.
The statement is made now that the
unfortunate era of factional strife
which has effectually stopped the prog
ress of this city is at an end. If that
is true. there should be no obstacle in
the way Of carrying out the plans
which were made years ago by the
builders of the Canyon ditch. The
of dam, such as the
General Electric company proposes to
build, viii once more make IL possible
TO reclaim this arid land. which only
needs water to make IL a marvel of
productiveness. If the dam is built,
there will be a means afforded of get
ting water upon this land. Ii is fool
ish 10 oppose the improvement of this
stretch of plain because IL happens TO
lie south Of the city instead OF east
or west or north Of the town. But il
is believed that there will be no oppo-
sition to such n proposition should IL
come up again. Harmony with a big
III, and reform with a big r. are the
notices that are now hung upon the |
wall
The Standard has received from Rev.
George $. Stewart some figures which |
show how much can be done in this di- |
rection by comparatively small out
lay. Mr.. Stewart has outlined a vast |
irrigating system which will cover the |
entire arid district of the Missoula val |
ley by means OF storage and distrib- |
uting reservoirs. He proposes to put |
AZ the water level of the new dam a |
Menge pump. which is now in use In |
many irrigating systems This pumn |
viii lift during "a hours 100, 1000. 900 gal |
Ions of water TO height of 25 feet. BY |
pumping this amount of water into a |
ditch II could be distributed all over |
the valley by taking advantage of nat
ural waterways and dry runs. The
whole valley from Missoula to French |
town and DeSniet could be thoroughly |
irrigated II reservoirs, fed by this main /
ditch, were placed at commanding
points through the valley. If neces- |
sary, secondary pumps could be placed |
At one or two stations.
The plan which Mr.. Stewart has out
lined Is an extensive and elaborate one.
out II seems. withal, thoroughly prac-
-ical II would not be necessary, how
aVer, 10 construct the entire system at /
lnce. There could be built ditch suf-
ieient 10 irrigate the land south of the
'ity. This would demonstrate the
1racticability Of the scheme and would
cad 10 an expansion OF the system
lntil the whole Misoula valley is a gar
len.
Missoula commission men are novv
shipping fresh vegetables TO the Mon
ana market points. The demand for
.iisoula products is always greater
han the supply. With the land ada
ent TO the city under cultivation this
ity would become the source of sup
ny Tor the entire state and prosperity
would reign here.