The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-27

people who the West wants to interest
Interest the manufacturers who sell
their wares. Show them how they will
have bigger markets if the arid lands
are reclaimed.
Mr.. Cannon advised the congress to
hold it's next meeting in some great
Eastern manufacturing center.
photographic Work.
Following Mr.. Cannon, the Nordica
quartette rendered another selection.
after which Professor Newell delivered
his lecture upon the photographic work
of the United States geological survey,
of which he is at the head. He said, in
part:
THE origin of the reservoir investi-
cations carried on by the geological
survey may be traced to the early work
of Major J. w. Powell. and particularly
to the report prepared by him on the
lands of the arid region, transmitted
April l, 1878. On page - of this report
he calls attention to the increase of ir-
rigable area possible by flood storage
and notes that there are two methods
of conserving the waste waters: First,
in the upper valleys, among the noun
tains and foothills, and second, in
ponds within or adjacent to farms
where irrigation is being carried on
At that time both of these classes Of
reservoir sites were practically un-
touched, but since then many of the
smaller reservoir sites adjacent to cul-
tivated lands have been put in use in
whole or part. At the present time the
public is concerned mainly with the
larger and more expensive storage prop
ositions within the upper catchment
areas of the streams.
Major Powell's early report, while
discussing conditions throughout the
VII x-yI,t l1fo
ticularly concerning Utah. He showed,
for example. that upon the sources Of
the Sewer river reservoirs could be con-
structed in the broad basins drained by
narrow gorges cut through volcanic
sheets. 1t was not until 10 years after
the publication of this report, namely,
in 1888, that congress took definite ac-
tion in authorizing reservoir surveys,
The First Requisite.
Shortly after the publication of Pow
ellis report on the lands of the arid re-
gion the survey Of which he was the
head was abolished. with other similar
organizations. and in the place of these
the existing United States geological
survey was created. This present sur
vey is concerned with the water re-
sources of the country primary through
what is known as the organic law
contained in the act of congress of
March 3. 1879 (Sta. L., vol. 20, p. 394).
To the paragraph creating the Office
of director of the geological survey the
proviso was attached that this officer
shall make the classification of the pub
lie lands and examination of the geo
logical structure, mineral resources and
products of the national domain The
first requisite in such classification and
examination has been found to be a
topographic may for guidance and for
Ia ttHt kft,.r ~ 1.-Two hn
ganization of the survey, therefore, a
large part of its ~ ;gies has been con-
centrated on the preparation of such
map, showing all elevations of land
surface by means of contours, also the
location of streams, towns, roads. rail-
roads and canals for irrigation or trans
portation, isolated houses and bounda-
res of states counties and towns. This
map exhibits the drainage area of
streams, the topographic features favor
able to water conservation, the land
office lines, the slopes of valleys and
many other details of importance to the
development of water powers and of If
rigation or the reclamation of the arid
lands.
Irrigation.
I'm 1887 the director of the geological
survey was called upon by congress to
consider the question of federal recog-
luton was passed (Stat. l., vol. %. PIP.
61S-619) requiring the secretary of the
interior by means of the director of the
geological survey, TO make an inNestl-
cation of that portion of the arid re-
gion of the United States where agri-
culture is carried on by means of irfi-
CATION. This was followed by the pass
age of an act (Stat. L, vol. %, PIP. 92b-
527-96O) containing an appropriation ter
the purpose of investigation the extent
to which the arid region of the United
States can be redeemed by Irrigation.
A portion of the law of Oct. 2, 1888, was
repealed by a provision in the act ap-
proved Aug so, 1890, (Stat. l., vol. 26,
D. 39D. Under this latter law the sun
vey selected and mapped large NUM-
ber of reservoir sites, which has been
noted on the records of the general land
office and are now reserved from entry
or settlement Descriptions of these sites
may be found in the 10th, 1lth 18th
and 18th annual reports of this survey.
Still Authority.
"It appears that the portion of the
original law approved Oct. 2, 1883, which
affected the withdrawal of the public
lands from entry, occupation and set
tlement was repealed, but that the re-
portions of the law Were unaf-
fected by the act of the repeal, and
tnat tnere Is sui On lle statute DuUhS
authority for making an examination
of the arid region of the United States.
for ascertaining the capacity of the
streams and for the selection of sites
for reservoirs and other hydraulic
W orks necessary for the storage and
utilization of water for irrigation and
the prevention of floods and overfioWs,
and to make the necessary maps 1t
is specifically provided that the reser-
Y DIR sites shall remain segregated for
such use, and in a law entitled An act
to repeal timber culture laws, and for
other purposes approved March ), 1891,
it is provided that reservoir sites shall
be restricted to and shall contain only
so much land as is actually necessary !
for the construction and maintenance
Of reservoirs, excluding so far as prac- |
ticabIe lands occupied by actual set
tiers at the date Of the location of said |
reservoirs"
Continuing, Professor Newell spoke |
of the work that has been |
done under these laws. Most of it has |
been of the first class mentioned, that !
Of exploring for reservoir sites and in !
the flow of streams and |
1tber Dossih1e sources nf Snpply rf |