The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1944-02-24
GROUP ASKS
RIGHTS FOR
IRRIGATION
Urge Establishment of Reserve
from Peck Reservoir for
South Bench.
Move Supports Fight Made by
Governors of States OH
Upper River.

Supporting the fight made by Gov.
Sam @. Ford and other executives of
upper Missouri river states to pre-
serve its waters for reclamation,
Glasgow farmers and business men
meeting Friday night urged rights
be established for use of water from
the Fort Peck reservoir on the pro-
posed Bench irrigation project.
1t was pointed out that the Sloan
survey made by the bureau of re-
clamation has established the engin-
eering feasibility 'of irrigating
some $1,000 acres of bench land in
Valley county in the vicinity of Fort
Peck dam by pumping from that
reservoir"
While wartime conditions have
caused postponement of further
steps on the project, the resolu-
ton adds, its ultimate construction
will bring great economic benefits
both to the adjacent areas and the
nation by supplying increased and
stable food production"
Concerned Over Water
The resolution expressed concern
that water necessary for this desir-
able development might be directed
to other and less vital uses"
The resolution asks that proper
authorities be urged to obtain recog-
milton at once of the rights of this
project to use its full share of the
water of this reservoir for irrigat-
ing the 59,400 acres involved"
A statement made by Otto M.
Christinson. chairman of the Glas-
gov Chamber of Commerce irriga-
ton committee, and Secretary Josef
Shower said. 1.-THE Glasgow bench
farmers have. at least, given fine
support to the principle that in
arid regions. the use of available
water for food production and do
nestle purposes should receive prior
consideration. 1t might be we'll to
consider, too, that western practice
establishes a permanent water right
to the party who first files and ac-
tually puts the water to beneficial
use"
GoYernor Returns
Back from Washington this week.
where he appeared before congress
Sional committees on the develop
ment Of the Missouri river basin
Governor Ford said, II feel very
much encouraged and I think those
congressional committees appreciate
our stand and the Importance of
an extension of reclamation in
Semiarid states"
In the conclusion of a four-page
statement adopted by Governor
Ford, Governor Moses of North Da-
and Governor Hunt of Wyo-
ming, the chief executives said:
1T is apparent to anyone that
cannot be attracted to the
construction of docks, tugs or barges
or to irrigation works or farm i'm
provements until a fair, equitable
and permanent division of the use
the Missouri river has been de-
termined. and we doubt that any
division which is not fair and equit-
able will be permanent.
I'VE urge early conferences be-
tween the chairmen of the flood
control committee, the river and
harbor committee and the commit
tee on reclamation and irrigation.
We urge that further effort be made
On the part of the corps of (army)
engineers and the bureau of reclama-
ion to compose differences looking
proper amendments to the
liver and harbor bill.
Ask Bureaus Report
1T is our present purpose to ask
proper committees of congress :
request the bureau of reclamation :
o make its basinwide (development) =
'eport available to the congress at :
he same time the report goes to ,
he bureau of the budget, in order !
o expedite the consideration of the =
'ver-all Missouri river program by J
committees of congress and the '
Missouri river states committee" ,
The governors declared they were !
lot opposing "the use of a reason :
BILE amount of water for navigation !
'elow Sioux City. but we are en-
'hatic that the use in perpetuity of
1000 or $4,000 cubic feet per Sec I
out of an average annual flow
t $1,000 does not constitute either
he most economic or the most
eneficial use of such a valuable
.atural resource"