The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-04-12
UNJUST TO /

The compile atoms in which settlers
on the lower Yellowstone irrigation
project have become involved are a
subject of interest to their fellow citi.
tens who may have similar troubles
in other irrigation districts. The Sit
ustion in the eastern Mon tana case is
described and discussed by the Vel.
lowstone Journal in these rem arks:
The status of the farmers of the
lower Yellowstone who are dependent
on the big government ditch for irri'
cation, is certainly unfortunate.
Faulty engineering, followed by waste
full work 10 correcting errors, and in.
creased cost of labor and material,
has swelled the ultimate cost of this
project to twice the size contemplated
by the original estimates, and the
water users who somewhat timidly
signed agreements to reimburse the
government in ten annual installments
on q basis of not more than $50 an
acre, are now confronted with an obi.
CATION to pay, that averages s42 an
acre if they assent and commence
paying at once; otherwise they must
pay at the rate of $50 an acre or 20
without water; and in instances;
through some provision Of the agree.
ment, eventually lose their lands.
The advance per acre from s42 to
$50 an acre if the payment required
TO be made on March 31st, is not
made on that day, seems to be q very
drastic pen atty and one not warrant.
ed. If S42 an acre 10 the cost on
March 3lst, why should it be Sl1
more on April let. That must be a
puzzler to the average farmer. There
are some other conditions that may
go to explain the increase in cost be.
sides the increase In the price of la.
Dor and material and the waste of
doing the same thing twice because it
was done wrongly the fret time. One
of these ia that the first estim ate con.
templated the reclama alton of 60, 600
acres, but subsequent surveys resulted
in total OF only 43, 1000 acres reclaim.
ed by the project. This OF course would
opera ate to increase the apportionment
of cost per acre even in the original
estim ate of cost of construction had
been adhered to.
1t was this estimate Of 81 $1,000 acres
of reclaimable land at q cost for re-
claiming Of $50 per acre, that the
Lower Yellowstone Water Users
association incorporated on, at 81, 900.
600 capital stock; but with only 43, 900
acres to contribute, the apportionment
naturally rises to about S42 per acre.
But why $53 unless it is because only
some eight thousand acres under the
ditch have as yet signed up.
The payments required to be made
at once are in the main nominal, but
in view of the disasters sustained by
these farmers in the past year, these
payments are in many cases-in most
cases, it would seem-impossible, and
many will have to undergo the penalty
for the simple reason that they are
powerless to avert it. What will hap
pen in the future when the strong arm
of the law begins the process of evic.
ton and dispossession because of this
failure to pay 81 SO per acre on the
3lst of March, 1911, rem aims to be
e 1t cen to be quite plain nov
that such procedure would cause {
revolt. 1t is hardly probable that /
would be attempted. Surely some
way will be found to extend clemencJ
to these farmers who have, in ont
sense, been led into a false position b!
errors originating with the govern