The people's voice., 1959-01-23
GOOD BILL-BUT, PLEASE
EXEMPT USI

SSSSlOu.
GOOD BILL-BUT, PLEASE
EXEMPT US!
Theme of industry spokesman at
the hearing was that they really didn't
have any objection to SB 14-if only
their particular industries were ex-
empted from the act. Industry spokes-
men were r. d. Corette, Montana
Power; John Hazen, manager of the
Anaconda Company's Butte Water
Co., and Lewis Brown, attorney for
the Anaconda Co.
Objections by each industry repre-
sentative have considerable validity,
however exempting them from the
act is not the answer to their prob
lens. Should the control agency
Estate Water Board) at anytime
prove to be so unreasonable that a
satisfactory solution could not be
achieved, the courts are always avail
able to reach a final settlement. Ana
conda fears the waste" section of
SB IA might hamper their pumping
of water from the Butte mines-a
production requisite. MPCo., by using
barren gas storage fields for stock
piling natural gas in the summer for
winter supply, has found that the
water table in the vicinity of its Madi-
son storage field raises considerably.
This has resulted in more water in
nearby wells and also caused unavoid-
able run-off of underground water
into the Gallatin River. So, "waste"
is also the item in the bill causing
greatest concern to Montana Power.
OPPOSES BILL OUTRIGHT
Verne Sexton of Belgrade, told Nc
Gowan's Irrigation Committee he's
Just as opposed to the "watered down"
control bill of this session as he had
been to previous underground water
bills. He says he doesn't want appro-
priation of such water to be at the
'whims of a five-man board" Estate
Water Board). He prefers to have
the district courts continue their jur-
isdiction over water fights between
appropriations.
Sexton was the first opponent of
The measure to suggest the more
Studying" course which brought
Wilson's ire to the surface at the
md of the hearing.
John Paugh, Gallatin valley farm
II, stated he was in general agree
nent with most of this bill, but that
lie doesn't think enough information
las yet been accumulated to put a
law on the books. Paugh
aid that with water becoming increas-
ngly vital to the life of the Gallatin
alley that more and more wells will
e drilled in that region in the near
uture. He expressed the belief that
of the proposed storage dam
n the West Gallatin, at mouth of
'allatin canyon, would not only pro-
ide a great amount of extra surface
'ater for irrigation, but would also
Materially improve the water table
f the valley.
S. L. Croft of Montana Bureau of
lines, although emphasizing his agen-
y was strictly neutral on SB ID,
aid that unless some means of order
? and equitable appropriation for
eneficial uses is not worked out soon
mere would be considerable court liti-
alton in various parts of the state.
Croft said his agency has only
often well underway in studying the
Biological facts surrounding under
round water in the state; that it
lay take twenty or more years to
ain anything resembling a compre-
ensive picture.
He expressed a personal opinion
lat the bill in many ways is Every
="
MOTHER HEARING SLATED
Committee Chairman MCGOWAN. in
oening the hearing stated that a
.cond hearing of more formal ma
ire would be held several days hence
which opponents and proponents
ould be allotted time to present
Ieir diverse viewpoints. The second
caring will probably be held Mon
ny, January 26.-HLB.