View source for Miles City Irrigating and Ditch Company


[[File:12MileDam.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Current version of the dam on the Tongue River, now called the 12 Mile Dam, which is a state fishing access site.]]
As the [[Miles City, Montana]] area was settled, people found that crops and gardens wouldn't survive the dry August heat. At first, they assumed that they were having a run of unusually dry summers, but when year after year found their plants gasping in thirst, it became apparent that irrigation was mandatory. Some visionaries did the math and figured that about 137 160-acre farms could  benefit from a 28 mile irrigation system on the two-mile wide east side of the [[Tongue River]] valley. An estimated $300,000 per year was being spent for hay, grain and other crops from sources outside the valley and this money would benefit the local economy if it was circulated locally. Calculations were that one could get between 1 and 1.5 tons of hay per acre, priced at $10-15 per ton. (Multiply these figures by 27 to get an approximate current value.)

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 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.

==Tongue River Irrigating & Ditch==
[[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.

[[15 Sep 1882]] All the stock has been sold and money is ready to begin.

[[19 Oct 1882]] Stockholders meeting 4 pm at the [[First National Bank]], [[James S. Brisbin]], Pres.
[[19 Oct 1882]] The upper end of the ditch is completed.

Oct 1882: offices will be in the new bank building, 2nd floor.

In 1882, Capt. [[R. L. Edwards]], a civil engineer, determined the route and contracts were let and completed to dig the first version of the ditch. 

In 1883, preparations for a dam were made at the head of the ditch. 

[[29 Nov 1883]] 4000 lineal feet of round timber delivered, about 3000 of it framed and placed. Filling the cribs is going on and a 12' wide apron has been built 150' across the river by 25 workers with prospect of early completion.

At a cost of $9000, [[W. B. Gaw]], an engineer, put in the dam during the winter of '83-'84 using cottonwood timber and piles on so faulty a basis that when the ice broke in the spring of '84, it took the new construction downstream. It was also discovered that the ditch had been dug too narrow and deep to be of service. 

[[26 Aug 1884]] Meeting held at First National Bank. Arrangements to dispose of the balance of the stock ($2000) for the completion of the work was discussed. Details of the project are illuminated in the newspaper report. 12 miles long to the mouth of [[Pumpkin Creek]] on the Tongue, with a 90 feet long dam. The ditch "extends around the base of the foot hills and is intended to irrigate 20,000 acres. It passes [[Joe Kentley]]'s 9.5 mile south and [[Robert Atchison]]'s a mile further and crosses through [[Logging Creek]] and [[Middle Creek]] on the way to the dam. In one portion a wooden flume 1500 feet in length is being built to convey the water through the bottoms lands. At [[King's bluff]] it has been decided to run a tunnel 1100 feet through the bluff without having to run a lengthy flume the long way around. Then ten more miles to a storage reservoir near the city. Some of the changes were a suggestion of [[E. M. Snyder]], a civil engineer, who has an office in the land office building, and who has been put in charge of the work.

[[10 Mar 1885]] A case goes to court of [[Joseph Leighton]] vs. [[Philip Brady]] and [[Frank B. Kennard]], which opted for a non-jury trial. The case involves the construction of the ditch.

[[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 [[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]].

== Miles City Irrigating & Ditch (ongoing construction) ==
[[File:MilesCityArea_c1884.jpg|thumb|right|538px|Miles City area, circa 1884. Map produced by W. B. Gaw, the first engineer on the project. The dam and headgates are just below Squaw Creek (the solid dark line that runs through the "H" in "ATCHISON'S" is Pumpkin Creek.]] 
[[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:
* [[W. N. Haynes]]
* [[M. Kircher]]
* [[W. B. Jordan]]

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.). 

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.

[[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.

[[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.

[[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:
* [[W. B. Jordan]], Pres.
* [[William Courtenay]], VP
* [[E. B. Weirick]], Treas.
* [[H. B. Wiley]], Sec.
Trustees:
* [[T. J. Bryan]]
* [[W. N. Haynes]]
* [[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 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.

[[25 May 1888]] From headgates, across Pumpkin Creek, down to Squaw Creek, about 3 miles. 10 feet wide at the bottom, 15 feet at the top, 4 feet deep. A flume is built across Squaw Creek. Past Mill Creek to King's bluff with extensive riprapping using 1500 logs averaging 16' in length and tons of rock to for a crib and riprap protection, above which the flume will divert the water around the bluff. Mr. Estabrook is supervising. Then on to the reservoir at the Leighton farm. Should be filled with water in 20 days, to Mill Creek in 7 to 10 days. This should server 5000 acres.

== First years of operation ==
[[File:FlumeExit.jpg|thumb|right|500px|Downstream view of the ditch as it exits the flume over Log Creek, about 8 miles south of Miles City.]]
[[7 Jun 1888]] 10am the town is invited to witness the opening of the headgates.

[[28 Jul 1888]] Mr. Estatbrook, the ditch's engineer discharged the "cleaning gang" of 14 men, together with teams and cooks. The regular ditch crew remains, but the cleaning and grading of the ditch is completed.

[[29 May 1888]] [[Col. Malone]] and a party visited the ditch.

[[28 May 1889]] The ditch is carrying a full head of water down to the Leighton farm and ranchers all along the line are making connections to use the water this season.

[[24 Jul 1889]] Dr. G. W. Ellis of Philadelphia was in the area visiting the "National Park" and being an investor for 3 years stopped by to see how his investment was doing. Similar projects have done well and it is a little disappointing that this one isn't finished to full length yet. He will inspect the full length and carry his report back to other eastern investors. After the inspection, he met with several people and it was discussed that while the part completed so far is satisfactory, it primarily transports water through a narrow valley to the reservoir at the south end of the wider Miles City bottom where the real benefit would be realized. While it would only take an additional 10% of what has already been spent to extend the ditch and gain a 500 fold increase in usefulness. To extend the ditch would cost an estimated $10,000 and the investors have offered to put up half of this sum if the enough other Miles City residents would invest the other half, but as has been so often the case for the entirety of Miles City's history, they balk. While it is true that the residents are not as wealthy as the eastern investors and the current local economy is bad (due to the cattle losses from the recent severe winters), the increase in property values would be worth it. The eastern investors have become discouraged over time and are more of mind to let the enterprise be sold to recoup what they can of their investments, rather than throw more money into the project.

[[19 Oct 1889]] [[Sam Thurman]] is working with teams and scrapers under a contract to extend the ditch 1000 feet through a very heavy cut leading east from the reservoir, part of a four mile extension into the Miles City bottom. Continuing eastward to Carbon Hill, and around the side of the hill above the coal mine entries, staying on the highest ground into the Haynes farm and then on to Kirchers's farm. Faulty engineering of the dam in the past has resulted in two separate disasters which has cost time and money. Jordan and a few others added more funds to get the flume around King's bluff. The work on this last four miles is mainly on a co-operative plan by landowners who will benefit by the extension, adding 10,000 acres to the affected area next season.

Oct 1890, the ditch is being extended beyond Kircher's, where it had reached this summer. The new extends the ditch about a mile, to the Millard's ranch, about halfway between Kircher's and Dixon's. The success of the this year's irrigated farms is encouraging.

[[9 Sep 1891]]: report of condition...
{|
|Capital||$100,000
|-
|Capital paid in||$43,174
|-
|Indebtedness||$91,063
|}
Jordan, Pres; Wiley, Sec; Haynes and Kircher, Trustees

May 1892, [[Arthur Millard]]? who owns a ranch near Dixon's bluff, has waited patiently the approach of the ditch, which has finally reached him.

Sep 1892 [[L. A. Huffman]] is planning on offering scenic prints of the ditch.

[[16 Feb 1893]] The Miles City Irrigation and Ditch company filed with the county recorder a claim for 25,000 inches of water, in addition to the 25,000 appropriated under their notice of [[7 Aug 1886]], making a total of 50,000 inches.

The case of Louis King vs. the Miles City Ditch and Irrigation company has been set for trial on the 8th inst., having been postponed from the 6th on account of other business which has not been reached.

[[8 Mar 1893]] District court: Miles City Irrigating and Ditch company vs. Northern Pacific Railroad company; cause striken from the calendar with leave to reinstate at any time. Louis King vs. Miles City Irrigating and Ditch company jury secured and case still on time.

Apr 1893 Ditch is successful and land near it that couldn't be sold for $5 an acre before, can't be had for $25 now. Another group called the [[Buffalo Rapids Irrigation and Ditch Company]] is planning to build a 10 mile ditch on the north side of the Yellowstone (Kinsey area?). The [[Eichhorn Brothers]] had a great crop of watermelons last year. Among others, [[E. C. Haynes]] and [[Mr. Beck]] are planning to grow and ship produce. Some are still experimenting with fruits, especially Haynes, putting in many fruit and plum trees. Beck has hot houses and will be planting a large truck garden.

[[10 Mar 1893]] District court: testimony consumed the entire day.

[[17 Apr 1893]] Louis King case: stay of proceedings extended to [[1 Jun 1893]], by consent, including time to prepare papers on motion for a new trial.

[[19 May 1893]] A suit begins in Distrit Court by the First National Bank against the predessor "Tongue River Irrigating and Ditch company" for balance due on a note and asking for a receiver to be appointed to adjust the defunct firm's affairs. The ditch is currently operating from Pumpkin Creek to Dixon Bluff.

[[9 Sep 1893]] [[W. N. Haynes]] and [[Col. Sheetz]] left for Ainslie, with a eye towards extending the ditch to there.

[[28 Sep 1893]] A meeting was held with almost 50 non-stockholders attending to discuss the situation of the limited capacity of the ditch and the fact that stockholders and owners of water rights, by law, would have first claim on what water could be delivered, but that there was no obligation to provide water to anyone else. It was agreed after much discussion that sales of water rights would be encouraged. It was pointed out that by widening a few of the worst constricted spots, the flow could be increased enough for those who currently have claims, but that it would take a lot more work to make enough flow to supply every acre in the affected area. Land which goes begging at $1.25/acre without irrigation can be sold for $15 - $50/acre with irrigation. The capacity would have to be increased by 4x to 5x to cover all acreage, and work would have to be done this fall or next season if a dredge is used, but money would have to be added to finance the improvements.

[[10 Oct 1893]] Water was scheduled to be shut off at the headgate. Wiley, Sec.

On [[6 Feb 1894]] they announced that the ditch was almost completed and warned potential subscribers that they should secure their subscriptions before they are gone and have to buy them from scalpers.

[[17 Jun 1894]]: "The monster steam dredge recently bought by the Miles City Irrigating & Ditch Co. is being slowly taken out to the scene of its labors. The machine weighs 60,000 lbs, and is propelled by a traction engine, but it is so heavy that it cuts down in the solid road, which renders it necessary to use plank upon which to move it. However, it will be taken about 10 miles up the ditch and there commence operations. Large boats are being built in the canal, and from its position in there the big excavator is expected to take out 2 1/2 cu yds of dirt per minute. In this way, the capacity of the ditch, which is now thoroughly taxed, will be trebled, and there will be ample water for all the ranches under it."

August 1894, the ditch now ends at Dixon.

[[11 Sep 1894]] The Board of [[County Commissioners]] for Custer County voted to abate the increase of assessment ($4,650).

September 1894, W. H. Sutherlin of the Rocky Mountain Husbandman was given a tour of some of the irrigated farms, including those of [[W. N. Haynes]], his brother [[E. C. Haynes]] and [[Joseph Eichhorn]], the latter in the process of shipping some of his 11 acres melons to Butte and Helena. He was escorted by {Sam Gordon]], [[C. R. Middleton]] and [[C. S. Wright]].

November 1894 Docket of the District Court includes: [[First National Bank]] vs. Tongue River Irrigating and Ditch company, note and appointment of a receiver.

[[8 Dec 1894]] Meeting held to change name to "Miles City Canal and Irrigating Company", to extend term of existance to 40 years from 1885?, to expand the defined business activities allowed.

== Modern version ==
Now called the T & Y Ditch, its diversion dam was recently altered to include a fish ladder, which now allows fish from the Tongue and Yellowstone Rivers below the dam to migrate upriver, for the first time in 125 years.