Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-06-25

After a motor trip of 200 miles
T through Prairie county, where work
/ Of the bureau of agricultural eco
Monies Is being carried out under
the supervision Of w. II. J0neas
/ project manager, a group Of Is,
( including high officials and others
/ of the federal department in charge
I of the work, were Of the c0ncensus
/ that Prairie county was ~On the
way back as a livestock section
! All sites visited by the party had
been planned out and constructed
by MIR. Jones division after con-
suIEing stOckmen and rancherB as
to the need and feasibility Tor
such units and expressions Of sat
isfacti0n at the results were heard
from several.
Units viewed included stock water
dams. reservoirs for both stock water
and flood irrigation, stock corrals, dip
ping vats, branding, dehorning and
Vaccinating chutes, spring water de-
velopment, stock passes, fencing and
the recreatiOnal center established at
Little Sheep mountain. One of the
first dams viewed was one constructed
some As years ago by stocklnen and
which was still standing and tlustrat-
ed a construction method that was
still used by the government with the
exception Of the spiIlway which was OF
a different construction than govern
ment engineers recommended.
Entire Area Fenced
On entering Prairie county, a large
part of which has been fenced in by
the government, following purchase OF
the majority Of the land within the
area, the party viewed sample OF the
2O7 miles of completed fence, construct
ed of split cedar posts. butts creoSote
dipped, four wires, two stays per panel
The cars entered over a stock pass Of
modern design, Of which so had been
completed. Development work In the
county was started in January, 1885,
and has been carried on for the last
90 months, MFR. Jones said.
The first stop within the county was
the Clark dam, the largest constructed
in the area. Draining an area OF $3.50
acres, the dam contained 27.O00 cubic
Yards of earth, is rock faced and has
a spiIlway that win utilize overflow
water for irrigation on 90 acres OF land
suitable for hay. The land has been
diked TO hold the water, which can be
pumped onto it If the flood crest is
not sufficiently high for an overflow.
Another project visited was one Of
four completed pole corrals, consisting
Of several holding pens, a concrete Dip
ping vat with draining apron, a
squeeze" type branding and dehorn-
ing chute that can be used while vac
cinating, and loading chute. Two Of
stockmen can weigh out their cattle or
sheep without driving or trucking them
to a railroad point first.
Into Grazing Region
1t was pointed out that all these IA
cilities are for stOckmen, as the entire
county is TO be turned into a grazing
district but operated through q board
of directors Of ranchers within the
area according to the present plan)
and the entire 800, 206 acres that have
been purchased will be taken out OF
the farm land class, the only crops be-
ing raised being for forage under the
flood irrigation system, the feed to be
utilized by stock within the area. One
Of the things commented upon by
members Of the party was the fine APP
pearance Of the countryside az the pres
ent time, knee-high grass In many
places, fou1r-tnch grass over 9 major
well advanced. To those acquainted
with the condition Of that section the
last four or five years, II was q reve-
lation and promised return 70 nor
NAL OF a vast area OF livestock pro-
ducing land.
"One thing is certain" member Of
the party said, III Prairie county at
present, had its fun animal unit carry
ing capacity q sheep E,s e se,, ana 1,n
within 8 few years. ] have
never seen more ideal range country
or q better start Of q grass cover after
q severe drouth than Is right here be-
fore US"
Recreation Center
One OF the outstanding spots visited
was the recreation center at Little