The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-06-23
IRRIGATION IN IDAHO.
Information Wanted by the Surveyor-General
of Idaho.

Information Wanted by the Surveyor General
of Idaho.
The following letter of special interest
to our Idaho readers, is self explanatory:
The sundry civil bill enacted by Con
.gress at its last session, approved March
3, 1889, included an item of S25O,OOO, "For
the purpose of investigating the extent to
which the arid region of the United States
can be redeemed by irrigation and the seq
regation of irrigable lands in such arid
region, and for the selection of sites for
reservoirs and other hydraulic works nee
essary for the storage and utilization of
water for irrigation and for ascertaining
the cost thereof"
BY request of its chairman, Hon. VIM.
NJ. Stewart of Nevada, l am preparing for
the United States Senate committee on
irrigation, certain statistics on that sub
iect. Will you please aid me in this by an
early reply TO the following:
First-On what streams in your county
has irrigation been effected and to what
extent!
Second-On what streams is irrigation
practicable, and to what extent!
Third-For what length of time, per
yearly average, does each stream furnish
sufficient water to irrigate its irrigable
lands! And-where the water in streams
is insufficient-are their sites for reservoirs
wherein large bodies of water may be
impounded at moderate cost!
1t will be sufficient TO give the distance
irrigated and irrigable in miles along the
several streams and for width, an aveaage
according to your Judgment and recollec-
tion, or as you may find by inquiry from
others.
I send you. per this mail, map of Idaho
Where it notes the names of streams
please give said names in your report.
Where names of streams are not shown
on the map please state the local designa-
ton thereof and properly describe its loca-
ton, that may enter it upon my office
map.
All facts are desired which you may be
able to gather and formulate relating to
storage, sources and distribution of water
and all precipitation for use in agricultural
and pastoral operations.
The number of bitches, their length,
area surveyed, duty of water, value of
crops, sources of water, irrigable areas,
etc, will be of great service.
The views OF all practical and competent
observers on the problems involved, will
also be of Importance.
herewith enclose circular letter oft
date, from his excellency, Governor
Shoup, bearing upon this subject, and
whichis self-eXplanatory. Careful perusal
thereof is earnestly requested.
This matter of irrigation is of vital i'm
portance to Idaho, and 1 cannot urge upon
you too strongly the need of gathering all
obtainable information and data for the
purpose stated.
Please give the matter immediate and
careful attention, if possible, and transmit
your report to this Office, together with the
map, in time for receipt here not later than
July 10 next, as the Senate committee will
be at Boise city early in August.
In the enclosed letter of Governor Shoup
you will find the name of representative
gentleman in your community who will
doubtless assist you.
Hoping and anticipating your active CO.
operation for and on behalf of irrigation in
Idaho, am, very respectfully yours,
JOSEPH G. STRAUGHAN,
United States Surveyor General for
Idaho
BOISE CITY, June IA, 1889.
II } above is copy of circular letter
from The surveyor general to each United
States deputy mineral surveyor, and to
the several county surveyors of Idaho,
respectively.