The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-10

929.5 .06S acres are undisposed Of, and 49,
$50, is acres have been reserved for va
rious purposes. The following table. COM
piled from reports received from the va
rious land offices. gives an approximate
estimate of the unreserYed and unappro-
priated lands I'm the mountain states and
territories at the close of the last fiscal
year:
Surveyed. Unsurveyed. Total.
Arizona So, sos II, ,5y5 81, z25, sol
COLORADO ......s5, e47,SS1 4,5Ss, no 4o,ls5, ssl
Montana II. $50, so 80 SIS, 056 1908 4yl
Nevada .....-...2y l6s,432 % 55,276 6I,Sz6, l4d
New Mexico. "a, 55s, U99 10 1872 SOL $3.50 $50
Utah ;--...-.-.-. Al.0.S66 S4vs4. AL io.o0i. 90
Wyoming ...--.42, Tos. Sill 6U6S, 032 1911 .34S
The report also gives the irrigabie area
of The arid region at li,0c9,0O0 acres, ais
tories follows: Arizona, 2.OO0.J0t acres
Colorado, 100000; Idaho, 100000; Monta-
ma. 11,0JO,0cJ, Nevada, 2,U0,o0J; North Da-
kota, 2.Vc.We; Utah, 100000; Wyoming,
s.gVo.0co.
Should Be Reclaimed
Secretary Wilson says: THAT this vast
acreage, capable of sustaining and COM
fortapIy supporting under a system or
irrigation,'a population OF at least 59V9J,-
900 peopie, should remain practically a
desert Is not in harmony with the progress
sive spirit of the age or in keeping with
the possibilities OF the future. what can
be accomplished upon the varying condi-
lions in each of the localities named, and
what should be attempted also depends
upon the returns TO be expected. In otnSr
words, the fundamental question is
wnether IL would pay 10 store and control
the ss0rm and mood waters, which. by
proper irrigation. may add increased
wealth and provide happy homes for will
ing workers.
''The average cost per acre of a properly
constructed irrigation system necessarily
varies and depends upon local conditions.
The remarkable results. however, accom-
plished in the valley of the Nile in prac-
ucaIly redeeming Egypt from a state of
bankruptcy should encourage most lib
eIal consideration of the question OF irTi-
cation. 1t is desirable that such reason
able expenditures be made by the federal
government. as well as by states, as will
gradually but as rapidly as possible. in
sure the blessings consequent upon a we'll
defined and executed system OF irrga-
ton.
Reservoir Sites Selected.
Under joint resolution of March 20,
rior to make an examination of that por-
tion of the arid region of the United
States where agriculture is carried on by
means of irrigation, as to the natural ad-
vantages for the storage of water for ir-
rigating purposes, with the practicability
of constructing reservoirs. together with
tne capacity of the streams and the cost
of construction and capacity of reservoirs
and such other facts as bear on the ques-
ton of storage of water for irrigating
purposes, a number of reservoirs have
been selected and approved by the depart
ment.
These sites were intended to be used
in connection with a general plan of exc
cution under the control of the United
States. No appropriation has yet been
made by congress Tor the inauguration of
such a system. but provision has been
made for gauging OF the streams and de-
te-mining the water supply of the United
intending nf
dergrOund currents and artesian wells in
the arid and semi-arid regions and the re-
suits of such investigation, which has
been conducted under the supervision of
the director OF the geological survey has
been brought TO the attention of congress
through the medium of reports, in which
the best methods of utilizing the water
resources of the arid and semi-arid sec
tons are set forth.
AT the present time the question of ir-
fgauon is receiving special attention from
n tactical standpoint in the office of IN
dian affairs. in the providing of irrigation
ditches and systems Tor irrlgating the
lands Of many of the Indian reservations.
The force, however ana the means at the
command OF the department is wholly in
adequate for the work 10 be accomplished
and the allowance by congress for the in
creased appropriation in furtherance of a
wise solution of this great question is de-
sirable.
Lands without Protection.
Extensive forested areas of the public
lands are without needed protection and
are still subject to ravages by fire and to
ing operations. Many of these forest
tracts VIII no doubt eventually be with
drawn from entry or other disposal set
apart for forest uses as soon as the neces-
sary examinations of the lands can be.
made. The only protection that can be
extended is such as is afforded by few
special agents Of the general land office.
who, in connection with their other du-
ties. are detailed for protective work
IN the meantime, until the withdrawal
of these forested lands can be effected il
is important that the force of special
agents of the general and office be largely
increased. The appropriation of $4,000
for this branch of the service during the
past year admitted of the placing OF
force in the field which is equivalent to
about thirty-seven agents actively en-
ployed the entire year. The inadequacy
OF such a force to cope with the numer-
Gus duties assigned to them is obvious
lands are scattered throughout number
of states and territories. l concur in the
recommendation of the commissioner that
largely increased appropriations by con-
gress for rhis branch of the service will be
necessary to effectively protect the timber
on these lands
agriculture. submitted this week also
contains many recommendations of pecu-
liar interest to the mountain. states
Division of Soils.
OF the division OF soils, the secretary
says: This division has continued and
considerably extended the investigation
and mapping of the alkali soils of the irri-
gated districts of the west with results
which are at once interesting and practi-
cally important 10 the irrigation farmer
Three field parties have been out during
the season mapping a small area in the
Yellowstone valley in Montana; also about
~ square miles in the Pecos valley. New
Mexico. and go square miles in the vicin-
ity of Salt Lake City, Utah. with a recon
noissance over a much larger area.
Short circulars are being prepared for
immediate and wide circulation calling at
tenton TO the conditions due to, and the
best measures to prevent injury from al
kali or seepage water as well as the best
means for the reclamation of injured or
abandoned lands. Fuller reports will then
be prepared with detailed soil and alkalf
maps on a scale of an inch to the mile 10
he published in a volume covering the
field operations of the division during this
''The trouble from alkali is due pri-
marily to the large amounts of soluble
salts generally present in all soils of an
arid region. The rainfall is not sufficient
to carry off the salts as they are set free
IN the decomposition of the rocks These
salts are naturally distributed throughout
the soil. and for q few years are not
harmful. With the application of irriga-
ton water. however, in the intensive cul-
tiVatfon of. crops the excess of water ac-
cumulates and is liable TO fill up the SUBJ
evaporation in an arid climate. shifts the
salts until they gradually accumulate at
or near the surface in such quantities as
10 be beyond the endurance of crops The
natural drainage has, of course. a great
influence on such an accumulation of both
seepage waters and alkali.
Seepage From Canals.
Another cause, and perhaps the most
important one. OF the rise of the subsoil
water and accumulation of alkali is in the
leakage or seepage from canals. AS such