Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-05-21
STORAGE OF SURPLUS WATER
Reservoir Sites In New Mexico-An EST.
mate of Funds Needed for the Next
Fiscal Ysar-Specifo Surveys
Already Made.

streams and determining the water
supply Of the United States, including
the investigation of underground cur-
rents and artesian wells in arid and
semi-arid sections, and the preparation
of reports on the best methods of uti-
lizing the water resources" An addi-
tional appropriation of 100000 was made
by the act of March 80 last. The total
amount expended, or for which expense
has been incurred for the year ending
June 80 next, will amount, in round
numbers, to 800, 900.
EXPENSIVE WORK.
The matter is exceedingly important,
but is correspondingly expensive. The
greater part of the $4,000 specifically
appropriated for the year ending June
30 next has been or will be used for
making measurements of rivers at diff
| ferent localities, and to a less extent of
| underground waters. This work should
| be carried on at important points until
the water supply of the country is fairly
| we'll known.
SURVEYS.
In a number of instances specific sur
veys have been made. In particular may
be cited the work along ella river,
where the river as a whole has been
| studied, reservoir sites discovered and
mapped, and definite plans prepared, as
we'll as maps of reservoirs, canals and
irrigable lands. From this it has been
| possible to state what expenditure is
necessary to bring under cultivation
certain tracts. 1t has been shown, for
example, that by the construction of a
certain reservoir there will result asto-
tai increase in values over and above
all expenditures of, in round numbers,
&c., 900, 900, without taking into account
the increase in values Of taxable town
properties.
CAREFUL FIELD WORK.
These. specific surveys necessitate
careful field work and employment of
skilled engineers, especially in the ca
pacity of consulting experts to pass up
on the final estimate, so that these will
stand criticism from all sources, both
technical and financial.
RESERVOIR SITES.
The director gives a list of of locali-
ties at which surveys are desired, add
ing that while it may not be possible to
take up each of these localities at once,
still it is very important that ultimate
l II, thair paa1c he corioIclv onnctdarl1
! He suggests surveys of reservoir sites
| and examinations of underground wa
ters in the Rocky mountain states and
territories as follows:
acknowledgements near headwaters
of Salt river; reservoirs near Mcdowell,
on Verde river; possibilities of divert
ing Colorado river zeal or above The
| Needles.
Colorado-Reservoir sites and the
possibilities of diverting water into the
headwaters of South Platte river; reser-
voir sites at the head of the Rio Grande
river; reservoir sites near the head of
Dolores river; artesian we'll conditions
in northeastern Colorado. (Test wells
needed.)
acknowledgements sites above Boise;
diversion of Snake river in the vicinity
of Montgomery; underground waters in
the vicinity of Market lake.
Montana-Reservoir sites on the
headwaters of Milk and Marias rivers;
possibilities of bring water to Prickly
| Pear valley and Of water storage for
Judith basin and the Musselshell val
ley; possibilities Of diverting Yellow
stone river neal Miles City; conditions
in the vicinity of Flathead lake.
/ Nevada-Reservoir surveys on upper
Humboldt river: continuation of reser-
voir surveys on Carson and Trrckee
rivers; survey of outlet of Lake Tahoe.
New Mexico-Survey of reservoir sites
of headwaters of Puerce and James riv-
ers; examination of reservoir sites on
the Rio Grande below San Marcial.
Utah-Survey of reservoir sites near
headwaters of Bear and Weber rivers;
continuation of surveys and canal lines
west of Vernal.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of reservoir
sites above Granger; reservoir surveys
east of Yellowstone park; continuation
Of reservoir surveys in Big Horn noun
tains: combinations Of surveys of arte-
sian conditions northwesterly from
Black Hills; underground waters in
southeastern Wyoming.
ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE.
The amount of money required for
each of these specific examinations is
from $1,000 to $780, 900, depending largely
upon local conditions and the amount
of knowledge already obtained.
The following estimate is given by
the director Of the amount required for
the fiscal year ending June 30 next:
Arizona, $12,O 900; Colorado. $21, 900:
Idaho, s11, 900; Montana, $21. 900; Neva-
da, $4,000; New Mexico, $4,000: Utah.
5000: Wyoming, $4,000.
#H h.. .-EN.