The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-06-13

cessors, the railroads, and the ma
tons wealth and sweet tooth.
Yellowtail reservoir will serve to
stabilize the water available for ex.
listing irrig alton units, (roughly g..
600 acres) already under the ditch
1t will also go far toward the elimi-
nation of silt, estimated to be more
than twenty millions of tons annual
ly now being dumped into the Mis-
souri, river, and which requires much
expensive dredging in the lower Mis-
souri, and Mississippi basins.
Flood control is very important
item to be considered, with its accom-
panying silt-problems. None can
deny that had Yellowtail and other
dams been in existence whereby the
flow of the Big Horn and other riv-
ers could have been slowed down, the
loss from the recent Kansas Missouri
floods would have been materially
lessened-if not largely prevented
The region in which Yellowtail will be
constructed is one of slight rainfall,
and also of quick run-off of the moi
sture that does fall. Then too, the
soil is of a particularly friable ma
ture easily aroused by the run-off.
Indeed, it is estimated that 26 per
cent of the silt carried past Kansas
City by the Missouri comes from the
Big Horn river. What this does to
increase the cost of dredging out the
navigable downstream areas, as we'll
as what it does to the destructive
floods of the lower Missouri and Mis-
sissippi basins, can easily be acertain-
ed. Building of bikes and levees
along the lower basins of these rivers
is most expensive, as are the dredging
operations. Engineers advise that
the construction of the Yellowtail
dam would cut right into the heart
of the problem, for this is, in effect
going right to the source of the trou-
BILE
While there is no doubt or ques-
tion to the necessity of having
dikes, levees, and dredging operations
today, doesn't it seem obvious that
this has been work which might be
comparable to a carpenter building
q roof first? Yellowtail dams DO
tential contribution to flood control
cannot be over emphasized, for it
looms large in the overall national
flood control picture.
Yellowtail dam must be regarded |
in the light of an investment, and not
Just drain upon the public purse.
1t will return many fold to the ma
.ional treasury each dollar required
for its initial construction. The di-
rect an tangible returns will come
from the production of power and
Industrial development which follows
he irrigation of land, and the pro-
iuction of agricultural products
as we'll as probable oil and
allied developments.
MANY INTANGIBLE BENEFITS
Indirect and intangible returns are
perhaps more difficult to properly
,valuate, but you will realize that
hey have definite place in this pro-
,osal. Some of these very positive
are the elimination of
much of the silt that clogs the lower {
Missouri and Mississippi basins; the :
,art that Yellowtail dam would neces-
arily play in flood control and pre- /,
ention of soil erosion; and the in
reased standard of living made pos
IDLE for our native population, which ,
n turn would result in increased tax !
eturns.
In line with this thought, it should {
lso be called to your attention that |
he development of Yellowtail dam
yould be a great factor in aiding a
arge segment of the Grow Nation to
ecome more self-sustaining, and en- =
BILE them the better to cope with an &
dvancing civilization. Help to one :
egment of our people will result in +
clip to all segments. :. ]
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