80 



cover more land than has since l)een irricrated,and the water .suppl\' is 

 ample, so tiuit the eeonomical use of water has never been a necessity. 

 Another cause for low duty is the large area of new land which has 

 been recently ))rou<;ht under irrigation, requiring an additional amount 

 of water. And, finally, much of the land is porous, gravelly soil on 

 elevated benches, with more or less ravines and steep slopes. The 

 results o])tained under such conditions should represent the maxinumi 

 use ill Montana. 



REPUBLICAN CANAL. 



This canal was begun by farmers in the vicinity of what is now the 

 city of Hamilton, the county seat of Ravalli County. In 1889 the 

 stockholders changed the point of diversion and the source of supply 

 on Skalkaho Creek to the Bitter Root River near the junction of the 

 tributary known as Sleeping Child. 



The area of land irrigated was determined by actual survey. The 

 areas irrigated were, in 1901, 4,105 acres; in 1902, 4,850 acres; and in 

 1903,4,850 acres. The manner in which this area was utilized in 1903 

 to raise the standard crops is shown in the following table: 



Acreage uf crops irrigated under RepnUican canal in 1903. « 



Acres, 



Wheat 201 



Oats 210^ 



Pasture 681 



Meadow 758 



Peas 6 



Koots and vegetables 20 



Orchards 61 



Total 1,937 



In the following table are given the volumes discharged by the canal 

 in acre-feet for each month of the irrigation season for the years 1901, 

 1902, and 1903, with the depths to which this would cover the total 

 irrigated area: 



Duly of water under Repuhliran canal for the yearn 1901, 1902, and 1903. 



« Exclusive of Patterson laterals and outside water users. 



