IRRIGATION 



87 



When the Reclamation Act was discussed in 1901 and 1902, it was 

 e^enerally assumed that tlie principal operations would be those of con- 



structincr only the larij^er 

 reservoirs and main line 

 canals, leaving- to the farm- 

 ers the building- of the dis- 

 tril)ution system — and in 

 til is respect following out 

 the practice of the pioneers 

 Avho individually or in small 

 groups worked together to 

 take water out of the na- 

 tural streams. The theory 

 was entertained that the 

 government would in effect 

 St. Mary Crossing Pipe. provide conditions analog- 



ous to those found b}^ the pioneers by bringing water in main line canals 

 to points where the farmers could perform the rem'ainder of the work 

 themselves. The limitations prescribed, however, were not suc- 

 Evolution cessful. It was found that the construction of the reservoirs 

 'if the Plans and main line canals wias noit foillowed by the expected co- 

 of the operation on the part of the settlers, and that to enable the 



Service land to be cultivated it would be necessary to provide a com- 



plete system by which the water could be taken to the 

 'icinity of each farm. 



It thus resulted that the original policy, based upon constructing a few 

 'arge structures and canals for storing and handling a considerable quantity 

 of water, has been amplified 

 from time to time at the re- 

 quest or demand of the set- 

 tlers to include many exten- 

 sions. Thousands of small, 

 permanent structures, main- 

 ly of concrete and steel, and 

 consisting- of gates, measur- 

 ing boxes, flumes, siphons, 

 culverts and bridges, ha\e 

 been built. Had the pet^ple 

 been able to take the 

 water at a few points 

 from the main canal and Lower Face of Completed Two Medicine Dam. 



build these themselves the expenditures by the government would have been 

 notably ]ess ; but, on the other hand, it would not have been possible to have 

 brought under cultivation any considerable part of the land now reclaimed. 



-The square deal prevails all around in Montana. 



