The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-03-19
BOUNDARY WATERS
MAKING TROUBLE
CANADIANS PLAN IRRIGATION
ENTERPRISES MENACING
MONTANA FARMERS
Old Question as to Whether Canada
or the United States Controls the
Waters of st. .Mary's and Milk
Rivers Revived by Activities North
of the Boundary.

inc dispute with the Canadian
over the division of the waters of st
Mary's and Milk rivers is again at al
acute stage and efforts are being
made to arouse the bodies interested
in irrigation in the settlement of the
controversy.
1t will be remembered that the
government project takes the waters
that run into st. Mary's river and
divert them into Milk river up in Gla-
cier park. st. Mary's flows north in
to Canada and empties into the Arc
tic ocean. The Canadians have a
number of irrigation projects that
take water out~of st. Mary's after it
crosses the line.
Rises in Montana
The Milk river rises in the United
States, flows north into Canada and
makes long loop back into the Uni
ted States north of Havre. Along the
Milk river also the Canadians have
large irrigation projects and are
planning more. The Canadian Pa
cific railroad is particularly interest
ed in very large project. There
arose a dispute between Canada and
the United States over the division
of the water of the two streams after
the reclamation service began the st.
Mary's project and at one time an all
American canal was proposed to div
ert the water into Milk river without
sending it through the long loop into
Canada. A water treaty was finally
signed, however, to apportion the
flow of the two rivers. An interna-
tional waterways commission was
appointed that had jurisdiction over
the division of the water as we'll as
other international water disputes.
The Canadian Claim
A few years later the Canadians
advanced a claim that the basis of di-
vision of the waters of the two rivers
should be the flow at the mouths of
the streams. 1t had been the under
standing before that the division was
to be of the flow of the water at the
boundary line. 1t happens that di-
vision at the mouth does not make
much difference as to st. Mary's
river but does make lot of differ
ence as to the Milk river. If the Can
adams were allowed their agreed |
of the flow of Milk river
On the basis of the volume at the |
liOdlll VI thC OIL CdIl, they WOulu get
all of the natural flow at
he boundary line.
The threat that the commission in
lividing the waters might allow the
Canadian claim, was a serious men
ice to the farmers in the Milk river
ALLEY. A hearing was held at St.
PAUL on the matter and the Canadian
'acific brought over large array
# witnesses and attorneys in addi-
ion to the Canadian official repres-
natives. The American representa- I
ion was not very large but they pre-
ented much testimony and argu-
lent. w. B. Sands represented the
fontana ranchers and the state and
he reclamation service had repres- l
natives. The commission took the {
latter under advisement and later '
hearing was held at Detroit at
hich Senator Walsh presented the {
merican case. \
Lansing Withdrew Case I
No decision was ever rendered and
ecretary Lansing subsequently with Y
rev the case from the consideration D
the commission. In the, mean
lille two of the old American COM
ission have died and there are two b
sw commissioners who have not L
card the case.
Recently Secretary Lansing has Il
zen persuaded that the case is one p
Ter which the commission has juris- t.
ction. Accordingly it is desired to Ii
It the case up for a decision. The a
anadians are starting some big O.
Nv projects which take water from tt
10 Milk and st. Mary's rivers, and i'll n
lowed to develop the use of the dis =
tied waters of the two rivers long
Tough, will be in a better position
claim larger share of the waters.
is of the utmost Importance to the
vners of water rights not only on
ilk river, but also on the streams
applying into Milk river that an
rly decision be obtained on the dis
tie before any more claims for wal
r can be developed in Canada, and
order that the water right owners
ay know just how much of a flow
Uqfar thou NAV ho ouro Of