The Ravalli Republican. [volume] (Stevensville, Mont.) 1894-1899, 1895-03-27
MONTA%A 10 81: CUT IL THREE.

|
MONTANA 10 BE CUT II THREE.
New Irrigation S!aps Show Nontan:,. Vel
| icTstc,1c and Missouia States.
4 striking scheme for he rcpar'i
tion Of the territory oi tic United
States west of the Missouri river is
seriously put forward By the irriga
tion experts Of the west, Says tho
New York Sun III long article on
the subject. The scheme is fraught
with amazing political and economic
possibilities. 1t is not q wild idea Of
Utopian dreamers or populist cranks,
but the serious business proposition
Of 4 large body Of practical people.
They say that such i repartition as
they proposed Iis essential to the
growth and development Of the great
er part Of the west, and that it must
como some day.
The remedy proposed is to wipe
ont completely the present state and
territory lines, a;}d rcdiVidc the arid
and ub-humid west and southwest
into states with boundaries in accord
with the natural contour Of TIC coun-
try, and with special reference to
the requirements Of irrigation. ScV-
crul schemes Of accomplishing this
have been proposed. One is shown
in a map made by Orren NJ. Donald
son, in recent article in the lrriga-
ton Age. lie says that, Of course:
it is impossible to include the largest
rivers, each in one irrigation district,
or in one state. But With tho cEccp-
tion Of the Missouri, Colorado, lio
Granle, Columbia and ShoShOnc, and
Of two smaller rivers. no other stream
in the irrigation country would, under
this proposed partition, flow from
ore political division into another.
Each river would have its entire
cv,irsc through the arid regions Of the
United States cOnfincd within one
state CT territory. ,!hc Interstate
division of tie five big rivers named
could, he thinks, be very easily ar
ranged.
The plan is odd enough in the dir"
rerant look it puts on the map oi the
United states. It would also make
great changes il tic political affairs
.Of the nation. iii. !>pnole!:iol (; plan
would rive rs states and territories
in place or eighteen that i!oW const!-
tate the western hall q tie country,
'thtts securing to the west its equal
influence with the cast in national
affairs. to which its equal population
sill Give it full title in t!c not Tar
distant tuturc.' There would thea
DC 81 states and territories in the
union. !i'le average population g:
the ncw divisions would bc. he cati-
mates. about $50 Oo0 and the aver
acc size .2,5UU square miles. III"
boundaries are GrG,,'n ;i..a9st WHOLLY
upon latural lines, and areas Of tic
proposed states are practically uni
rorul Practically all the divisions
would be entitled to stnteiln@H. !'ol
'alI the rc;t the map tells the story
i'i!o question Is not leW one viii
IRRIGATION experts, and il !!A, bcny
BROUGHT before congress III sewers,
WA: rs in the last fcW years. As o'1t
wtnc>;, put it to acon@rcs5ion;ll com
nittCr.
1T is we'll known how t;silin;
ground or IL bit Of territory bctWccl
two farms or two states may bccolH'
: Il matter Of bitter contest: but Wha
: will it be between states when d Va,
! system Of agriculture i, in cplltroYci
| .,y::"
{ Tho maj, divides Montana int
: three stAtoS-i< <cllpWsto'lc, ilU'itan
t and Ni;:souln, lilc latter Including
0 large portion o: Washington. Den
t Ocrlt.
, ---------@---e--.--
St;itc University.
u Helena. March 2O--;S5tate board G
education mot tonight in the govern
ors Office and discussed matters cor
corning various state educational j;
~ stitutcns, It was decided to opc
tho state univcrsit; at Missoula
September. y faculty Of four W;
decided upon: a president at 52,5'