The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-31
Remaining Pub
| lie Lands.
States and Territories.

Expert Newell makes elaborate COM
ment on conditions in the various
states. Second to California in size, Of
the public land states, Montana has
still four-fifths of her area in public
lands of the general government. The
total available water supply of the
state is estimated to be sufficient for
about 100000 acres" Mr.. Newell
says. "a little more than has already
been disposed of by the government.
IT is probable that in the aggregate no
very considerable acreage of the land
now vacant can be brought under irri-
cation without taking the waters which
could be used on private lands, unless
large projects, such as those involving
the use OF the waters of the Missouri
and of the Yellowstone are under
taken. Both of these carry large vol
umes of water, the summer discharge
of each being probably not less than
5000 cubic feet per second. They are
bordered for the greater part of their
distance by bluffs. and, although there
are considerable tracts of lowlands ly-
ing in long strips, first on one side and
then ON the other. yet the great body
of rich. undulating plain is at an ele-
walton of several hundred feet above
the water level. Each of these rivers
has a considerable fall, and Ii is posi-
BILE, by means of long canals starting
well up stream. to wind about along
the faces of the bluffs and finally bring
the waters out upon the broad lands.
Reconnaissance has shown that, al
though the engineering features are not
insurmountable, the expense of such
irrigation will probably be so great and
the prospect of immediate returns so
small that the attempt should not be
seriously considered at the present
time"
The vacant lands of Idaho-nearly
5000 square miles-form nearly nine
tenths of its total area. The great mass
of them untouched by settlement lies
in the almost UNEMPLOYED mountains in
the central and northeastern. parts of
the state On the great lava beds of the
Snake. also, are many miles of vacant
land, the soil, though fertile, being too
dry to attract the pioneer. Along the
northwestern edge, adjacent to Eastern
Washington. the cultivation of cereals
by dry farming is successful; and in the
valleys of the Weiser. Payette and
Boise many irrigating systems have
been constructed, carrying waters TO
the farms on the benches and lowlands.
There is still a surplus of supply, and
the area thus cultivated can be extend
ed, although IL is probable that the
lands now in private ownership will de-
mand all of the water easily obtaina-
BILE. Considerable areas of vacant
pubic lanu, MT. newell says, can
probably be watered by large canals
heading on the Snake river near or be-
low Idaho Falls. and small tracts can
doubtless be made valuable by the con-
struction OF storage reservoirs, as, for
example, in the vicinity of Mountain
Home, have been built and are in sue
cessful operation. the relatively low al
titude and genial climate rendering
possible the production of prunes and
similar plants"
The vacant public lands of Wyoming
cover IS per cent, and the Indian and
forest reservations s per cent of the to-
tai area of the state. THE state as a
whole" says Mr.. Newell, lis notable for
its large water supply. several of the
important rivers Of the arid region
having their origin within it's bound
aries. The development and utilization
of these sources of water supply have
proceeded slowly, and the state, as a
whole, owing to its high altitude. has
been considered as chiefly adapted to