The Glasgow courier., 1916-12-01
'$l50,000 FERGUS
PROJECT READY
IRRIGATION SCHEME BROUGHT
TO COMPLETION WITHOUT
CENT INDEBTEDNESS.
Two Reservoirs Prepared and IS
Miles of bitches Constructed; H.
900 Acres to Be Put Under Guilt
vtion During the Coming Season;
Increase to 20, 1000 Likely.

VACAOuI AACull4uS b C0uC Oh OO0O0O
or loose Indebtedness, the Winnett Ir-
rigation company has completed its
project in eastern Fergus county,
through which it is prepared to ir-
rigate 1900 acres the coming sea-
son. The project eventually is to
bring much larger area under wa
ter, probably $4,000 to 10000 acres.
The work was begun in the fall of
1911. Fifty-five miles of bitches
have been built and reservoirs con-
structed at cost of $15O,O0O. The
water is stored in War Horse Butte
lake reservoir with a capacity of 27,-
600 acre feet and j.. Bear lake, a
secondary reservoir, with a capacity
of 5000 acre feet.
The company was organized by
Walter j. Winnett of Winnett, and
Fred w. Atkins, formerly a govern
ment reclamation engineer. who is a
nephew Of Jefferson H. Atkins, presi-
dent of the company, has been the
engineer in charge.
Mostly Desert Land Entries.
Most of the lands to be Immediately
irrigated, are desert land entries be-
longing to the stockholders of the
company, while others are decided
lands belonging to Walter ]. Winnett
and others. Some of the stockhold-
ers already have offered proof of the
reclamation of their desert land en-
tries.
The lands lie mainly in the Buffalo
creek valley and two principal dis
tributing bitches, one known as the
north and the other as the south
ditch, water the two 81 es of the val
ley. Other lands lie in the Box Elder
valley and extend from Immediately
below the War Horse Butte lake res
ervoir to a point below or east OF
Winnett, or some 20 miles east and
west.
A considerable area-approximate-
ly 1000 acres-already has been
brought under cultivation. The
lands are declared to be of excellent
quality and particularly suited to
the raising of alfalfa and other forage
crops and sugar beets. Small grains
probably will be the first crops.
New Line Stimulates Activity.
It is believed that the irrigation o1
this large tract will contribute sub.
stantially to the growth and wealth
of Fergus county, and especially o1
eastern Fergus and the Winnett re.
gion. The building of the Milwaukee
road to Winnett this fall has stimu.
lated activity on the project, as there
will be a practicable market for the
products.
The present officers are j. H. Atkins
president; J. w. Vogel, vice pre-
sident; G. ]. Wiedeman, treasurer
and e. H. Holmboe, secretary, while
the board of directors consists of th'
above named and J. Rudolph Miller
Former directors and officers ant
others who have been prominent.
identified with the affairs of the com
pany are I. M. Hobensack, c. M
Branch, J. E. Ford, Ned G. Hardy, de
ceased, Rudolph Won Tobel, Abraham
Hogeland and j. Erwin Miller, al
of Lewistown, and John P. Algie, nov
Of Como. Montana.
The project is cooperative in 1t
nature, the organizers being person
from Lewistown and other parts o
Montana, although a portion of tn
stock Of the company is held by pee
pie outside the state. The source O
water supply is Fords creek and But
| falO creek.