Miles City Irrigating and Ditch Company
From birchyHistory
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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". | ||
| − | [[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. | + | [[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. |
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| + | [[15 Sep 1882]] All the stock has been sold and money is ready to begin. | ||
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. 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. Having spent about $40,000 for a failed project, it languished until it was sold by the sheriff in the summer of 1885 (or 1884?). | 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. 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. Having spent about $40,000 for a failed project, it languished until it was sold by the sheriff in the summer of 1885 (or 1884?). | ||
