268 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



the home production and nearly a corresponding increase 

 in consumption, so that, although the exact figures for 

 the last year are not available, it is probable that the 

 figures are not far wrong. Small fruits do well and are 

 profitable on account of the excellent market. Apples 

 and melons are grown successfully. 



School at Ballentine, Montana. 



The soil is exceedingly fertile and productive. A 

 complete surface drainage system has been constructed 

 throughout the Huntley project to prevent water-log- 

 ging the land or the rise of alkali. 



Wells vary in depth from 15 to 50 feet. The water 

 in most cases is good. Deep wells have not yet been 

 tried. 



The water right for the Huntley pro- 

 ject is perfect and includes water for irri- 

 gation, power development, domestic uses, 

 and other purposes. The water contract pro- 

 vides for 21/2 feet in depth delivered to 

 all irrigable land. This is an ample amount, 

 but in order to protect every farmer, no one 

 will be allowed to waste water, such waste 

 having ruined much land in other districts. 



The water is taken from the Yellow- 

 stone River, which heads in the Yellow- 

 stone National Park and surrounding 

 mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake acts as 

 a reservoir for the water, and the large na- 

 tional forests hold back the melting snows 

 and keep up the discharge through the sum- 

 mer. These conditions insure plenty of 

 water for all time to come. The river 

 usually flows about 4,000 cubic feet per 

 second at the end of the irrigating season 

 in October, and the discharge runs over 30,- 

 000 cubic feet per second during the high- 

 est water in June. 



There is not much large game near 

 Huntley, but old buffalo horns corroborate the state- 

 ments of "old timers" as to the herds of buffalo that 

 grazed along the Yellowstone Valley up to early '80s. At 

 present there are sage hens, prairie grouse, and ducks 

 and geese in season. 



The country affords wild currants, gooseberries, 

 chokeberries and plums in 'many locations, and buffalo 

 berries along the river. 



Government townsites have been laid out along the 

 railroads at intervals of about five miles. At present, 

 Huntley, located at the junction of the 

 Northern Pacific and Chicago, Burlington 

 & Quincy railroads, is the principal town, 

 where are located the Government head- 

 quarters and offices, a school and a number 

 of good business houses, including general 

 store, a bank, hotel, etc. The townsites are 

 laid off in 50x140 feet lots and streets 80 

 feet wide. The railroads have put in sid- 

 ings at each town, and school reservations 

 have been made. A portion of the lots in 

 each townsite have been appraised and can 

 be purchased outright at the Billings land 

 office. 



Osborn is well located at the mouth of 

 Ouster Coulee, about half way between 

 Huntley and Ballantine. A store is now 

 going up at that point. The farm units in 

 this vicinity are being rapidly settled. 



Worden is on the Northern Pacific 

 Railway, about one mile from Ballantine, 

 and, although just starting, has many pos- 

 sibilities even in comparison with the other 

 towns. 



Newton is on the Northern Pacific 

 Railway, about five miles east of Worden, but is yet 

 unsettled. 



Pompey's Pillar is at the station of this name on 

 the Northern Pacific Railway, which is named after 

 the noted landmark. The townsite is at the end of the 

 main canal as now constructed, and is situated on the 



Huntley Reclamation Canal. 



bank of the Yellowstone River. Bull Mountain is at 

 the lower end of the project lands, under the main canal, 

 and is not likely to be more than a railroad station until 

 the lands are settled., 



In connection with several of these townsites, one, 



