The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1905-12-29
MILK RIVER PROJECT
IS UP TO THE PEOPLE

Secretary G. w. Vennum of the
United Milk River Irrigation associa-
ton, E. M. Kennedy of Harlem ana
C. T. Prall of the reclamation service
have been to see President Newman
of the association for a conference on
the condition and progress OF the hliik
River project, and as a result OF the
same Mr.. Newman gives out the lol-
lowing statement:
There have been rumors recently OF
q nostnonement of construction, or OF
possible abandonment OF the MIX
River project, but VIC 40 not oelleVe
that there is any foundation whatever
for such radical statements; at the
present time there is no one who can
state positively just when construction
may begin, but on the other hand
there is no cause for alarm.
In this connection, however, it is
necessary that the people of this val
lev present united front on the
question of irrigation, and it should
be kept alive by private and public
discussion. From all indications, and
the best information obtainable, it ap-
pears that the matter of construction
hinges largely on the adjudication OF
the water rights of this valley, and
no obstacle should be placed in the
way of a speedy adjustment OF these
rights.
NECESSITY OF STORAGE.
With the experience Of the. last two
wears in mind, it is doubtful whether
any practical man will question the
need Of an additional and assured
water supply for the agricultural area
already partly under cultivation. The
private canal systems OF the valley
have claimed considerable area o.
land, but they have practically reached
their limit, and with the water supply
at present available, no additional
land can be irrigated from them. Th'
only solution Of this matter is tn
spring floods at some point whre the,
will be available for use later in tn
season. In every irrigated communit,
in the west, when development ha
reached certain stage, it has becom
necessary to resort to storage, and i
can be safely said that this time ha
come in the Milk River valley.
cosr OF STORAGE
The question of storage is one tina
can not be solved by individual effort
The floods which sometimes come dow
Milk river are of such volume tina
very substantial works would be NJ
cessary to control them, and the cos
of such works is far beyond the n
sources of our people. Large storae
works and canal systems have bee
projected and built in other section
of the arid west by individuals an
CORPORATIONS, but the cost OF tines
undertakings has been SO great an
the resulting profit so small that
large proportion of these enterprise
are now in the hands OF receivers.
would appear that nothing but tf
general government is able to hand
this situation. In a system built (
the government there is no questie
of profit; under the reclamation la
only the initial cost of the work is
be returned to the fund.
GOVERNMENTS FRIENDLY INTENTION
In some portions of this valley the
is sentiment prevailing to the effe
that the government is an antagonls
ic interest in this matter OF irrigatlo
There can be no question but tn
this view is entirely in error. L
aim of the government and its otficl;
in the handling of the reclamatl
funds is to benefit the greatest p'
sible number of people and to expe
the money in the most economic
way. AS it is now constituted, the
is little chance of any political int
terence with the reclamation serVi
and our people may be assured TT
the work will be completed with
least possible delay and with
greatest economy commensurate WI
the construction of substantial wor
POSSIBILITIES OF THE VALLEY.
There can be no doubt in the mi
of any reader, regarding the excellt
results that can be obtained in
valley through the intelligent apl
cation of water to the soil. Farm
has passed the experimental sta
and many of our people are on