The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-22
EXPERTS TELL WHAT. TO EXPECT
Members Of Irrigation Service Meet with Citizens and Explain
Operation Of Law and Purposes Of Department
Advice They Give.
From Thursdays Daily Gazette.

---S AAASAA III YIN SxNy oAN
also quite a few farmers attended the
meeting called last night at the rooms
Of the Billings club for the purpose
of meeting and advising with the of
ficials of the reclamation service OF
the interior department, who arrived
from the west yesterday morning. P.
B. Moss presided and introduced the
gentlemen.
Asspnblisled in yesterdays Gazette,
the party consisted of G.. D. Walcott,
director of the United States geologi-
cal survey, F. H. Newell, chief hydro
grapher Of the department and A. P.
Davis,s chief engineer. During the
day they had, been taken by I. d.
O'Donnell and Judge Goss on a tour of
inspection up the valley and on to
the divide to the Lake Basin section.
Considerable territory was gone over
and when they returned to the city
were possessed of a comprehensive
and intelligent knowledge of the pos
sibilities held out in this part of the
state in the way of extensive irriga-
ton projects.
Mr.. Walcott was the first one to
speak and explained the objects and
purposes of their visit at this time.
He said the principal consideration
was to get acquainted with the peo-
pie and ascertain their ideas and opin-
ions relative to- what should be done
n what sections of their respective
states should be reclaimed first. He
particularly impressed it upon the
minds of those present that it was
not the purpose Of his department to
institute simultaneously a number of
irrigation projects in different states
or in different localities of the same
states. Their investigations covered
the 16 states named in the law under
which they were acting and after a
thorough investigation they would
recommend some n particular pro-
Ject as being the most feasible and
practical for use as the ~inaugurating
point of the vast system of reclama-
ton contemplated by the law.
After a little more talk along the
same lines, he said he would give way
to MI. Newell, who would enter into
the details.
Mr.. Newell said that it was the
earnest object of the department to
make the first attempt at reclamation
a success and for that reason they
were acting slowly and proceeding
with all possible caution. The secre-
tary Of the interior was the man who
Was given by the new law absolute
authority in all matters pertaining to
the reclamation of the arid lands.
Under his supervision all money
would be expended and he was the
one who had the final say and who
would designate the first project to
be undertaken.
Many essentials had to be consider.
ed before anything could be don in
the way Of actual construction work,
One OF the first things to be determ.
med was the existence of water in
ample quantities to irrigate whatever
section it was purposed to reclaim.
No difficulty would be experienced in
MS regard so far as Montana was
concerned for here there was plenty
OF water. The next thing that would
require attention and study was the
cost of a projected system of canals
and reservoirs and the value of the
land intended to be reclaimed as re-
CARDS its likelihood of affording an
income sufficient to, recompense the
government for its outlay. Then were
various local questions that would
nave to be settled, such as titles to
lands, water rights and many other
similar details.
He explained that where land was
reclaimed by the government the
purchasers of it would be permitted
to pay for it in ten annual payments.
without interest. The price of the
land would depend upon the cost OF it's
reclamation. and each owner would
be required to bear his proportion of
that cost. While it was true that
government work would probably
prove more expensive than that done
by individuals or corporations, it was
also true that it was better and more
durable. The work in view was not
intended to last for a few years, but
fer all time. Public policy demand
ed irrigation of the largest possible
areas, as it was the primal intention