The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-08-22

present to be had because Of natura
conditions.
Under the new law the department
was devoting most of its attention il
this state to the St. Mary's cana
scheme, which SO far promised tn,
largest and most satisfactory returns
For the past two years surveys ant
Investigations had been carried u
there with the view that ultimatel,
some such law as was now in exist
ence would be passed and the govern
ment. in the event Of such a posi-
bllity. wanted to be prepared to inaug
al work there on the shortest pcs
sible notice. While investigating thai
project the rest of the state had not
beer forgotten or overlooked. Meas
urements had been made of the Vel
lowstone and other streams and topo.
graphical maps prepared, all with the
same object, for ultimate use in the
scheme of reclamation.
The Lake Basin project was a fas-
clnating enc and would be thoroughly
investigated and ultimately might be
constructed. Certain it was that an
immense area of excellent land e
listed there and if it's reclamation was
found to be feasible it would add i'm
mensely, to the wealth of the state.
In order to accomplish the most he
suggested that the different communi.
ties + the state cooperate. They
should act in unison and agree upon
some particular locality whose recla-
nation would prove of the greatest
good to the greatest number and then
urge it upon the department. Such
united action, he felt sure, would have
much weight with the secretary of the
interior and receive serious consider.
alton. He said between IS. 0OO, 900
and $4,000, 900 was now available for
use in retaining arid regions. and
the amount would grow constantly.
1t was true that this appeared like a
SINAI sum when the many feasible
reclamation projects were consider
ed, but it was ample for present pur-
poses. as it would require much time
to conduct the Investigations now
making and when finally all was
ready for beginning the actual work
OF construction there would be no lack
OF funds. Y
The present work of irrigation by
the government vas the first of it's
! n in the world and many problems
would have to be solved before it
vas advisable to even begin the real
work of building. So many condi-
tons existed that had to be taken in
consideration that probably the pa
tlence of the people would be tried at
times, but the end would undoubtedly
be all that was desired. When actual
construction was begun there would
probably be only enough money on
hand to inaugurate M project in. each
OF h 16 states included in the pro-
visions of the bill, and it was esti-
mated that during the first 80 years
government would have moi to
exceed $3.50, 900, 900 to invest in irri-
enterprises.
Realizing the importance of the
scheme and it's stupendous propor-
lions. the department desired the col
operation of the people and sought
their advice and opinions so as to
guard against failure, the misappro-
priation of funds, prevent dishonesty
as far as possible make violations
Of the law impossible. Better wait
i've or ten years before beginning to
he said. than incur the risk
Of failure" He mentioned manv Of
the large private irrigating enter
in California and elsewhere
which have proved failures because of
too much haste in their construction
lack of attention to details. .
In answer to the question as to the
of the government paving
attention to small projects, Mr.. New
said that while it might possibly
10 SO, he would suggest that thew be
taken care of by private enterprise.
lnless some obstacles arose which
it impossible to do SO.
Here MI. Walcott explained the
of the law as to control of
canals and reservoirs built by the
He said that with the
completion of any project the control
II the water and canals would be
in the owners of the land, pro-
'ided they afforded the necessary as