The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1908-02-19

tation of the deplorable conditions
which the delay in the negotiations
has occasioned thousands of settlers
in the Milk river valley has given the
state department new and valuable
material for the American side Of the
controversy with Canada and has i'm
pressed upon the officials the need Of
speedy action for the conservation of
the rights Of the Montana settlers.
1t is an open secret that Canada,
craftily taking advantage Of diplo-
matte delays in the negotiations of a
settlement Of the vexed question, is
rapidly pushing irrigation works
that will eventually call for the use of
practically all Of the water carried by
the Milk river. The Alberta Railway
and irrigation company, in 1900, had
completed q short canal about ~
miles north of the intern ational boun.
dairy. This has been rapidly extended,
until its total length is now said to
be about 200 miles, and the Canadian
government has granted the company
the right to 500 second feet at low
water and 1000 second feet at flood
water from the St. Mary's. Upon the
land grant to the company of about
600, 600 acres a number Of storage res
ervoirs have been erected, and more
are said to be under construction or
proposed.
In sharp contrast to the activity
upon the Canadian side of the line is
the work upon projects on the Mon.
tana side. Except at St. Mary's lake,
practically nothing has been done
since work vas stopped on the larger
project when the dispute as to the
division of water became a diploma attic
question.
One reason for the delay in arriving
at a settlement of the controversy is
the indirect methods that must be N
ployed in the negotiations. Canada,
of course, as q British dependency,
has no diplomatic representative at
Washington! The negotiations must
be carried on through the British am
bass ador. Downing street and Ottawa,
a triangular arrangement that in itself
breeds delay. If 1t were possible for
q Canadian commission to take up
this problem in person owe the state
department mahogany with the Am
erican diplomat matters would be
surprisingly expedited. but long.dis-
lance negotiations in relays with
Canada have never proved q uccess
The St. Mary's and Milk river irri-
cation project was practically the frs,
to be launched by the reclamation
service. 1t contemplates the reclama'
ton of $1,000 acres. The general
plan for the irrigation of the valley
comprises the construction of the
Chain lakes reservoir, the upper end
! of which is only q few miles south o.
the international boundary line. This
reservoir will store the flood water:
Of Milk river and any Of the loot
waters of the ST. Mary's that may bt
turned into it. Two diversion system.
are planned for the valley. One i:
known as the Chinook system, com
prising the Chinook north and south
canals, and the other known as thu
Dodson system, comprising two ca
nails from either bank of the stream
heading about twenty-five miles ives
of the town Of Malta. The Chain lake,
dam is planned for erection at a poin
about thirty miles northwest of Havr'
on Milk river.
Up to date, the government has ex
pended upon the St. Mary's project
total of 1854, 600 and on the lower Mill
river project 49,, 0OO.