Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-06-11
Much Reclamation Activity
in VieD for State This Year

A tremendous amount of reclamation
activity is in view for Montana during
the present summer and fall. Work has
dam" in the West Fork country OF
Ravall county and upon the Swamp
creek project in the west end of San
ders county. Word has been received
from Washington that the PWA au-
thorities have approved the Middle
creek canyon project for a $250,000
dam and irrigation canal system south
west of Bozeman and that the money
for construction will be available as
soon as congress makes the necessary
appropriations for the PWA program.
The dam is a project of the state water
conservation board. 1t provides for stor-
ing 8,O69 acre feet OF water behind an
earthfil dam at the lower end Of
Hood meadow in the canyon. 1t would
provide auxiliary water for 127 farms
on the high benchland south of
BoZeman.
Other big projects are under way in
various parts Of Montana among them
the upper Musselshel project in central
Montana. Numerous others are In
prospect
Ralph Bricker Of Great Falls, chair
man of the recently formed reclama-
ton committee of Montanans, Inc, the
state chamber of commerce. has an
nounced that the committee will begin
Immediately its study Of the needs Of
Montana in regards to water conserva-
ton and reclamation.
From Over State
The committee is composed of lead
ers throughout the state acting as a
general planning, publicity and fact
finding organization, rather than a
promotional group.
"At no time will the group be ex-
pected to initiate or promote individual
projects, but will limit It's activities to
the development of local and state in
itiative," said A. T. Hubbard of Helena,
member Of the committee. He added
that the committee soon will be able
to furnish information as to how and
through what agency, or procedure, in |
dividual projects can be carried
through to a successful conclusion"
Members of the committee met last
in Helena, March "a, to discuss plans
of organization and decide upon its
activities during the present year.
Those comprising the committee be-
sides Mr.. Bricker and Mr. Hubbard are:
Q. L. Wood of Alzada, F. E. Huddleston |
of Billings, L. j. OnStad of Broadus, /
Joe Sherbourne of Browning, DR.. Peter .
Potter of Butte, Dennis Dellwo of /
Charlo, II. M. Montgomery of Chinook
Frank Hazelbaker of Dillon, Otto
Christinson of Glasgow, K. E. Burleigh
Of Glendive. H. w. Bunston Of Hardin,
@. q. Elweu OF Havre, Harry Kelley
of Kalispel, d. B. Noble of Lewistown,
L. G. Morrison Of Livingston, Joe
Shower of Malta, Walter White of
Manhattan, j. D. Seaman of Miles
City, George Shepard of MisSOula, E.
v. johnson Of Philipsburg, Peder Moe
OF Poplar, A. =. Dye OF Roundup, Roy
Larson of Shelby, r. S. Mutt of Sidney
and F. L. Patterson of Terry.
The Swamp creek project will fur
nish employment for crew of about
20 men, according to George Weisel,
division engineer for the PWA In west
ern Montana.
1.-The first crews are clearing the
right of way for canal construction,
Weisel said. He said a small sawmi1
would be set up to cut lumber on
the project for fumes He said when
the right of way is cleared excavation
will start for the canal.
About 10000 cubic yards Of gravel .
must be moved.
Sponsored by the Montana water
conservation board with the Swamp 6
Greek Water Users association as CO. [
sponsor, the project will be an impor- {
tant western Montana development. 3
The project win represent total cost
Of $72,727, with the canal costing \
slightly more than $50, 900. When the 4
canal is, completed the dam will be
built at Wantless lake.
The project is ideal, WelSeI re-
ported upon his return from a general 4
survey Of the start of the work, and a
will be economical, irrigating approxi- a
mately 5000 acres Of land In Sanders v
county" n
The construction will be carried on Fl
through the WPA, while the Swamp
Creek Water Users association viii n
furnish the equipment. a.
Rock and dirt are moving at the "
West Fork little Boulder DAM" in *
7avalh county. A major job at present is
s drilling a 10-foot tunnel through a b,
'ock hill. The tunnel is about $50 feet Y,
INTO the hill and when completed will
)e about $50 feet long. In
A power shovel and heavy caterpillar Of
ractors are on the excavation job and II
thousands of tons of dirt have been Ia
moved since construction began April el
70. There will be four different kinds II
If material in the dam walls, COM IL
)acted clay, sand and gravel and a el
concrete structure which will mainly OF
1e in the spillway and control works. al
There will only be about $500 cubic
Yards of concrete.
The tunnel will be used for diversion OF
Of the river during construction and IL
afterwards will serve for delivery Of Is
he water in the reservoir. tx
The site covers approximately 300 st