The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-01-24
DISCUSS MILK RIVER PROJECT.

DISCUSS MILK RIVER PROJECT.
congressman Dixon Makes Interosttml
Taik About Big undertaking.
The Washington correspondent o.
the Helena Record sends that news.
paper = report Of the remarks Of Con.
gresham Dixon regarding the Mill
river project. a portion of which fol.
lows:
II am feeling particularly good
over . little piece of news Just con.
veyed to me from the department OF
the interior. to the effect that Score.
tary Hitchcock has authorized the ad.
verttstng for bids for the construction
OF q canal from St. Mary river to the
North Fork of Milk river, the esti-
mated cost of which is $500, 900. This
10 the preliminary step 10 what is to
become the most unique trriga alton
project 10 the west, q project by which
the waters of q stream now flowing
into Hudson bay are to be turned
southwark to Aow into the Cult of
Mexico.
Upon the northern border of Mon.
lana are a couple of truant rivers.
One OF these, st. Mary river, after
getting the bulk of its supply from
Montana's mountains flows northward
into Canada and finally reaches Hud.
son bay. The other, Milk river, rises
In two forks just east OF the St. Mary.
flows north, and then east for q hun.
dred miles just across the boundary.
and then turns abruptly southwark
n empties into the Missouri. The
TWO rivers are separated by u low and
narrow divide. St. Mary river has q
splendid mountain drainage; in its
water shed are found some of the lare-
est glaciers IN the country. It is a
region OF magnificent scenery and
beautiful lakes, and a paradise for
hunters and fishermen. The flow of
this river is large and constant, and
but little Of it is available for irriga.
tion in its own valley.
milk river drains a foothill region
and Its flow is irregular and uncer.
tain. In its valleys in Montana and
Canada are millions of acres of very
line land, for which there is not nearly
enough water. The engineers of the
reclamation service have cast longing
eyes on this section, and for several
years have been making i~nvestiga.
tions with a view of developing a pro.
]ect here. The Canadians have not
beer asleep. They have already con.
structed large irrigation works and
are exploiting the advantages of the
country.
lin the lower valley OF the Milk
river 10 Montana a number of large
canals have been operation for sew.
eral years irrigating several thous-
and acres. The construction of canals
by the Canadians subsequent to the
American systems is likely to dimin.
ish the flow ia Milk river 10 such an;
extent that several hundred farms in
Montana are threatened with destruc.
ton. In q region where water Is life.
the taking OF a river form its first ap-
propriators is q declaration of war;.
and this Is the way Montana irriga.
tors view Canada's scheme to use
Milk river. Those who know the in
tense feeling such an action must Ger.
tainly engender a. soon as certain
loss OF crops follow, express q fear
that actual bloodshed will eusue II
sone prompt action Ia not taken to
settle the matter.
"Ihe government engineers, after
mapping every foot of the country,
have presented plans 10 the secretary
FOR u solution OF the situation. One
OF these is to construct a dam at St.
Mary lakes for storing the floods,
then carry this water Ia q canal
through the divide and turn it into
Milk river. II a treaty can be made
with Canada for an equitable division
OF the water, the Milk river will be
used as q carrying canal through
Canada, our share of the water will
irrigate lands in lower Milk river
valley, Canadian authorities seem
willing TO meet US half way, and it 10
believed that friendly relations can
finally be established between the two
countries. In the event, however, that
the state department fails to negotiate
a treaty, we have another scheme up
u sleeve. We will continue the ca.
nal across the North Fork of Milk
river, turn the water into the South
Fork, construct a dam in this stream.
and divert the combined waters Of
South Fork and St. Mary river upon
about 100 000 acras IN ,ho .o.&on, ,..A |