WATER POWER 



207 



will doubtless be largely extended. During the spring of 1913 a large pump- 

 ing plant for irrigation was installed in the Prickly Pear valley 

 Lifting the by the Montana Reservoir & Irrigation Company. During the 

 Waters By past season this plant furnished water for over 5,000 acres, and 

 Their Own in the fall of 191 3 construction work was begun on a second 

 Power. plant which it is expected will be finished by the spring of 



1914. Following this a third unit in the same district will 

 also be brought under irrigation, and a total of practically 5,500 horse- 

 power will be used on this one irrigation project. 



Near the city of Billings the Lockwood irrigation project is being 

 established with a pumping capacity of 500 horse-power. In the Helena 



One of the Dams on the Madison. 



project water for irrigation purposes is furnished at an exceptionally low 

 rate, the farmers contracting with the Reservoir company to 

 Irrigation Is supply water for $1.75 per acre foot. The success of the 

 Not Expen- farmers under this project speaks for its itself and insures the 

 sive By rapid extension of electricity for irrigation purposes. Up to 



This Plan, the present time irrigation has been practiced for the most part 

 only where the natural conditions were such that it was easy 

 to get water on the land by gravity ditches. Much excellent land, however, 

 is so situa-ted that it is impossible to supply it with water by gravity and 

 pumping will inevitably be resorted to. 



-Montana is the third state in size, it is first in opportunity. 



