Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-27
RECLABMuNG ARID LANDS
What Irrigation may do for the Waste
Lamds Of the West.

BEGINNING THE WORK or NvEsrIsauoS-.scEs-
TATSrNe WHAT LAND rs PIT FoR AGRICULTURAL
PuRrosEs-sovERSMESr SUPERVISION srcEss,Ry
HOW AVAILABLE FUNDS ARE TO BE ExPkSDsD.
The recently approved suniry civil appropria-
ton bill contained, among other items one "
100000 TO enable the Z. T. Geological Survey e-
gin an inquiry In regard 20 the feasibility OF reclaa-
ing the arid lands OF the western portion OF tTis
country. Capt c. L. Dutton, OF the Survey has
been placed In charge OF the hydrographic wOrs uf
the Investigation. He has given the matter co.,
siderable attention, and 70 a STAR reporter, Who
went TO him the other day In search OF infornA-
ton upon the subject he said:
Sew people In the East have fair apprecIa-
ton OF the Western country: they generally fe-
gard IL as mainly great desert. more OF loss
mitigated In character, with certain spots hore
and there where plants and animals can flourish.
In fact the Eastern civilization and society have
grown up IN entire ignorance OF the conditions
prevailing In countries requiring irrigation, bHt
moments reflection VIII show them that ne
Oldest, and Indeed many modern. civilizations az
list In countries and climates where Irrigation n
absolutely necessary. For example. lOok at the
ranean sea Western and Central Asia, the greatsr
part OF India large portions OF China. ana almost
rs large portion Of the area which can be fe-
/ claimed by irrigation Those most familiar Nlfn
the country have no doubt OF its being capalie
| OF supporting a population dense that 8f
Spain, or, perhaps, OF southern Italy, and AZ q
| much higher degree Of wealth and prosperity.
THE PURPOSE
| for which the new survey was authorized was 20
ascertain the capability or the country In this
spect It is desired 70 ascert AIN not only general
facts, but facts In full detail the experience e6
the Old world, where Irrigation Is pragtlccd hes
shown that while u II not necessary that the Gov
eminent should undertake great national irrl..a-
ton works at the public expense, there Is never
theless necessity for considerable amount 4
governmental supervision and control IA order 20
regulate and adJudlcate the Of the water upan
which the LIE OF a community SO situated MUS
depend In order that the Government may a
intelligently ana justly II must have at It's cufa
mand Information In the fullest detail regardag
the possibilities OF the country and must be IL
position judge OF the expedency OF every enias-
prise requiring governmental consent that NAV le
contemplated or undertaken. IL Is sufficiently
obvious that In such q country the quantity II
land that might otherwise be available for
agricultural purposes is far In exc IS OF the
water supply being insufiicienI 20 meisIen Sl.s
entire area OF arabic land Hence disputes abOot
the rights 70 make use OF water must inyariab.F
arise. and It is plain enough that some seIIIei
principle OF public policy ought 90 oe denntcu
established In order 20 deal justly and IN the pub
interests with such disputes. The object OF Tia
new survey is 70 acquire and 20 make or record al
knowledge, both general and particular, WHOA
may be necessary, both for the national 90 verIs.
ment and for the state legislatures ia order %
legislate inteiligently upon this subject
TIE HUMID LANDS
OF the country have already passed almost WHOLLY
into private ownership. the Increasing population
Is pressing rapidly into these arid regions. and
capital Is also seeking Investment there. Conersss
was not too early In providing for a survey wnlch
could furnish Information that would serve as A
basis for lis future legislation with regard 70 The
large areas OF public lands that SIN ain In Tie
ard region The states are also feeling deeply ia
want OF this Information, and the provision for
Spouse 10 urgent demand from Senator'S Repre-.
sentauves, and the people OF the West
THE LAND TO BIZ SURVEYED
comprises two-nrths OF the entire area OF thP
meridian OF Longitude. The 100000 Appropriated
viii not 20 far toward the work, and wiu undouogs
eddy be entirely exhausted by the end OF the rscl
year. The survey Will oe matter OF years. aH1
ming can be made. The sum has been divided lnIo
two equal parJs, $4,000 being set aside Ior topOs
OF various topics. These are the quantity ofwateg
In the streams. the effects OF evaporation upos
flowing waters, a preliminary reconnaissance q
irrigable ana noD-irrigabe lands; the general by
biography OF the country, those features OF cs
mafology which bear directly upon the Questios
under investigation, and ultimately the Selection
OF sites for storage reservoirs and OF methods aud
means for appropriaJing the available waters villa
the greatest economy ana pubic DenefiLn
s.Does the Government contemplate the construos
ton OF irrigating works or Reservoirs al pubic en-.
aThe debates In Congres replied Capt Duttou.
indicated most decidedly that this was not IN
tended, nor Is it policy which the Geological Sur.
yey would At all recommend such wOrkA IN nv
own private opinion, should be left 20 private en-.
tsrprse and capital the governments OF the United
states the states and territories Ia the meantime
simply providing provident system OF legislation
under which such works can Dc 1ndsrtaken aaa
those who use Il and 70 those who cOnsIru CT tbs
workA
TEE FIRST THING 10 BE Done
VIII be TO make a high grade map OF the whole
area In question and 10 this end parties have Al
ready been started West They win hire assist
ants out there. and VIII continue the work uuul
the money Is exhausted"
Capt button has DIVIDED the territory into dis
tricts but work Will DC done In only few OF them
under the present appropriation Those In which
work Wlli De done 81 present the basins OF tbs
south flatte, ArkAnsAS klo Srande, Gala, and Hun
boldt hiverA
Originally q Thuab Bclu.