The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-09-29
MONTANA GETS FIRST NATIONAL &
IRRIGATION PROJECT.
SURVEYS ARE NEARLY DONE.
Director Walcott Tells What Geoioal&
cal Survey Is Doine-Must
Be Feasible.

In view of the large amount OF
work the geological survey is doing
in Montana almost anything pertaining
to the operations of the bureau in the
state is of interest to it's people, par
ticularly II relating to national irriga-
ton. A few days ago c. u. Walcott,
director of the bureau, who is quite
well known locally, was at Helena
and spoke interestingly of the sur
vey's labors in this state.
Divided Into Four Lines.
"Our work in this state" said Mr..
Walcott, is divided into four sepa-
rate branches. The first line consists
of making Typographical maps, which
include five maps along the Milk river,
east of Havre, covering an area OF
about 1000 square miles. The second
line Of work consists Of the survey
Of forest reserves, which include, In
Montana, the completion OF surveys
of the Kintla lage sheet OF the Flat
head reserve, surveying the boundary
lines of the Lewis and Clarke and
Madison reserves, the examination.
and mapping of the forest OF the Lit>-
tie Belt Mountain reserve, and the
! beginning of the examination Of the
Yellowstone forest reserve in Montana.
+ ''In the geological work Mr.. Wal-
| ter H. Weed will shortly complete the
] final report and map Of the Butte
mining district, while In the dydro--
] graphical branch, the survey is gaug>
| Ng the various streams of the state.
XThere are about 20 stations in this
state where this gauging is being
carried on. This work, while 1t has
been extended somewhat in recent
| years, is one of the oldest features
of the geological survey and has been
carried on for the past 10 years.
st. Mary's Canal Project.
Engineers are completing the de-
tailed survey of the canal to carry
! the waters of st. Mary's river east
ward to Milk river, where they will
be stored in one or more reservoirs
J and used to irrigate a large tract OF
: land in the Milk river valley. It il
anticipated that this water will re-
claim land which will provide homes
for at least 10000 people.
; "This is the first OF the large irri-
cation projects which will be pushed
forward to completion If the plans
submitted by the geological survey
are approved by the secretary OF the
! interior The surveys and preparation
: of plans for other projects will be car
: ried forward as rapidly as possible,
beginning next spring.
) No Wildcat Schemes.
'In this connection | might state
that the irrigation surveys and work
e are being carried forward strictly O.
e engineering and business lines, and
Il that no project will be submitted by
n the survey to the secretary OF tbs
T. interior, unless it is shown by ths
/ engineers reports and estimates ina
o the cost of the project will be returnet
to the irrigation fund at -reasonaDl'
# cost per acre to the settler. the irr1
n cation law requiring that all money
g expended in the reclamation OF art
land be paid back into the irrlgatlol
{, fund. The geological survey IS o.
reau of information in relation TO "a
K. subjects which it investigates, ant
o. is also an executive bureau to the ex
1t tent of carrying out the irrigation PFC
O. iects which may meet with the apprS
or val of the secretary of the interior,
s., "While irrigation work has abs0rl
IS ed most OF my time for the past ~
wears. renewed attention will be give
to the geological and mining wor
and it is hoped that this work w
receive increased attention through
IL out the west next season. Montan
II offers an unsurpassed field for 81
u logical research
as For Sale.
to] c;x roor, rouco 'rnree corner lot