Miles City Irrigating and Ditch Company
From birchyHistory
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
Oct 1882: offices will be in the new bank building, 2nd floor. | 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. 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. | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[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 in the summer of 1885 (or 1884?). | ||
[[W. B. Jordan]] purchased it 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. | [[W. B. Jordan]] purchased it 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. | ||
| Line 21: | Line 35: | ||
* [[M. Kircher]] | * [[M. Kircher]] | ||
* [[W. B. Jordan]] | * [[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. | ||
[[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.). | ||
