The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1915-02-18
cHRISTLER FOR THE PEOPLE
At the conference held in Secre

tary Lanes office, Washington, DC,
over the subject of desert land en-
tries, Rev. j. l.. Christler, who is in
Washin gton on a mission for several
entrymen OF our town, made pray
er TO- the granting of patents to
those who have made tne4r proofs,
or ready to make proof, in good
faith. In his plea before the secre-
tary OF the interior, Mr.. Christler
said in part:
"Mr. Secretary--Out in Montana,
where the democracy OF the plains
is hitcned up with the gospel of the
| Nazarene, me work of miss ionary
consists OF anything that will bring
a carpet to the front room, piano
the pantry, and happiness to trei
and tried hearts. Hence my mission
to Washington. We all recognize
the splendid service of the reclama-
tlon department and of the public
lands department in the state Of
Montana. Through the altogether
very excellent administration of the
department OF the interior, the sec
tion OF Montana from which | come
is making wonderful progress. For
this we are deeply grateful, and be-
cause OF this I am sure that further
consideration of any nature whatso-
ever that will rebound to the wei
fare OF our people there will be
gladly handled by your office.
81 desire, therefore, to call to
your attention the claims of
certain desert land entrymen who
nave made settlement upon lands
within what is called the drainage
basin OF the Milk river, in Montana.
Many of these applications have
been withheld from patent by the
department on the ground that they
were in conflict with the Milk river
reclamation project.
I'm many OF these cases, of which
Snail hume oilIy d Lew, uGSlfe
to call your attention to the follow
ing conditions which | know to ex-
lsl wiz take the case of Dan Nc
! lenty, Havre, Serial No. O1O7S4
Mr.. Mckenty made application un-
2 der the act of March 3. 1891, and
!! May IL, 1898, for a reservoir ease
I ment within section II, township
\ % north, range q east, Havre land
district, and said application was re
ferred to the United States reclaim
alton service, April z, 1911, for its
y approval was denied on the ground
y tnat the reclamation service had ap.
] propriated in 1902 all of the remain
ing waters OF the milk river for the
i purposes of irrigation, as outlined
I in the Milk river irrigation project
y MIR Mcl\enty's entry is located
3 about - miles from the Milk rivol
and about 100 miles, if you follow
J. the river bed, from the Dodsol
\ dam. 1he water which he has ap
4 propriate>. is taken from small
! coulees and pot-holes, and does no
y reach lAe Milk river at any time
Z With the exception, perhaps, Of twF
Il or three days in the spring, durin:
. what is known as the "melting sno'
3 season. and at this time, when tn
{, water does not reach the Milk rive
!: by reason of the condition OF TIL
y q melting SHOWS, it is not retained b.
= the Dodson dam, but is permitted Il
II go to waste and flow down the rive,
|. For this reason, you Will readil
a see, that any water which Mr.. NC
Y kenty may be able to obtain for us
s on his entry is not an interference
" in any way With the water suppl
4 OF the Milk river project.
a Mr.. Mckenty has fenced his en-
Il try, has put in 81 acres in alfalfa
y and, altogether, has expended,
would say, about $4,000. His tina
proof has Deen satisfactory in ever
way, and has been accepted by til
. general land office; also, the genera
: land office has accepted his none
: in payment for the entry pendin
: q decision with reference to the VIZ
. ter right.
8 here are many other cases j
: this basin which are identical wit
. the Mckenty entry. 4-ntrymen hav
!: given their time, spent their none,
!. endured privations, suffered hare
8 ships for which they have not II
:: ceived even a pleasant smile. Anon
= them | will mention the following
. The entry of e. G. Richmont
!. Mabel Richmond and Mrs. RicF
. mond. l nave no. the serial nun