The Minneapolis journal., 1902-08-16

in the Rocky Mountain region working east
with several assistants. Paries in other sec
tions of the country are making the necessary
examinations and surveys incidental to the
construction OF the necessary reservoirs and
canals. The purpose is to have all OF the
preliminary data gathered and, at hand. so
that the letting of contracts for the construc-
tion of reservoirs may begin next year. For
fifteen years the government has taken accu-
rate measurement of streams throughout the
arid and semiarid regions of the west, both
as to their normal and their torrential capa-
city. This will be Of much assistance in car
rying out irrigation plans.
Irrigation and Live stock. .s
The idea that national Irrigation means a
largely increased volume of cereal products is
wrong This was the opinion of our friends
in the east who were first opposed to the bill
in congress- Estimates based on the best
information at hand indicate that under this
law not to exceed $4,000 coo acres can be irri-
gated within the next forty years. This is
about one-tenth of the land in the arid and
semiarid region of this country. A large part
of this Irrigated land will he devoted to the
production of forage and to fruit orchards.
Alfalfa and hay will be favorite crops.
When the various irrigation enterprises OF
the government are under successful opera
tion, the question of the future production
VI USol CdLLl6 Ill TIE OullSu Oldlcb WILL AdFS
been solved. At the present time stock
ranges are being rapidly diminished in size
and number by the encroachment OF the
small farmer. The time Is not far distant
when the small farmer will produce the meat
Of the country. On his 100 acres of irrigated
land he will nave perhaps 100 acres in grass
and feed. He will have considerable bunch
of cattle of his own, which, while dependent
upon the irrigated land for winter feed, may
ho ,hJ foJ R,,H Nff he on d.
main adjacent to the farm. = So - b. .
The reclamation fund provided for by the
new Jaw is now in the neghborhood Of Sc, 0OO,-
600. North Dakota heads the list of contrib
utors, having furnished nearly $1,000, 900 from
the sale of public lands since the law be-
came effective South Dakota has contrib
uted about one-third that amount and Mon
tana some less. go. -.'@ ..-
The Milk River Project.
The biggest irrigation proposition which the
government has under consideration is the
Milk river scheme in Montana. 1t is proposed
to construct dam and reservoir at the source
of the Milk river, storing the food waters OF
the lakes from which that stream is sup
tlied. The plan is to transfer these waters
by tunnel and canal direct to the district to
be irrigated. 1t is estimated that cost will
be 81, ,0OO, 900 and about 100000 acres will be
reclaimed. The Milk river flows north into
Canada and recrosses into the United States.
The stream furnishes water for the irriga-
tion of a small district in Canada, and 1t Is
probable that an understanding will be neces-
sary with the Canadian government before
the work is begun The government Is also
investigating plan for the irrigation Of
10000 acres in the district between Livingston
and Billings in the same state. This includes
the erection of dam in Yellowstone park
There are two enterprises of small nature
in, Oregon, and one each in Nevada and Cali
fornia. North Dakota has several small
projects which will be examined by the gov
ernment this fall. One of these is along the
Yellowstone in the northwestern part Of the
state, and others along small streams il
Star and Billings county. These include, al
told, about 100000 acres. There is. an oppor-
tunity to reclaim some small districts II
southwestern South Dakota. -- =