The roundup record. [volume] (Roundup, Mont.) 1908-1929, 1913-06-27
BUTTE men FAVOR
IRRIGATION plan
cRlccs BROS. OF ST. PAUL CON.
FER WITH LAND OWNERS
IN BUTTE.

BUTTE, MONTANA, June 90
The Griggs Gros., big grain merchants
of st. Paul, who have large land hold
ings in eastern Montana, were In
Butte today comforting with Butte men
who have interests in their section.
Two years ago they purchased 12,.
900 acres of land at Gage, a few miles
east of Roundup in the Musselshell
valley, and they have been adding to
their interests in that section. The
brothers have been In Roundup for
some time in connection with an irri-
cation project, which if carried out
will add immensely to the value of
lands in the Muselshell Valley between
Ryegate and Melstone, and it was in
connection with that business that
they visited Butte today. After
conference with Charles s. Passmore
they left over the Milwaukee for the
coast, where there will interview
others interested in lands in that Sec
tion. Mr.. Passmore controls a tract
of 5000 acres just west of Roundup
that would be greatly benefited by the
proposed irrigation project. John
MacGinnis and the Largey estate are
also interested in the tract.
the prospects for the Musselshell
valley were never better They have
1000 acres in grain in their bottom
lands, and next year they expect to
have double that acreage.
"All grain is looking splendid In our
section," said the elder of the brothers
today. We have had jus. enough
rain and at the right times to insure
bountiful harvest. Much of our
holdings are bench lands, and our en-.
tire tract is on the north side Of the
river. We are particularly interested
in the proposed irrigation project. If
that is carried out it will bring water
to our bench lands and it will In
crease the value of vast area of
ground not now under ditch.
"The project involves the utilization
of natural reservoir site west O1
Ryegate and not far from Shawmut
known as Dead Mans basin. This Is 9
natural site, which will require scarce
ly any work to provide storage for al
immense amount Of water. 1t mas beer
reserved for this purpose. We hav'
received assurances from the Unitet
States government that no part of tn
. land required for reservoir site
. would be opened to entry.
ut is proposed to lead the water
of the Musselshell river into the resel
voir thru a canal about ten mile
long. The construction of that cana
would entail the chief expense. The
there would be a tunnel to convey tn
, waters from the reservoir to cana
> thru which they would be led back t
J the river. That is not especially diff
! cult nor expensive. 1t has been est
3 mated that the entire project could b
, built for about 100000. Considerin
g the magnitude of the result the outla
], would be trivial.
ters of the river in food time an
store them for use during the sun
mer. AS 1t is now there is not enoug
. water, nor one.tenth enough water,
the river in the irrigating season
permit the irrigation of the lands thu
;, otherwise could be irrigated from
= Former Representative Dan Slayto
= of Lavina, one of the largest land hol
!; ers in the valley, is very much in fave
: of the project, and with others is doir
: all that he can to further It, We hoI
:. to get work started this year and v
feel that the project, once In operatio
will more than double the value Of q
!, the lands in the district l mentione
: 1t will increase the population, as We
:; as add to the valuation, and in gener
- 1t means much to all that section
The Butte men who have interes
o in the Musselshell valley are said
- favor the project.
-