The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-04-19
WEDNESDAY, APRIL -, 1905.
THE MILK RIVER PROJECT.

The visit of a delegation of northern
Montana citizens to Washington, as
the authorized representatives of the
United Milk River Irrigation associ.
alton, appears to have been produc.
tive of good results. The delegates
received a cordial greeting from Pres.
ident Roosevelt and federal officials
in charge of reclamation work in the
west, and were given assurance that
the matters ia which their association
is interested will receive attention at
the earliest possible date. That citi.
Zens of Montana should make the long
trip to Washington to personally pre-
sent their views to the federal authori.
ties, was of itself sufficient t O convince
the president that the Milk river pro.
Ject is Que OF supreme Importance to
the people OF this part of the north.
west.
The report of the committee. which
recently returned from the east. has
been presented to the members of the
United Milk River Irrigation associ.
alton, and gives a detailed account of
is interviews with the president, the
secretary OF the interior and other Off
cials. In reporting its interview with
the president regarding the possible
delay that may be caused by the d.
version OF the waters OF Milk river in
Canada, the report says:
The president, in dealing with this
portion Of the matter, stated that he
was tired of the continual delay and
was going ahead with the work and
let the Canadian government do the
worrying. The:president also stated
that he desired to begin at the head
and work down.
AFTER discussing this matter at
some length, your committee ap.
preached the president in a very strong
manner. relative to the Chain Lakes
and Glasgow projects, stating that for
the good of the people and the Milk
river valley, work on the Chain Lakes
and Dodson dams should be com.
menced Immediately, owing to the fac,
that q good many poor people had Ia
ken lands below these points som,
years ago with the expectation of get
ting water from these ~reservoirs
and bitches, and if something
was not done Immediately the cont.
dence of the people would be lost.
Expressions of approval and appreci.
alton were also made for the work
that had already been done by the
government.
"The president accepted this argu.
ment in a favorable and in.
structed your committee to put this
matter in writing at once and submit,
the same to him. At the same time
the president assured the committee
that he was ever ready at all times to
assist in the development of Montana
when 1t vas in his power"
1t was in response to this written
statement that the president sent word
to each member of the committee that
he has called for an immediate report
from the reclamation bureau upon the
Chain Lakes and Dodson diversion
projects.
The committee also reports a most
satisfactory interview with +. II.
Newell, chief Of the reclamation bu-
reau, who incidentally intimated to
the committee that his department be.
Iieves it Is not receiving fair treat
ment from the so called National lr-
rigation association. One of the mem.
bers OF the committee subsequently, re-
ceived from Mr.. Newell a communica-
ton to to this effect:
"1n the matter of the Milk river
valley. | wish to express my appre.
citation OF the activity displayed by
yourself and your associates in bring
ing it to the attention Of the president.
and of the secretary of the interior
and the reclamation service. | think
that your visit to Washington will be
productive of good results. The only
regret have in the matter is that the
Milk River United Irrigation asso-
citation should have passed what
eeemed to be somewhat hasty and i'll.
considered resolutions on March Is.
II would, l think, have been better for
all concerned to have left action in the
hands of your committee, and not EN-.
barass you with resolutions which
could not be sustained by the citizens
of Montana.
1.-THE problems to be solved of sup.
plying an adequate supply OF water
for the valley are very difficult, both
from an engineering and human stand
point. The engineering matters are
rapidly being brought to a point
where they can be considered and
passed upon, and it is now incumbent
upon the people of Milk river valley