The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-10
SALVATION FOR CROPS
Irrigation Season in the Gallatin
Valley.
A GOOD YEAR FOR GRAIN
rne Fall Wheat Crop Was Somewhat a
Failure-The Season Promises to
Be Dry One-A Drought
Feared.

special Correspondence of the Standard.
Bozeman, July S.-The Fourth of July
usually ushers in the irrigation season,
ana as soon as the hired man gets
pack from celebrating the national
holiday the head gates are opened and
the waters from the various canals,
streams and rivers In the county of
Gallatin are diverted into the thou
sands of irrigating lateral and side
bitches. Through these bitches flow
the water which is the salvation of the
various crops; and as 1t is distributed
over the ground by the lateral and side
bitches at the will of the irrigator the
land seems to give forth renewed
strength. while the wheat ana be REV
ana oats appear to grow as one looks
q them. Though there is a great deal
OF rail- wheat land in the Gail attn which
does not need water, and for which
nature has provided no means Of GET
ing 1t, but upon which ground some
OF the famous crops of 1896 and other
great crop years were grown. vet
through the center and richer portions
OF the valley irrigation is absolutely
scsssary. Inis year has not been
sood one for winter grain, as the
rancher was unable to get stand"
lasl Iall on account of the dry weather,
ana the subsequent early ana long win
ter Killed many acres. When the
spring opened this year many hundred
acres of this fall wheat land was
proved up and in many places sown
~ sprins grain. However. though the
Tan wheat crop as a whole was some
wnat OF failure. yet there are hun
oreds OF acres of 1t which will yield.
N que course of events, from 40 to 60
nusneis to the acre when thresh ny
tme comes around. The spring grains
were very late in planting, owing to
the Indictment and cold weather remain
ing until late in the month, of Nav.
nature seems to have put forth her
pest energies, and to be equal to the
occasion, however, as the various crops
seem to be growing as they never grew
before, and leaving out Of considera
tion the prophecies of weather prophets
ol disastrous hail storms. there is at
present the pleasing prospect of an i'm
mense barley crop, plenty Of snr.ne
gram and a large yield of oats. Thess
spring crops all need irrigatine To Oh
tam satisfactory results, and as one
arrives out into the valley. in nearly
every field will be seen from one tn
.nree men arrayed in gum boots, broad
Ia. anu other necessary, but no unnec-
essary garments, welding shining
shovel, which ever and anon is used To
oivert the muddy waters into come
portion OF the tract needing irrjga
ton.
AS the season promises to be a yery
ory one. the rancher ~ho has plenty
OF water is the one who will have an
ABUNDANT crop, and those who have to
depend to a large extent on Providence
VIII nave so much of crop as they
cen steal, beg or borrow WAFER for
Inc outlook for the hay crop is also
very good, and haying has already
commenced in alfalfa and clover crops.
IN some portions OF the valley, Nth
splendid returns. These crops. too Ie-
quire the benign influence of water,
put this irrigation is done by simply
turning the water loose to run in the
meadows comparatively at it's own
sweet VIII. changing once or twice a
day. Garden truck though late. is
growing apace. and new potatoes are
10 De found In some gardens. but very
rev. The strawberry crop is going 10
De equal to former excellent ones, and
the berries which have just commenced
TO come into the market ara more
luscious, higher favored and brighter
IN color than any received from out
side points. Indeed, from present indi-
cations the Egypt of the West" will
granaries. and the high quality of their
contents. while the Gallatin valley
farmer will continue to live in pea 20
and plenty for another year.
A farmer from the northwestern rart
OF the valley was In late this evening
and stated that IL it does not rain in
side of three or four days the majority
of the fall wheat crops in that section
of the country will be destroyed by
drouth. This may be somewhat ex-
aggerated, but the hot weather of the
last 10 days has dried the land out very
much indeed.
The county hig.i school proposition
was voted upon on Saturday. afternoon.
The people of BoZeman were apparent
ly In favor of the county taking charge
OF the high school, while those who re-
side in the country have have con-
ceived the idea that they will have to
pay large sum in taxes and all the
old wise heads at every cross section
corner have dinned this into the far
mer's ears until they believe it, The
full return of the voting will not be
known until Monday, and it is likely
that 1t will be close, without a very
large majority on either side.
The body of w. F.. Rohda, the man |
who was killed near Chestnut by a trap
gun week ago to-day, was shipped |
tonight to Sparata, Wis, to his father.
Coroner Finlay received a telegram to.
day positively Identifying the body and
he sent 1t by express this evening.
Mr.. Featherstone is treasurer for a
fund to buy a missionary wagon for
the purpose of having a minister of the
gospel, of the Baptist faith to visit
the out of the way places. min ne
camps and isolated farm houses in
Montana. The amount to be raised is
h25, of which there is but about $40
more to be donated by friends of the
rause. Mr.. Cruger of Stevensville viii
take charge of this wagon. and while
on his journey will sell and give away |
Bibles and other religious literature.
The society hope to have the wagon
on its journey before another month |
is over.