The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-09-30
FOR SEPARATE IRRIGATION
DISTRICTS

The action at the Malta meeting of
the Board of Directors of the new as
ISOLATION for the cooperative devel-
opment of the valley report of which
appears in the news columns, hints at
division Of the Milk river project into
separate irrigation districts.
There is no other project in the
United States, Of the some shape and
dimensions as the Milk river project;
it is so long and slim that ever the
climate and altitude are different at
on end from that of the other end.
The geographical situation is such that
the suggestion for division is eminent
ly proper. Aside from this, much of
the western part of the project COM
prises old settled districts, that were
irrigated before the project was
thought of; the government has al
ready passed title to much of this
land; and the owners are so situated
that they can give valid options on
their property. Much of the terri
tory above the Dodson dam is now
in condition, as far as the legal ques-
tions are concerned, to be organized
into irrigation districts. In fact some
of it is already handled in this way.
The situation below the Dodson
dam, or below the Nelson reservoir is
entirely different. In this part of
the project persons who had land with
water rights prior to the commence
ment of construction yielded to the
government, and cancelled their rights,
upon the governments agreement to
furnish them water for $25 per acre;
others took up land with this under
standing, expecting water within a
few years. The government still has
a lien on these lands for the cost Of
the project; the settlers say for $25
an acre, the government representa-
tives say the actual cost of the pro-
ject per acre.: This cost is not yet de-
termined; the Nelson reservoir is not
yet completed or tested.
1t follows therefore that there is no
land this side of the reservoir upor
which options on land could be giver
prospective purchasers, for the reason
that the present and the total cost of
the project is unknown.
The conclusion is that as to this
portion Of the project, some definite
understanding must be first reached
as to costs, before an irrigation dis
trict will be agreed upon. AS here
tofore suggested the cost to date is
believed to be so large that it is more
than the land is worth for farm use,
and hence the way to form irrigation
districts in this end Of the projects,
will be for the government to charge
off all Of the. cost of the project over
the $25 per acre agreed upon. If this
is done this part of the project woulc
be in line to come within the plans
VI Vic uAlCSIOAS IlCiltIOiICuS W 1olui @
district and settle up the lands.
In passing it should be noted tina
the lower part of the project is alst
independent of the other end Of thu
project, with reference to the division
of water with Canada. When com
pleted the Nelson reservoir will hav'
capacity to store enough FLOOD waite:
to irrigate all of the project below i
for two years. While the people her
might have something to say, provid
ing Gov. Dixon's plan to store tn
flood water higher up vas carried out
at this time, interest centers in tn
completion of the Nelson reservoir.
There are many reasons why ther'
should be separate irrigation district
and agitation in this direction is tn
proper thing at this time.