The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-12-18
MAKES ANNUAL REPORT.
Arid Land Commission Looks for Favorable
Report on Billings Canal Proposition.


David A. Cory, secretary Of the
state arid land commission, has sub
mitted to the governor his annual re.
port containing n resume of the year =
business.
There IL but little TO report in the
way Of actual work accomplished. :"
says the report, ''by the arid land
grant commission, save the. segrepa-
tion of n tract in Lewis and Clarke
county known ms district Nc. d..
"Sfrenuous efforts have been made
to interest capitalists in district No.
/, near Billings. Responsible eastern
parties now have the proposition be-
fore them, and the commission hope
for favorable results There ia "A total
of 10, 632 acres in this district, and its
close proximity to the city of Bill
ings should make 1t an attractive
proposition to investors, as the land
would be taken as fast as the contract
ors could prepare it for the settlers.
1.-The Northern Pacific land depart
ment owns 10, 900 acres which should
be made Il part of this district, and
have offered exceedingly favorable
terms to prospective purchasers. The
engineering work through the finan-
cial aid of the public spirited citizens
of Billings, has been completed.
Work i'll district No. 3 should have
begun the first of June. 1900, but for
reasons satisfactory to the commits
sion, the time has been extended to
April i, 1901, with the understanding
that no further time would be asked
or granted.
Warrants bearing sever per cent
interest have been issued for the engi-
neering and other work in district No.
3 in Carbon county. Twenty thousand
acres of magnificent bench land have
been selected, and situated as it is be-
tween the thriving towns of Bridger
and Red Lodge there will be no delay
in its prompt settlement upon the
completion Of the canal. The commits
sion feel safe in saying that this canal
will be built during 1901.
bids for the building Of the canal
system in district No. 4 were duly adj
vertised aud the commission hope to
let the contract in the near future.
The water for this system will be
taken from the Dearborn river, and
the valleys of Flat Greek, Dry Creek,
Simms Creek and Spring Coulee-in
all about 33, 900 acres-reclaimed.
The contract will call for the prompt
settlement of the land, as fast as it is
reclaimed.
Public sentiment fully recognizes
the necessity and Importance of irri-
cation, and much could be accom-
plished during the next few years
could the legislature be made to re-
alize the value to the state of this
work. An appropriation should be
made to meet the necessary expenses
of the commission. Under the present
law there is no fund for the mainten-
ance of an office for the meetings Of
the board Or the purchase of the nee
essary office supplies.
"Should the legislature think it
wise to guarantee, say four per cent
interest on bonds the problem OF an
early segregation and reclamation of
the million acres Of land ce,led the
state under the Carey law would be
solved, as the lands would be quickly
taken up by thrifty farmers"
The financial statement showing
the amount of Indebtedness of each
district and the clerical cost of prose-
cutting the work is also attached to
the report, and is al follows: Amount
of indebtedness, Billings district No.
/, $7.175. 80; amount Of indebtedness,
Billings district No. 3, 1904. So;
amount of indebtedness, Billings dis
trict No. 3, So, $50: office expenses,
$l,7S7.0s; total, $11, 95S. SO.