IRRIGATION IN MONTANA. 



BY JOEL, SHOMAKER. 



Montana is the third largest state in the Union, covering an area 

 550 miles in width from east to west, and 300 miles in length from 

 north to south. The boundaries include 146,080 square miles, or 92,- 

 998,400 acres, equal to the six New England states and New .York 

 thrown in for good measure. The lands are divided among the differ- 

 ent industries about as follows: Farm lands, 30,000,000 acres; graz- 

 ing lands or natural pastures, 38,000,000 acres and native forests, 14,- 

 000,000 acres. One-fifth the area is more or less mountainous, hence 

 the name from the Indian jargon, meaning "Country of the Moun- 

 tains". The principal cultivated valleys and land capable of irriga- 

 tion and cultivation, lie below the 4,000 feet altitude mark, and are 

 suited to all classes of gardening, fruit growing and farming. 



Montana was made a territory May 26, 1864, and admitted as a 

 state, Feb. 22, 1889. The population in 1880 was but 39,000, while in 

 1890 it had increased to 132,159, of whom 1,490 were returned as col- 

 ored. Present estimates place the inhabitants above 250,000, and the 

 rate of increase from immigration is getting larger every year. The 

 state contains sixteen large county divisions, and over fifty cities and 

 towns, ranging from 500 to 50,000 in population. According to the 

 last census reports, there were in 1890, a little over four per cent of 

 the people engaged in cultivating 5,603 farms, averaging 95 acres. 

 The number of farms has increased wonderfully since then, and the 

 small farm acreage has reduced the average. The first cost of water 

 rights has averaged $4.63 an acre, and the maintenance fee 95 cents 

 per acre annually. Water for irrigation purposes is plentiful almost 

 everywhere throughout the state, and many small farm ditches are in 

 use. 



Irrigation began with the early settlers and has increased as the 

 demands for agricultural products have been increased. The first 

 ditches were individual farm canals of various dimensions, made to 

 carry small volumes of water, usually a few hundred yards, to the 

 fields. In some sections but little irrigation is required and one ap- 

 plication of water frequently matures a general crop. The rainfall 

 averages about fifteen inches a year and much of this comes in April, 

 May and June, giving crops a good start and even allowing time for 

 some to mature before the dry season begins. Wheat, rye, oats, bar- 

 ley and potatoes are usually grown with one irrigation, though in 

 some seasons the potatoes and oats may be irrigated twice, and in 

 rainy years the irrigation is dispensed with entirely. The flooding 

 system is in vogue throughout the state, though the furrpws are used 

 in gardens and cultivated fields. 



