The Butte inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1901-1912, 1901-12-21
IRRIGATION IN MONTANA.


put into practical effect the suggestions
contained in the presidents message on
the subject of the irrigation Of arid land
in Montana this commonwealth Will
enter upon a period OF growth exceed
ing that which history records in any
other state west OF the Mississippi. Nine
tenths of our own people who discuss
the question of irrigation in Montana
have no conception Of the extent and
possibilities of the irriga'ble area. Some
Of the valleys and plains OF Montana
now utilized for grazing purposes alone
are each as extensive as some or the
New England states. and capable of sup
porting as large an agricultural popula-
ton. Yet who would bei,eve that with
out proof? How many of our citizens
know the number of square miles in the
great valley of the Yellowstone with its
upands? 1t contains 10000 square miles
and is an empire in itself. The Flat
head Gallatin, Prickly Pear, Ruby and
Beaverhead valleys are also extensive,
and can be made as fertile and productive
in the matter of grains and vegetables
and some fruits as the lands of France
and Germany, neither Of which is much
larger in area though together the latter,
support a population of 900 people.
The same is true of the great plains of
Northern Montana. Wherever in those
regions water has been turned upon the
soil, GASES have sprung into existence as
wonderful as any fairy tale describes.
rJ>I>, Of <}>a to
hold many fortunes for the farmers of
the future. The pillow, the harrow ana
the harvest are all awaiting the action
of congress on the subject of irrigation.
The arid lands are now like an unde-
veoped mine. ready to give forth its
riches but awaiting the arrival of the
prospector with his tools, and later the
capitalist with his means to create value
from opportunity The now vacant land
needs the courage of the homeseeker,
the employment of capital and the pro-
lection and encouragement Of the gov
eminent in order to make it productive
and a source of permanent and ever
increasing wealth. Such work is part
of the Divine plan of human progress.
God made no waste places When from
the infinitude of space He created the
earth. giving it form and motion and
separating the water from the land,
making both productive that the COM
ing race might live and learn and labor.
Since then, through all the ages natures
bounties anu blessings have been UNI
folded and utilized as man has needed
them. He has conquered old Dame Ma
ture, solving her mysteries one by one,
learning her secrets and possessing him.
self of her wealth according to his in
dustry and deserts, until now, with all
the rich places occupied by surging HUI
manity, he is forced to the very edge
of the desert in the march of progress.
Even there he is beckoned on and prom
ised further reward for toll, for if he
will but store the waters of the rivers
in their abundance and moisten the
parched lip of Mother Earth she will
smile her gratitude and yield him har-
vests so bounteous that the desert will
De 10 more, and in it's place grains,
grasses, fruits and flowers will trans
form the landscape into a farmers
/; paradise.
The irrigation of Montana's arid lands
i will make homes for a million good men
and women now suffering in the over
crowded districts of the East