The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-07
IMPROVEMENTS TO BIG DITCH
ALMOST COMPLETED.
IS PRACTICALLY new CANAL
Immense Amount Of Work Done Dur
inc Winter on Farmers Huge
Water Way.
From Fridays Daily Gazette.


From Fridays Daily Gazette.
Superintendent Searles of the Big
Ditch company was in the city today
closing a deal with the Billings Realty
company for a half acre of land 10
Gated at the terminus of the COM
pany's canal, opposite town.
Last year the waste from the ditch
washed a large hole at a point where
the ditch crosses the county road,
rendering use Of the highway at that
place highly dangerous. In fact, sew
eral bad accidents occurred and a
number of persons had close calls in
consequence. It was then that the
county commissioners served notice
on the company to fill the hole and
render the road passable again. In
compliance with this order MI.
Searles began sometime ago to haul
dirt and other filling matter into the
excavation and now has the job al
most completed. An immense amount
OF material was required and in order
to prevent future washouts the ditch
company decided to buy the land
toned and construct practically a new
read at that place. &c.,
AS soon as he is through there Mr..
Searles will resume operations on the
ditch proper and expects to complete
the repairs begun last fall in a short
time. Considerable work remains to
be done from the Hesper farm east to
the terminus, but as this consists prin-
cipally of minor repairs and the re-
moval Of dirt and other distractions
that accumulated during last seasons
use of the canal only little time will
be required to finish it. .
With the completion of the impro-
vements under way it is expected thai
the capacity of the ditch will be in
creased by about one-half. thus insur-
ing an ample supply of water to the
stockholders. 1t may be said that the
canal has been rebuilt, so much work
has been done on it since last fall.
New headgates have been put in and
much of the old trestle work has been
replaced by new, while the embank-
ments have been strengthened and all
leaks stopped.
Although considerable opposition
developed when, at the last meeting,
the proposition was made to levy an
assessment for the purpose of repair
ing and improving the ditch, it is
now said that the wisdom of the move
is becoming manifest to all and that
those who were strongest in !oppos'
ing it are satisfied that it was the par
of good judgment to make the
improvements now about com
pleted. By the increased flow
those who have heretofore
been complaining of insufficient water
now have all they require, while those
who had enough find themselves witt
an additional supply in case it should
become necessary for them to make
larger demands on the ditch. AS i
now remains the canal is more valu
able than ever and unless some I'm
foreseen occurrence transpires to rem
der further improvements and repair
imperatively necessary it is belieye'
that the day is far distant when NOR
than the ordinary assessments t
meet current expenses will be requil
ed.
Water will be turned into the cana
April Is. Two or three days will b
required to carry it the full length c
the ditch and afford a normal suppl
to all using water.