The sun., 1898-02-20
RECLAIMING AN EMPIRE.
THE TREMENDOUS IRRIG ATIoy
WORK IN MONTANA.
Canals Begun or In Contemplation which SHAH
BriuE Under Cultivation I, 900. 900 Acres
of tho Finest Land Out OF Doors-An or
the Work Done for Settlers ana Chcap.

OF tho Fincst Land Out OF Doors-An or
the work Done for Settlers aud Cheap.
LIVINGSTON, Mont. Fob. 16-Steps have
begun here that involve the expenditure OF
about $s.o0O00o and the reclamation of 900.
600 acres OF arid lands. every acre of which
must under the agreement, be settled by farm.
ers in tracts of not to exceed 16O acres anil
probably averaging far less. Under the provt.
sions OF the Carey act, appropriating withous
charge 100000 acres Of Government land 10
States that will improve that land by bitches
for irrigation. work begins next month on A
100000 ditch near this city. 1t will follow
what is known as the second bench OF the Vel.
lowstone and will extend twenty five miles A
total Of $4,000 acres will be laid under the
water. Of which 1900 belong to the Northern
Pacific road, the rest to the Government and in.
dividuals. The canal will be fifty miles long
and will be very large affair, twenty feet wide
at the bottom and deep enough to furnish
plenty of water at all times for the irrigation OF
the 2s,0OO acres of now va1ueess land. With
this canal started the State is to commence an.
other. near Big Timber, in Sweet Grass county
where another 100000 is to bc spent and
canal forty-five miles long. to carry $4,000
miners inches Of water, will be constructed.
1t will irrigate $4,000 acres, also one OF the
Yellowstone benches, and Of land as rich as any
In the State.
Besides these two enterprises others arc
planned to make use of the entire 1000 900
acres granted by the General Government, at
an average estimated cost per acre OF -. Tho
funds for this magnificent improvement, which
is expected to add 10000 farmers and their
families to the population of the State, will 10
derived from the sale of irrigation bonds that
are TO be u first lien on the works constructed
and the lands under them and are also to be
guaranteed by the State. Bonds for the first
canal will be negotiated by the successful con.
tractors, S ThS anticipate no trouble in dlsposins
in cash tor the irrigation work touching lanGs
belonging to ii.
There are no engineering difficulties in either
canal SO far planned, except u tunnel 500 feet
long In No. and great siphons under two small
Custer county and No. in the fruit region IN
the northwestern part OF the state. Another
which no more feitile area lies outdoor:. HHl S;l
another. and the most important of all, con.
templates temp ate Laying the entire sun River Valley.
$1,000. 900, retaining $4,000 acres Of rich
Commission will act early in the spring.
1t is not the object Of the State TO make any
been gwen by tie General Goyernmen;. he
state charges up only the actual cost cr the II.
TaEa.ioI TGrk plus 70 per Gent and ees tie
price for these lands of about Sl2 per acre.
which Is very high for uni,nproved lands in tDe
gets not only land. but perpetual righ, to as
much water ne can use, and without further
expense OF any kind, and he has the water de-
hrered al his door the moment he takes pos
session. Nowhere in the world are irrigated
lands, suitable for the raising OF all crops Of a
temperate climate. to be had fo- any such price
as Sl2 an acre.
The conditions for successful agriculture arc
not so favorable anywhere, even in the West,
and highpriced lands in Eastern States are
NOT TO ee thought OF in comparison: ANY fruits
that will grow in Michigan Will flourish in
Mlshisaa's or ohios.,. All ves%Sa65ss and and
grains OF temperate cline flourish. and there
can be no crop failure from drought with an am
PIE supply of water and perfect system Of de-
nvery Three crops per year OF alfalfa can no
raised, and stock can be ranged free nine
months in the year in the uplands above tho
water benches.
A big object lesson In irrigation. perhaps tho
most important So far in the United states,
Is now being completed by the General Govern.
ment al Crow Greek Indian reservation, in
the tide Of the Big Horn is being diverted Tor
the use OF the Indians. A ditch forty-fivc miles
long. skirting the valley and inc1sing about
soOooo acres, Is now nearly completed. It's
ninth on the reservation, all the Others being
less important but covering about 100 mile II
ditchei. A tenth. to reclaim 10000 acres
every Individual in the Grow Nation. man.
woman. and child will have more than MY
acres OF irrigated land and each family wi! be
an independent community. When The w0tE
Tor which Congress makes appropriations =
done, the lands will be allotted in seyc-a!tyfo
me CrowS and the reservation. Il Is believed,
VIII become one OF the garden spots OF the wor.G.
Al The work on these Crow canals except -up
erlntendcnce, masonry and steel gates i heIng
done by Indian labor each man getting Sl"O
per day. The Government. in view OF ITS work
Tor these Indians. has almost suspended the -
suahcc OF rations TO them, and will do 20 en-;
tirely as soon as the canals are completed aad
the lands allotted.