Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1904-02-03
PLENTY OF WATER.
Government Engineers Report Favor
ably On Several Irrigation Projects.
IIIoI.nn Da.o1

Government Engineers Report Favor
ably OF Several Irrigation Projects.
Helena Record.
Work performed by the government
in the Sun River valley last year is
to be followed by a more complete
inquiry with a view to eventually re-
claiming the district by an irrigation
system. State Engineer John w. Wade
has received a statement from C.. II.
Fitch. United States engineer. con-
corning the reconnaissance work of
the government in the Sun river val
ley. Concerning this he says:
The area between Sun River on
the north, the Missouri on the east
and the Rocky mountains on the west
was examined during the past sea-
son in order to determine what
changes, if any, have taken place
since the investigation and survey of
this region in 1889. At that time ten
reservoir sites were selected, and sew
eral level lines were run to determine
the area which could be irrigated. The
report stated that between Sun and
Teton rivers the area of bench land
is about 100000 acres. of which per-
haps 395, 900 acres could be proftably
cultivated if a sufficient water sup
ply could be provided, and that fully
95 per cent of this area owned by the
government and almost valueless
without water except for grazing.
1T has been found that a large por-
tion of the public lands above referr-
ed to have been disposed of. but that
the major portion is now held in large
individual tracts, and that it is not
cultivated, but is used for grazing
purposes, no diversion of water upon
the bench lands having been made.
1t Vas found that a local company of
Choteau, Mont. known as the Kill
raven Cooperative Canal company. is
attempting to build a canal diverting
Sun river at the lower end of the res
eryoir No. |. with a proposed capacity
of about AIS second feet. and that IL
Is intended to irrigate bench lands
above Sun river, the route of the ca
nal following practically that of the
original government survey. About
one mile of the forty-two miles con-
templated has been completed.
while much of the land has been
disposed of as stated, about one-half
remains as public land, valuable only
for grazing, without irrigation. and it
is probable that the owners of the
land which has passed into private
ownership would be willing to dispose
or 1t In small tracts, so that a,l OF the
lands, public and private. could be
watered. Without considering the
land which may be irrigated by the
Kilraven Cooperative canal. should it
be built, there is undoubtedly an abun-
dance of water from Sun river which
may be stored, and a large amount
OF land which may be irrigated.
which warrants further investigation
and survey"
Concerning the proposed district on
the Yellowstone river in Montana,
United States Engineer Fitch writes:
"A rapid examination of what is
known locally as the Lake Basin
country on the north side of the
Yellowstone river. in Yellowstone and
Sweet Grass counties, Mont, was
made.
There is a large tract of land, said
TO comprise about 400, 900 acres OF
rolling upland. lying some distance
back from the Yellowstone river. The
land slopes gradually toward the
south and east, and is favorably stu
ated for irrigation. The Yellowstone
river has considerable fall, but the
controlling point for diversion of this
stream to v the lands above indi
Gated would be determined by the Sc
lection OF a route for the canal which
should pass through a country where
the cost of construction would be al
|, economical as possible. without frs
running two or three flying lines o.
levels TO determine this, IL would BIZ
impossible to state where such diver
sion should be made. If the water o.
the Yellowstone were diverted in the
vicinity of Big Timber, the cana
!, would doubtless have sufficient ele
walton to reach all of the lands which
, may be irrigated from it, but il MAJ
+ be desirable to continue higher up tn,
river-possibly as high as Livingston
? or above-in order to run the cana
line behind the river bluffs, which a
4 several points present difficulties II
y the way of construction. Along tn,
4 river valley the bluffs are in man,
q places rocky and precipitous. and be
n hind these bluffs in many places tn,
$ hills are very rough and broken
There Is doubtless an adequate waite
supply to be obtained from the Vel
I lowstone river