The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1908-10-28
EXCURSION A
BIG SUCCESS
PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE
VALLEY VISITED AT BIG
DAM LAST SUNDAY

The huge jollilication meeting at
the Dodson dam Sunday afternoon
was a pronounced success. Over l 200
people from throughout the Milk
River valley gathered there and par
ticipated in one of the most notable
gatherings ever held in the state.
Every town in the valley was pre-
sented by large delegation, Malta
responding with the largest number
of visitors along the line, and every
one was delighted and pleased with
the affair. The day was excellent,
being a good old Indian summer day.
The excursion trains were run onto
the government spur, where they
remained during the entire afternoon.
The people upon their arrival
swarmed to the big irrigation dam,
which is now under construction, and
there witnessed the beginning of the
largest undertaking ever started by
the reclamation service in Montana.
The work on the dam and the canal
has progressed to that extent that the
people have realized what tremen-
dus job it is and every one heartily
approved the work as being efficiently
carried out.
The Dodson dam is located about
three miles west of Dodson and the
location is ideal, as the bed OF the
river at that Point is of solid sub
stance which assures a substantial
dam. The banks of the river are
about 80 feet high on either side. SO
far there are about 125 men employed
and number of teams besides a pile
driver is constantly at work and has
placed one row of piles almost
half way across the river. Several
thousands yards of dirt has been eN-
cavated on both sides already and
still more is being taken out. Hun
dreds of cords of rock are piled
alongside of the site, which will be
used on the dam. In fact, the dam site,
which three months ago looked
as bleak as the most forlOrn hill in
Montana, today looks like a small
town. There is material of every
description on the ground and ready
to be used as soon as the first part of
vation and pile driving is COM
pleted This outlook alone was a
great factor in putting enthusiasm
into the good natured crowd.
AS soon as the people looked over
the big works they were invited to
partake of the big feed which was
prepared for their benefit. The feast
consisted of four big 4-year-old steers,
~ sheep, bread, cheese, pickles and
coffee and other delicacies. This
feature of the program was carried
out to the minute and not single
person was overlooked; every one
had their fill.
I. Immediately after the feast the
crowd gathered near the dam site,
where speaking was in order. Hon.
Dan Mckay, one of the foremost citi-
zens of Northern Montana, was
selected as chairman. Mr.. Mckay
started the speaking by delivering a
fine speech in favor of the excellent
work so far accomplished by the gov
ernment engineers and the water
users association. Hon. f. G. Day
was the next speaker, and he glow
ingly pictured the future of the Milk
River valley in words that will long
be remembered by all those paesent.
f. E. Stranahan, mayor of Fort Ben
ton, enthusiastically spoke of the
valleys bright future and was award
ed a hearty applause from his
audience. L. Newman, eX-mayor of
Havre and president of the United
Milk River Irrigation association,
also paid the valley glowing COM
pliment. Hon. Thos. M. Everett, the
father of irrigation in the Milk River
valley, made an excellent speech.
He reviewed the past history of the
valley and told of the many hardships
that were endured during the early
days when heand others in the vicin-
ity of Harlem built the first ditch
in the valley. He stated
that now the benefits derived from
the ditch are enormous and ascer-
tained that what they have done with
only small ditch would be thrice
fold accomplished throughout the
entire length and breadth of the val
ley when the mammoth canal was
by the government. Sen
ator Everett created great enthusiasm
and was roundly applauded. Senator
Truscott Of Glasgow made a short