The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1906-02-09
CARTER WRITES
ON IRRIGATION.

UN EkRIuAIIUN. .
The following mostencouraging and
comprehensive letter from Senator
Carter regarding the status Of the
Milk and Sun River Irrigation pro-
jects will prove interesting reading
to all residents of North Montana;
Washington. d. C. Feb. 3, 1906
Hon. l.. Newman,
Havre, Montana.
My dear SIR Your kind favor OF
January 9th received. / note your
request for information as TO whether
the Sun River project is likely to be
given preference over the Milk River
project because Of the action Of the
delegation from Great Falls. In reply
beg leave to say that the respective
projects named must stand upon their
individual merits. The facts and
figures necessary to proceed upon the
construction Of the canal from ST.
Mary'S Lake to the North Fork Of
Milk River have been collected and
in form for action for a good while,
whereas the local engineers final re-
| port on the Sun River project only
reached Washington with the arrival
| of Mr.. Robbins, the engineer, and the
I delegation from Great Falls. In the
very nature of things no action could
/ be taken on the Sun River project
prior to the receipt of the figures re-
ferred to- nor can anything now be
done until properly constituted
board of reviewing engineers shall
have passed upon the entire scheme.
1t is confidently expected that both
of these projects will be worked along
as rapidly as available funds will per-
nit. They are both meritorious and
there is no necessary conflict between
them.
4 The Milk River project will start
first because the data have been in
the possession of the department and
J upon those data, an appropriation has
been made and work will be COM
menced as soon practicable. The i'm
preston was created through some
means at Great Falls that the Sun
River project was being suppressed at
Washington in the interest of the
) Milk River project. The Great Fails
} delegation upon arrival here quickly
: ascertained that this impression was
, without any foundation whatever, fol
1.-the reasons above stated, that the
4 surveys were not worked out int
! final figures as to Sun River.
4 THE people of the Milk Riyercountr,
may rest assured that that great pro
/ iect will not be held in allegiance, bu
4 will be pressed forward as rapidly a.
? conditions will allow.
1t is opportune to announce to TIL
L people in the Milk River valley tina
y the agreement of private land owner
to cooperate with the government
|, under the Water Users Association
= plan must necessarily precede any eS
tensive work in that valley. Th
J. amount of government land in tn
IS valley will not alone warrant the con
h struction of great works without tn
participation of the patented lano
l. The people of Sun River are far i
'e advance of the Milk River people i
a the adjustment of private rights an
the signing engagements to co-operat
n with the reclamation service. | al
D informed that about 81 per cent Of a
h the people along the main canals
/, the Sun River project have signed tn
st agreement and are anxious to actiyel
ID cooperate with the service. The in
S, mediate task before the Milk Rive
9r people involves the work necessary
lie bring private land ownership int
rs harmony with the proposed govern
ment operation.
h, | sincerely hope that no effort wi
n be spared to expedite harmoniol
10 action in this particular.
at Yours very truly,
ly THOMAS FL. CARTER.