Arizona citizen., 1878-05-03
The Arid Region of the United
 States.

Interior Department to the Speaker of the House a report by Major Powell, in charge of the United States Geo graphical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain region on the lands of the arid region of the United States.
 This report does not resemble the subject of which it treats in point of dryness. IL is a thorough and elabor- ate discussion of an important ques- tion prepared by one who, from per. sonal experience, is perfectly acquaint. ed with his subject in all its branches. The arid region of the United States, according to Major Powell, begins about midway in the great plains and extends across the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific, excluding western Wash ington and Oregon, and the northwest corner of California. In general terms, the tooth meridian may be given as it's eastern boundary. It comprises about four-tenths of the United States and within its limits, speaking generally, the rainfall on lands suitable for agri- culture, is less than twenty inches an. nually; consequently for the purpose of cultivation, irrigation is necessary It is divided into irrigable lands, which consist of low tracks lying along the streams, timber lands, including the extensive forests on mountains and higher plateaus, and the pasture lands which include the valleys, hills, and mountain slopes lying between the low irrigable and the elevated timber tracts.
 AN AUTHORITATIVE CLASSIFICATION
 NEEDED.
 The advantages of an authoritative classification of all these lands are presented in the report.
 THE IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION.
 Since irrigation is of such import ance as the only means by which agri culture can be successfully carried on in nearly one-half of ihe United States l it deserves and receives in this report careful and extended consideration l Irrigated lands are not without evident advantages. They are not subject to the vicissiludes of the rainfall The farmer fears no drought. and his labors are seldom interrupted, or his crops in jured by storms. Thus agricultural operations are rendered much more certain. The waters coming from the plateaus freighted with fertalizing ma terials, spread them over the cultivated lands, and by this service alone almost repay the cost of irrigation. For utiliz ing large streams considerable outlay of labor and material is required; con Isequently, cooperative labor, such a: is successfully practised under eccle siastical organization in Utah, or con siderable capital is necessary for the I development of the irrigable lands I The area of the latter may be increased by storing the water of the non-grow Ii ing season in reservoirs or ponds, to be used at the proper time. As the in crease of water by storage will even tually be imperative, It is recommend ed that the necessity be anticipated by the reservation of sites for principa reservoirs and large ponds. In regard to the laws concerning
 THE DISPOSAL OF THESE LANDS, : It is suggested that they be so amend ed that sales may be made in quantitie to suit purchasers, the only condition being that the tracts shall be actually irrigated before the title is transferred This method would provide for thei redemption through the employmen
 of capital. If they are to be reserved
 for actual settlers in small quantities t' provide homes for poor men on tn homestead principle, Q general laV . should be enacted under which mum | her of persons would be able to or } ganize and settle on irrIgable district and establish their own regulations fo - the use of the water and the subdi 5 vision of the lands in obedience t + the general provision of the enact + ment. So much for the irrigabl l tracts. The timber lands of Utah e estimating the necessary mean annua . rainfall to be from twenty to twenty ' four inches, are 23 CT cent Of tn :, whole territory, but only l2.5 per cent e is covered with standing timber. Thl ], fact is due 10 the extensive fires whicl e annually destroy districts of timber o n so vast q scale that the amount take for industrial purposes sinks into con e parative lnsignifcance. The first ste e to prevent these fires must be a prohi | bitlou to the Indians, who systemal Q ically kindle them to drive game, iron
 resorting there for hunting. As tn e lower country is settled, the grasse
 and herbage, in which fires general spreaI, will be kept down by Summe
 pasturage, and the dead aud talle ) timher removed to the market.
 THE TIMBER LANDS
 Cannot now be acquired by any of tn
 methods prescribed by law, since the T are not agricultural lA1ds. Provision should be made by which the timb'