Miles City Irrigating and Ditch Company
From birchyHistory
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
In addition to irrigation, it was speculated that, with a drop of 80 feet along the ditch, a suitable head of pressure could be tapped for firefighting in the future. In the 13 Sep 1887 issue of the Yellowstone Journal, the publisher devoted quite a bit of ink to a lengthy argument of the benefits of a municipal water supply. In addition to domestic and commercial uses, he points out that fire fighting is more successful and insurance rates are lower. | In addition to irrigation, it was speculated that, with a drop of 80 feet along the ditch, a suitable head of pressure could be tapped for firefighting in the future. In the 13 Sep 1887 issue of the Yellowstone Journal, the publisher devoted quite a bit of ink to a lengthy argument of the benefits of a municipal water supply. In addition to domestic and commercial uses, he points out that fire fighting is more successful and insurance rates are lower. | ||
| − | The irrigation ditch was first imagined at least as early as 1877 and preliminary plans were pushed forward in 1881 by [[Joseph Leighton]] and [[W. B. Jordan]] and was formed by them with assistance from some officers at [[Fort Keogh]] and a few other locals under the name "Tongue River Irrigating and Ditch company". | + | The irrigation ditch was first imagined at least as early as 1877 and preliminary plans were pushed forward in 1881 by [[Joseph Leighton]] and [[W. B. Jordan]] and was formed by them with assistance from some officers at [[Fort Keogh]] and a few other locals under the name "Tongue River Irrigating and Ditch company". The dream was to be fraught with misfortune though and it about 6 years for it to finally started delivering water. During this period, several engineers had their hands on the project. |
[[22 Aug 1882]] Articles of incorporation filed with the territorial secretary with Capital of $100,000, $54,200 paid in. Principal names include [[Gen. Brisbin]], [[J. W. Strevell]] plus others. Plans were for a ditch of 16 miles, with 2 miles being iron pipe, fed by a 6,000,000 gallon reservoir with a 45 foot head, feeding Miles City and 30,000 acres of farmland at a cost of $40,000. | [[22 Aug 1882]] Articles of incorporation filed with the territorial secretary with Capital of $100,000, $54,200 paid in. Principal names include [[Gen. Brisbin]], [[J. W. Strevell]] plus others. Plans were for a ditch of 16 miles, with 2 miles being iron pipe, fed by a 6,000,000 gallon reservoir with a 45 foot head, feeding Miles City and 30,000 acres of farmland at a cost of $40,000. | ||
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
[[3 Jun 1885]] [[Yellowstone Journal]] publisher weighs the options for providing Miles City with water for fighting fires. He leans towards the ditch supplying a storage tank, but steam and hand powered pumps (also Hally and Knowles pumps) from the river are also considered. Mains and direct pressure pumps are mentioned. The ditch has no moving parts to break down, but the complexities of using private water for a public use would have to be overcome. Four days later he reports that he discussed the issue with the ditch company, which needed some guarantees of income. Until the city is incorporated though, such guarantees would be hard to obtain. The publisher feels that incorporation will happen in the autumn and that an agreement could be counted on. In the issue on the 16th, he approaches the subject from the standpoint that the city will soon need sewers and that the shallow grade will require a flow of water to keep the sewage moving. A reference is made to "...the recently established grade of Main street done by the authority of the board of county commissioners..." | [[3 Jun 1885]] [[Yellowstone Journal]] publisher weighs the options for providing Miles City with water for fighting fires. He leans towards the ditch supplying a storage tank, but steam and hand powered pumps (also Hally and Knowles pumps) from the river are also considered. Mains and direct pressure pumps are mentioned. The ditch has no moving parts to break down, but the complexities of using private water for a public use would have to be overcome. Four days later he reports that he discussed the issue with the ditch company, which needed some guarantees of income. Until the city is incorporated though, such guarantees would be hard to obtain. The publisher feels that incorporation will happen in the autumn and that an agreement could be counted on. In the issue on the 16th, he approaches the subject from the standpoint that the city will soon need sewers and that the shallow grade will require a flow of water to keep the sewage moving. A reference is made to "...the recently established grade of Main street done by the authority of the board of county commissioners..." | ||
| − | Having spent about $40,000 for a failed project, it languished until it was sold by the sheriff | + | Having spent about $40,000 for a failed project, it languished until it was sold by the sheriff [[19 Oct 1885]] for $15 on a bid by [[Harry F. Batchelor]] on behalf of W. B. Jordan. [[Eph. Cowles]] had bid $13 but would not go higher. Yet, on [[16 Nov 1885]] another auction was held with the same winning bidder and representative, but this time Jordan's bid was $1000. This was "pursuant to an execution issued in favor of [[E. Sumwalt]]. The sheriff is [[Charles W. Savage]]. |
| − | [[W. B. Jordan]] purchased | + | [[W. B. Jordan]] had purchased the old company and formed a new company under the name of "Miles City Irrigating and Ditch Company". Needless to say, some were reluctant to pour good money after bad, but optimism carried forward and the new stockholders included: Leighton and Jordan; Maj. [[Simeon Snyder]], Lt. [[C. B. Thompson]], Lt. [[W. H. Sage]], the wife of Capt. [[Mason Carter]], Capt. [[T. F. Forbes]], all of the fort; Dr. [[Ira L. Sanderson]], Gen. [[W. A. Rucker]], Dr. [[P. F. Harvey]] all of "U.S.A."; [[T. J. Bryan]], [[William Macqueen]], [[William Courtenay]], [[Konrad Schmid]], [[Louis Payette]] and [[J. McGurk]] all of Miles City; [[Maurice Auerbach]], [[R. E. Stower]], both of St. Paul; and Dr. [[G. W. Ellis]] of Philadelphia. It was determined that it was cost as much to dig a new ditch as it would to fix the old one. A 12 foot wide bottom was planned, sides at 45 degrees. |
The original trustees were: | The original trustees were: | ||
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
In Feb 1884 [[Sam Camp]] skipped town leaving many debts, including some men who had worked for him on the Tongue River Ditch. | In Feb 1884 [[Sam Camp]] skipped town leaving many debts, including some men who had worked for him on the Tongue River Ditch. | ||
| + | |||
| + | A regional paper implies that the dam was swept away in 1886. | ||
[[15 Mar 1886]]: Annual stockholders meeting at the [[First National Bank]]. Monday, 2 pm. [[W. N. MacQueen]], secretary. Elected trustees: [[W. B. Jordan]], [[William Courtnay]], [[W. N. MacQueen]] and [[Major Snyder]]. Officers: Jordan (President), Courtnay (VP), [[E. B. Weirick]] (Treas.) and [[F. B. Robinson]] (Sec.). | [[15 Mar 1886]]: Annual stockholders meeting at the [[First National Bank]]. Monday, 2 pm. [[W. N. MacQueen]], secretary. Elected trustees: [[W. B. Jordan]], [[William Courtnay]], [[W. N. MacQueen]] and [[Major Snyder]]. Officers: Jordan (President), Courtnay (VP), [[E. B. Weirick]] (Treas.) and [[F. B. Robinson]] (Sec.). | ||
| Line 42: | Line 44: | ||
On [[1 Apr 1886]] they advertised for bids for "the cutting and delivery of about 800,000 feet of logs, to be delivered at a mill to be located upon the head of Stebbins and Greenleaf creeks, [[Wolf Mountains]], Montana." By mid April, the lone bidder [[E. A. Lay]] and [[Frank Sebastian]] were awarded the contract. The timber will be sawed at a point about 30 miles upstream on the [[Tongue River]] and floated down to a site about 13 miles above the mouth and stockpiled, in preparation for building a small dam. To be successful, the logs had to be rafted down during the June rise. The company had built a sawmill at Stebbing Gulch and would ship it from Rosebud to the Tongue site, which had received special approval of the Interior Department. The sawmill had a capacity of 18-20,000 feet per day at 12 hrs per day, but was expected to have to run 16 hrs per day to make the schedule. The mill was actually situated 15 miles from the river and 15 four horse teams were used to get the lumber to the river bank. Work on the dam and its flumes was scheduled for September when the water level would at its lowest before winter. | On [[1 Apr 1886]] they advertised for bids for "the cutting and delivery of about 800,000 feet of logs, to be delivered at a mill to be located upon the head of Stebbins and Greenleaf creeks, [[Wolf Mountains]], Montana." By mid April, the lone bidder [[E. A. Lay]] and [[Frank Sebastian]] were awarded the contract. The timber will be sawed at a point about 30 miles upstream on the [[Tongue River]] and floated down to a site about 13 miles above the mouth and stockpiled, in preparation for building a small dam. To be successful, the logs had to be rafted down during the June rise. The company had built a sawmill at Stebbing Gulch and would ship it from Rosebud to the Tongue site, which had received special approval of the Interior Department. The sawmill had a capacity of 18-20,000 feet per day at 12 hrs per day, but was expected to have to run 16 hrs per day to make the schedule. The mill was actually situated 15 miles from the river and 15 four horse teams were used to get the lumber to the river bank. Work on the dam and its flumes was scheduled for September when the water level would at its lowest before winter. | ||
| − | By [[ 17 July 1886]] all the lumber had been cut and was being floated down the river. | + | [[30 May 1886]] [[Frank Sebastian]] who has the contract for 800,000 feet of lumber was in town reports the company's sawmill is working well and turning out boards rapidly. |
| + | |||
| + | [[15 Jun 1886]] [[R. Aitchison]] (prosperous rancher) was in town after completing his contract with the ditch company, having delivered 1170 piles. Plenty of rain last week and lots of young grasshoppers. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[17 Jun 1886]] [[F. Robinson]], the engineer for the ditch company left town for the lumber camp on the Tongue River. Jordan left town for the camp as well, to inspect the operations for a few days. | ||
| + | |||
| + | By [[ 17 July 1886]] all the lumber had been cut and was being floated down the river. But on [[29 Jul 1886]], [[Tom Freeland]] one of the lumber camp workers was in town and reported that after two months, the last is afloat and the first should be arriving in about 10 days. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[2 Sep 1886]] 1,000,000 feet of lumber reached the destination, floated singly instead of in rafts, due to the low water level in the Tongue. The drive was conducted by an experienced crew of 25 men under the supervision of [[Tom Jenkins]], connected to [[Leighton & Jordan]]. Started in July, the drive lasted 32 days. The boards, none thinner than 2 inches will be stacked on the bank until construction starts. The lumber crew will be paid on the 3rd and Miles City should expect a big day for commerce. | ||
[[7 Aug 1886]] The Miles City Irrigating and Ditch company appropriated 25,000 inches of water. | [[7 Aug 1886]] The Miles City Irrigating and Ditch company appropriated 25,000 inches of water. | ||
[[28 Sep 1886]]: [[Fritz]] and [[Leonard]] closed a contract to do surface work for the ditch. They began work on the same day and expect to work through the winter to meet a [[1 Apr 1887]] deadline. The large contract includes grading the big bluff near {Grimmit]]'s. | [[28 Sep 1886]]: [[Fritz]] and [[Leonard]] closed a contract to do surface work for the ditch. They began work on the same day and expect to work through the winter to meet a [[1 Apr 1887]] deadline. The large contract includes grading the big bluff near {Grimmit]]'s. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[13 Oct 1886]] A suit is brought in the 4th Judicial District of the M.T. against [[James S. Brisbin]] by First National Bank for $2195 on unpaid stock in the Ditch company. $1315 on 23 Oct 1883 plus 105 interest and $880 on [[1 Apr 1884]] plus 10% interest and costs for a total of $2195. If not paid, real estate has been attached and will be sold to repay the debt. (NW1/4 of the SW1/4 and lots 4 & 5 of section13, T6N R40E; and lots 16 & 17 in block 45; and lots 1 & 2 in block 46 together with the buildings and any improvements. Strevell & Garlock are attorneys for the plaintiff, [[James McFarlane]], their clerk. | ||
By Dec 1886 $60,000 had been spent on the new ditch and dam. | By Dec 1886 $60,000 had been spent on the new ditch and dam. | ||
| − | [[18 Mar | + | [[8 Apr 1887]] [[Fritz & Leonard]] leave town with a large force of men and teams to excavate on the ditch, it being intended to be able to supply water to the upper ranches as soon as possible. |
| + | |||
| + | [[3 May 1887]] [[Fritz & Leonard]] having finished their work on the ditch have started 12 teams for the Montana Central, where they have plenty of work for the remainder of the year at good prices. Leonard will have charge of the railroad work while Fritz will stay here and look after their local interests. They have had several contracts with the Northern Pacific when it was built. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[31 May 1887]] Work on the ditch will stop today and the camp will broken. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[21 Nov 1887]] W. B. Jordan came into town from St. Paul to look after his interests in the ditch company among other things. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[18 Dec 1887]] [[John C. Carter]], [[J. J. Carter]] and [[E. P. H. Harrison]] are inspecting the completed portion of the ditch. Harrison will give his opinion in the capacity of supervising engineer. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[27 Dec 1887]] Jordan visited the ditch and marked the progress of the new contractors. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[7 Feb 1888]] [[G. M. Estabrook]] came down from the ditch works and reports a large force at work and much progress being made. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[11 Feb 1888]] [[Dr. Fish]] was called to attend a man named Davis working on the ditch who had broken the small bone of his leg. The fracture was set the man will be about again in 6 weeks. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Someone notes in early March 1888 that Custer County has some 30 ditches operating on 13,000 acres of land and that 20 more are in construction, including the Tongue River ditch, which will reclaim 25,000,0000 more. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[18 Mar 1888]]: Annual meeting at the [[First National Bank]] Monday afternoon. H. B. Wiley was secretary. | ||
Elected were: | Elected were: | ||
* [[W. B. Jordan]], Pres. | * [[W. B. Jordan]], Pres. | ||
| Line 60: | Line 90: | ||
* [[W. N. Haynes]] | * [[W. N. Haynes]] | ||
* [[W. B. Jordan]] | * [[W. B. Jordan]] | ||
| − | Committees were appointed and charged with: inspecting the ditch, advise what to do this year, audit the finances and report to stockholders; survey town residents and estimate how many would pay for water if a trunk were to be dug from the vicinity of Flanaghan's run from the ditch at the rate allowed by the county | + | Committees were appointed and charged with: inspecting the ditch, advise what to do this year, audit the finances and report to stockholders; survey town residents and estimate how many would pay for water if a trunk were to be dug from the vicinity of Flanaghan's run from the ditch at the rate allowed by the county commissioners of $5/yr per 50 feet, if the city would buy a water supply on the streets and if they would build the culverts. It was discussed to replace the bulkheads with a solid bank and to take water out of the reservoir from an opening to be made on the east side of the reservoir, allowing the reservoir to fill to greater height. |
| + | |||
| + | [[29 Apr 1888]] [[Mr. Weirick]] is busily engaged in contracting for teams and men to work on the ditch. | ||
[[9 Sep 1891]]: report of condition... | [[9 Sep 1891]]: report of condition... | ||
