The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1922-02-24

Moreover a considerable area of the
lands irrigated have not been Guilt
waited and planted to crops, but have
been allowed to remain in native hay.
The success of the project cannot be
expected until the lands are thorough
ly cultivated and intensely farmed.
8. The opportunity to obtain water
on a rental basis should have been
grasped by every land owner, in order
that he might bring his lands under
cultivation and place them On the best
possible paying basis before the per-
led before when it would be necessary
to begin the repayment Of the con-
struction charges. A number Of land
owners have endeavored in a diligent
and gratifying manner to do this, but
many have not, and it appears that
little progress in the development of
lands for which water is now available
may be expected as long as the present
plan of furnishing water is continued.
4. On account of water having been
furnished with a charge for only such
quantities as were used, and on &C.
count of the small use, due principally
to only a small part Of the lands for
which water has been available hav-
ing been cultivated and irrigated, the
returns from water rentals have been
each year much less than the cost of
operation and maintenance. In years
Of more than average rainfall the
returns have been further reduced for
the reason that during such years the
demand for water is naturally much
reduced. At the same time it is nee
essary to maintain a sufficient force
for operating and maintaining the ir-
rigation works, in order that water
can be delivered in case it is needed
There has been, for these reasons,
constantly increasing, operation ane
maintenance deficit which, at the enc
Of the calendar year 1921, amounted
to $261, 500. This deficit must be add
ed to the construction cost of the pro
ject and any further increase in sucl
deficit will still further increase tn
construction cost, which eventual,
must be repaid by the landowners.
s. About $1,000 acres of irrigabl
land in the project are included i
holdings exceeding 100 acres each.
is generally recognized, by those full
acquainted with farming under irri
cation, that the best success can b
obtained from comparatively sma
holdings. The Reclamation Law doe
not permit of the sale of a water rigf
for more than 100 acres of irrigabl
land in n ownership. In order ths
no possible injustice might be dor
land owners by limiting the area
any farm unit, or individual holdin
of private land, to less than can
farmed profitably, the Secretary
the Interior has authorized farm uni
of 160 acres of irrigable land.
6. The disposal of excess lands
large holdings, SO as to limit the Ian,
in ony one ownership to not more thu
100 acres, makes the question
bringing in land purchasers an impol
ant one. It has been claimed, pro
ably with some justification, that t
uncertainty which exists regarding t
construction cost per acre Of the pr
JcCI uCtcAS PAOSpSStiSC oSSeiSAo In
purchasing project lands. The off
ials Of the Great Northern railws
who have shown great interest in fl
tering immigration to Montana, ha
stated, on several occasions, that tn
are unable to do much in the sett
ment of the Milk River Project Ian
until the construction cost per acre I
the irrigation works has been g
nounced.
z, The usual manner of ann0unci
the construction charge per acre !
a project constructed by the Cover
ment under the Reclamation Law
by issuance Of Public Notice, as pl
vided in the Reclamation Act, appro
ed August IS, 1914 (SS Stat. 6S6), t
payment Of the construction char
shall be made in annual installmen
extending over a period OF TWEEN