The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-01-30
OUTLINE OF A BILL TO BE INTRO
DUcED SOON.
TO Benefit LANDOWNERS
Maximum Cost of Reclamation Under
the Bill Will Be About
SIS an Acre.

trOduced in the legislature which has
as it's object the aiding and encour-
agement of the construction of a co.
operative irrigation canal by land
owners themselves.
Heretofore the real difficulty operat-
ing against colonization work and
such enterprises in Montana has been
to provide means of a livelihood dur
ing the period of construction of the
irrigation canal system.
There are many localities through
out Montana where good sized tracts
of land have been occupied which can
cheaply be reclaimed, but the major
ity of the settlers find it a very diff
-gicult matter to do this and, at the
same time provide means of a live
lihood for themselves and families.
1t is to overcome this difficulty that
the cooperative irrigation bill has
been prepared.
The difference of cost between a
government irrigation canal and one
built by the state or a company form
ed for that purpose, is so marked that
people. understanding the situation
would naturally prefer to locate I'M
der a government canal, but many
are SO situated, having already made
homes where they are located, that
they cannot afford to change. The
government will, in all probability,
confine it's attention to the large irri-
cation enterprises.
Maximum Cost.
In many places in Montana are to
be found considerable tracts of land
averaging above 900 acres which can
be reclaimed by this act. No tracts
Of less than 1000 acres, or ten 100
acre farms, could be settled. And the
maximum cost of reclamation under
this act is SIS per acre. Only one-half
of the actual cost will be bonded, the
settlers paying the other half.
The sole intent is to afford the set
tier sufficient ean to make a living
for himself and family during con-
struction; thoroughly safeguarding
his interest and at the same time the
interest of the investor.
The bill places the supervision of
construction, expenditure, and final
redemption OF bonds under the board
of county commissioners of the coun-
ty in which the canal system is To-
Gated. Not to exceed 100 acres can
be held by any one head of a family
under this act.
While the canal system and land
reclaimed by the same is held as Sc
curity for the bond issue, the stock
holders cannot take the land or canal
under any circumstances. The bill
provides that commencing with the
fifth year an assessment equal to one
fifth of the bond issue and interest
thereon be levied agains: the land I'M
der the system, which IS co,iectod as
taxes and ilaced in a sinking fund
for redemption of the bonds. Failure
to meet assessment subjects land and
interest to the canal system to sale in
the same manner as provided for
sic of property for delinquent taxes.
Must Be Actually Occupied.
Land must be actually occupied in
tracts not exceeding 100 acres, and
fully Is per cent of the land to be re-
claimed must be occupied before the
bonds are issued. Settlers are adj
vanced one-half of The actual cost in
five equal payments after each fifth
of the work has. been done. The
not only affords fullest pos
sible protection to the settler, but full
ly protects the investor.
It will afford an exceptional oppor-
tunity for the investment of perma-
nent school funds of the state, OF
which there is now about one-half of
a million dollars lying idle, and at the
same time greatly increase the value
of the school lands in the vicinity of
the canal system.
The county in which the canal sys-
TEN is located stands the cost of the
locating, survey, making plans and
specifications, estimates and supervi.
sion during construction. This will
be offset many times over by the
creation of taxable property. The set
tier stands the cost of the first pre-
liminary survey.
Water to be divided among the
users upon a proportionate basis, only
to become appurtenant to the land re
Il nlaimod and hanefcial use the meas