The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-29
MONTANA CAN ASSIST CAUSE OF
IRRIGATION.
MUCH WORK TO Be DONE
Professor Mead Tells How People
Can Aid Reclamation Bureau
Very Materially.

- ~ '- HE
: 1t is very evident that the nreser
men in charge of the work at Wasl
lngton are determined that nothin
In the way of preliminaries possibl
to accomplish shall remain undon
when the time arrives for institutin
the national scheme for the reclams
ton of the arid lands in this state
Last week a couple OF officials wer,
here for the purpose of gathering in
formation and consulting with the peo
pie of the Yellowstone valley ia re
gard to probable irrigation project.
and it is very likely that soon other.
will be here.
Professor Elwood Mead, chief Of
irrigation investigations, office Of ex
pertinent stations and Professo,
Samuel Fortier, director of the agri
cultural experiment station at Boze
man arrived at Great Falls a day OF
two ago to study local conditions and
gain such knowledge as. may be use.
full in helping the farmers when the
great irrigation systems to be con:
structed by the general government
have been completed. Professor
Mead submitted to an interview in
which he had much to say in regard
to the outlook for irrigation in Mon
tana n its effects on the state in
general.
Nothing will so much promote the
observation-disclosures CT Montana"
said he, "as to get your irrigation
systems upon the right basis as a
~ as possible, and to do that is our
work. You have a great volume Of
water in Montana "a great area of
most fertile lands capable Of irriga-
ton, and | am sure that, in the near
future, there is to be remarkable aeri-,
cultural developments in this state"
After speaking of the possibilities
OF utilizing the waters of the Mis-
souri, for the reclamation of thousands
OF acres of lands which lie along
that stream, he spoke of the bench
lands in different parts of the state
which need little if any irrigation to
make them productive. "Tn Montana
there is much land that will produce
good crops without irrigation" said
he, while further south we do not
find such conditions. To meet the
unusual conditions in this state. spec
lal studies are necessary, and these
we shall make. There is also in this
region much land that, if properly
cultivated, will produce good crops
without irrigation, ard we shall mskeI
of such lands showing the
of fall blowing ,sut-s5iling
Ind winter irrigation of lands upon
which summer irrigation is not prac-
sicable or not possible.
ITO this time, irrigation in this
country has been done almost wholly
~ private enterprise, yet this coun-
.ry is the second in the world in the
extent of irrigated territory. Now
he federal government will help. and
he development is to be much more
'apid. To meet this rapid develop
more attention must be paid to
Methods of administration. We must
secure changes in the laws. We must
against a shortage OF water
irrigation. s all available, store
floods, secure methods of CONTROL
md regulation of supply and usage.
study Of all questions arising in
with irrigation is of vast
to Montana at this mo-.
nent, and the people of this state
hould gladly cooperate with us.
This year, Professor Fortier has
zen conducting such Investigations
long the Galatin river. We have
lven him an assistant and some mon.
y. and in a short time there will be
published a comprehensive summary
I the conditions and his conclusions.
will show in what respect your
are good, and in what features
1t will show what waste of
there is and make many sug-
estions of value, if acted upon.
w desire to make more extern.
studies in Montana in the next
ear or two. and it is of Importance
Q Montana that this should be done.
tut we need the help of those who
re to be benefited. Our appropria-
ion of $4,000 must be spread over
1any states, and the legislature of
1ontana should help us by an a%ppro-
ration. We will set apart for the
York in Montana a sum equal to that
appropriated by the state, and we be-
eve that the results of the investiga-
IONS would very soon return to the
eople of Montana manifold the
mount appropriated. We have met