Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1933-07-20
Gods and Dams

Over on the Fort Peck reservation a few weeks
weeks ago the Indians held a dance. In it. according
s. their traditional customs, they invoked the rods
~ Sun and Ran. according to the Red Mans concep-
ten q them. One dance glorified the Rain god.
another the Sun god. Both were successful.
After the Rain dance it rained. The sun smiled
30 the SIM dance. Interesting Of course. Aboriginal
man had not progressed far in the field Of science.
Superstition swayel him. IF there came rains after
iAe Ram dance, he was confident the God Of Rain
WIS responsible, lie knew nothing Of evaporation
aHa Ar currents and mountain barriers so far as their
effect o. precipitation is concerned.
we smile at the Indian. His rites seem nuaint
baf ~ this particular field we are not so far
aaeaa u him-not far enough to laugh long or lond-
= u hs Wlerd ineantations. which after ali are
grounded u something more than superstition since
fHsF recognize a greater force than man IN What
ihey are pleased to designate as the Gods Of SIM
ana Rain. ~
The Gods Of sun and Rain after all are inst
natural forces. 1t is extremely doubtful if dancing
70 them il Of much avail.
But natural forces, understood and controlled are
quite another thing. Science is proving their control
u possible IN some degree.
Rndiments Ct this form of control as it now il
understood are in the water conservation program
sheridan county should be specially interested and
practically Interested.
- ~ haAt dlltdlA UpHn mnUH
ana tentative drawings sketched Of a project Of con-
siderable portions at Medicine Lake. Here. at \ com
pafailVeiy moderate expense a large body of wafer
49, y paeked up that would cover thousands of
affes and without doubt effect the conservation of
surface moisture to 4 considerable extent.
Every person In Sheridan county should not on1v
get behind the Medicine Lake project, but other seq
IONS oi me county might well select suitable sites
IS construction Of dams for water conservation. we
haNe iasRed behind somewhat in taking ADVANTAGE
"a ING opportunities the Recovery Act nroviaas
WINE oihef counties and other states have alreadv
oeen mapplng out their, improvement programs with
uellhte water conservation projects. new builaincs
ana olher public improvements. no definite
alton has vet been sought for projects i Shariaan
county. : neiiua
me farpier moving rocks from his cultivated
acres, IN most cases. with little effort . disnoso
y mem " the dam that will conserve snow and rain
water. Every spring in this section is 4 sonrca 81
wafer supply TO be carefully safegnarded ana 60
served. livery lake is an asset of tremendous rat,o
Every county in Montana should as soon !
practicable have an intelligent survey of IT, xratau
resources and thereafter devise practical Mons -
conserve them. Water is our greatest waste Tbo !.
wafer The greater the waste, when it is not carofnnn
conserved. Au'ns
Surely this section needs every form Of nractioa,
water conservation it can devise. Far to tha rroe+ -
rs is . great range Of mountains. Air eurrents 1aaoa
with moisture coming from the west. are cooled an
the other side Of them. Vapor falls in rain and snov
Winds sweep our prairies, hot dry winds. Before
them the process Of evaporation lis specially rania