Powder River Examiner -

April 7, 1922

Doane Discusses Irrigation Here

At the regular monthly meeting of the Chamber of Commerce Monday evening, H.K. Doane, a prominent civil engineer of Miles City, discussed irrigation as it might apply to the Powder River valley. His remarks were instructive as well as interesting.

“The Powder River valley land is rich and fertile,” said Doane, “and with an adequate water supply would grow almost anything, but considering the remoteness from the railroad, irrigation here would be used to the best advantage in growing alfalfa for stock feed. It is quite probable that reservoir sites could be found to impound the necessary water to reclaim a vast acreage of land along the course of this river in this county. I believe such a project is entirely feasible for a few days’ flow with the water at high water mark in the spring would suffice for an entire season of irrigation. While it is true that quantities of silt are carried in the river, irrigation projects in other rivers heavier with mud than Powder River have been dammed and the silt problem solved by a flushing process.”

“To get the water onto the land here from a reservoir would involve an expenditure of approximately $25 an acre. While this sum may seem exorbitant, in other irrigation districts the acreage cost has been more but the additional yields always more than compensate for the investment. In the Big Bend district of Washington it costs the farmers $171 per acre to irrigate their lands that are not near so good as our land and they are making it pay there. Near Salt Lake City is and irrigation project where water is raised 300 feet to the land at a cost of $22 an acre and they are growing paying crops. With proper irrigation here nothing would prevent three cuttings of alfalfa every season with four or five tons to the acre.

“Irrigation failures have been many in this state, but the failures are not attributable to either the water or the land. Instead it is a deficiency in the existing laws and selfishness of the land owners. There are too many speculators holding land under irrigation ditches waiting for someone to enhance the value of the land by showing productiveness, and they do not pay for any water. And then again people living at the head of the ditches become too greedy and take all the water, leaving none for the others. These deficiencies should be remedied by legislation, so that all should pay their proportionate cost and the water prorated among all consumers.”

Mr. Doane told of the success of different irrigation projects, in some instances water being impounded hundreds of miles from its place of usage.

Doane prefaced his remarks with a plea for more beautification of homes in this country, especially along the main roads of travel. Very few of them have any shrubbery or trees around their houses, he said, and the flowers are especially conspicuous by their absence. Instead, said Doane, about the only flowers we find at most places are carnations and they are “canned” pictures.

April 4, 1947

Installing Equipment in Broadus Mercantile

Representatives of the Wallahan Co. of Rapid City, S.D., have been employed for a week at the Broadus Mercantile store in Broadus installing the new frozen food locker and other equipment. It is the hope of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Rue, proprietors of the store that the installation will be completed by early next week. In addition to the locker plant, the company is putting down a handsome tile floor which greatly enhances the appearance of the store. A frozen food display case is also being installed in the store and the store will stock at all times various frozen packaged foods. The store has been closed to the public this week while the improvements are being made.

April 6, 1972

New Business Opens in Broadus

Jack Ridenour Feed opened Saturday in the former Gib Lloyd Feed and Trucking establishment. New manager of the business is Jack Ridenour of Broadus.

Ridenour leased the feed store, shop and grounds from Lloyd and will continue his repair business in the shop, besides operating the feed business. The new firm plans to employ from one to three full time employees, according to Ridenour. Lloyd will continue in his trucking and ranching operations.

A grand opening of the Jack Ridenour Feed business is planned for the near future.

April 3, 1997

FHA Girls Win Medals at State Convention

By Lynelle Brimmer

Broadus FHA girls Marnie Andrews, Tarra Miller, Jessica Reaves and Lynelle Brimmer attended the Montana State Conference, in Bozeman, April 16th through the 18th.

There were 19 competitive events in areas of Speech; Life Skills; Parliamentary Procedure; Child Development; Consumer; Fabric Sales and Selection; Beef Education; Busboy/Busgirl; Waiter/Waitress; Interpersonal Communications, and Entrepreneurship.

The Broadus girls competed in the following events, in which three of the four won either gold or silver medals: Marnie Andrews, Consumer - Gold medal; Tarra Miller, Waiter/Waitress - Silver; Lynelle Brimmer, Busboy/Busgirl - Gold, and Jessica Reaves, Busboy/Busgirl.

Keynote speaker for the opening sessions was Chad Foster, whose speech entitled “Common Denominators of Successful People.” He also presented a workshop on communication and careers. Foster relied on relationship and people skills he developed in high school when he entered the business world at the age of 19. His preparation paid off when he developed and marketed a unique product made from recycled tires – the soft, safe, playground surface used at McDonald’s restaurants and at other locations throughout the country. He was very definitely an inspiration to all who heard him.

FHA sponsor Annie Brimmer took the girls to Bozeman and attended sessions held for advisors.