The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1907-02-08


preparation coincident with the allot-
ment OF the irrigable lands themselv-
es, the following being the language
Of the Clark bill:
Provided, That subject to such re-
servation Of water to irrigate the ir-a
rigable lands aforesaid, and subject to
like reservation for the Indians of
the Fort Belknap and Fort Peck re-
servations in said state of Montana, all
waters Of the streams in or bordering
that portion of said State lying north
Of the Missouri and Marias rivers and
Birch creek and east of the summit
of the Rocky mountains shall here
after be subject to appropriation and
use under the laws of Montana, not
outstanding any implied reservation
to the contrary in an agreement rati-
fled by the Act of Congress entitled:
AN act to ratify and confirm an a.
greement with the Gros Ventres,
Piegan, Blood, Backfeet and River
Crow Indians in Montana, and for
other purposes" Approved May first,
eighteen hundred and eighty eight,
Or any act supplementary thereto, and
the reservation of waters for the use
and benefit of the Indians shall only
extend to water while actually and
necessarily being used by them for
irrigation on their said irrigable lands
or for domestic purposes
The language of the two bills then
continues practically the same, in
which provision for agency schools,
religious institutions. etc, and sotf.a"
(slmllar provisions common to all re-
servaticn bills are made, the Clark bill
making no reference to an appropri-
alton for the construction of Indian
irrigation canals and ditches
The telegraphic advices received in
Helena are to the effect that the SEN
ate committee has amended the Clark
bill by appropriating 100000 for In
dian ir:igating canals, instead Of $780,
900 provided for in the Dixon bill, and
in this shape has been reported fav-
orably to the senate.
Meanwhile, the Dixon bill is stated
in telegraphic advices to have passed
porting of tn Clark bill in it's amend
ed shape is believed here to mean
that it is to be urged in the senate
As a substitute for the Dixon bill,
which should also be before that body
The belief and the hope of all pers-
ons in Montana who are watching this
legislation in congress is that in the
adoption of the Clark bill of the a.
mendment providing for Indian irri-
between Senator elect Dixon and the
present United States senators from
Montana, and that Mr.. Dixon has
waived that feature in his bill which
places a two-year time limit on the
appropriation of Indian water rights.
Members of both branches of the
legislature from the counties conti
guous to the Blackfeet Indian reserv-
alton are more satisfied with the
are with the Dixon bill, as they are
Of the opinion that no advantage will
accrue to the Indians in allowing
them two years, in which to make Sc
lection of water right beyond the
time when their lands are allotted to
them. This water right in all cases
must be appropriated contiguous to
the allotted land and for the actual
use of that land and the Indians ap-
preparation of a water right would
necessarily at any time, sooner or
later, be at the most advantage lis
point Of diversion
On the other hand, il this question
remains in doubt for two years, the
homeseeker coming upon the land at
the time of opening of the re:erva-
ton would likewise have to remain
in doubt for two years before actually
knowing whether the water right
which lie had appropriated was to be
taken away from him by an Indian
approximation. If he took the chance
and made his diversion of water and
with it reclaimed his land, his land,
providing it was made reasonably
productive, would naturally become an
object OF envy on the part of unscru-
Continued on Page Eight.)