The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-03
BITTER ROOF RIYER.
~BLACKFOOT RIVER.

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The table shows some very interest
ing points. The Missoula river at the
close of the month has less III a
third of the water il had at the begin
ming of the month. and has almost the
same amount the Blackfoot river had
July -, two weeks before. The Bitter
Root river has fallen about as much in
volume as the Missoula, and has less
than a third of the amount It had July
9th, though the last measurement was
made five days before the last on the
Missoula, and i'm those five DAYS the
river tell a half foot. The Blackfoot
has fallen less in proportion to it's first
volume than the other two, and has
two-fifths as much water as on July
:. The second measurement seemed 10
indicate that the Bitter Root was the
most constant of the three, but the
third measurements will be needed be-
fore any definite conclusions can be
drawn.
The table also shows that the waters
Of all three rivers combined at the end
of July are not as much as flowed
through the Bitter Root alone July ..
and hat the waters of the Blackfoot
and Bitter Root rivers combined on
July % are but a trihe i'm excess of the
waters of the Bitter Root alone on July
10, ltSS IMAM Two NfthN btlbTt.
In previous communications i'm re-
gard To these rivers some comparisons
were drawn between the Missoula and
Blackfoot rivers. 1t is will known that
the Missoula river from the mouth %
the Blackfoot up is for a distance called
Hell Gate river. still further up il is
called Deer Lodge river or creek. This
makes needless confusion of terms, and
il is hoped this will be corrected by the
work of the United States geological
now being carried ON in his
region. In these articles the portion
by some designated as He'll Gate river
is called the Missoula. The station on
the Blackfoot river is at the Bonner
bridge. some 500 or 600 yards from the
mouth Of the river. 1t is some eight
miles from this bridge To the railroad
bridge across the Missoula river. where
the readings for this latter river are
Between the mouth of the
Blackfoot and the bridge on the Mis-
soula where the readings are made n
couple Of small bitches carry water out
of the river. and this is about compen-
for. more rather than less. by
the inflow from Rattlesnake creek
Therefore. by deduCting the waters Of
the Blackfoot river from those of the
Missoula we may have the flow of the
y lEEbAld btN = Nlf ilibhNA VI AAl' idNN
foot. \ study of the table shows that
on July 8 the Blackfoot supplied a very
little more than half the water of the
Missoula below its mouth. on July II
almost exactly tWo-tifths. and on July
% two-thirds. These three measure
ments show that the Blackfoot supplies
The greater portion of water for the
Missoula. The total discharge Of the
for the three measurements
is a trihe over 10000 second-feet. OF
the Blackfoot has supplied almost
IL 900 second-feet. the Missoula above
the Blackfoot a trine over 10000. Fur
Their readings of these two rivers viii
studied a~ttentively.
4 number Of persons have asked II
this method of measurement is at all
and if this work is of any
utility. As To the first ques-
ton, IL may he said hat the results
will very closely approximate the flow
of the rivers at the time the measure
ments are taken. The meters used in
taking the Velocities are each tested
and measured accurately. and with a
fairly smooth bottom and not too great
a velocity the outflow will be very close
to the truth. As regards the second
We have but To point To the
thousands Of acres of unused land n
the Missoula valley and to the A.. 900
gallons of water passing through il N
the rivers every second. and the answer
is apparent. With such measurements
we may say positively what can be
done. so far as the water supply is con-
cerned. There are many who look Il
the government for the irrigation Of
land on a large scale. Big companies
have not done for the arid land what
could be done, owing To large salaries
and correspondingly high prices for
water. The co-partnership plan can
not be successful. because of the scare
ity of population and the lack OF funds
on the part Of the small land owners.
The question Of failure 10 agree and
OF management is 10 small item. II
the government is looked 10 for aid Il
must know how much water a region
affords annually before any attempt can
be made at a solution. There are hun
dreds OF ways in which these measure
manfs are NJ Nafna MOI the laast -