The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-06
HITCHCOCK HAS
CHANGED VIEWS
Several Small irrigation Projects
Will Be Constructed.
MAY SELECT A UTAH SYSTEM
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY TO EXAM
me THUNDER MOUNTAIN.
Especial to The Herald.)

NJ ASHINGTON, July 5.-Indications
wv are that by next spring the sec
rotary of the interior viii be
through with the geological surveys
and begin the work of construction on
the first irrigation system 70 be built
under the recently enacted law. Where
this project win be located has not
been determined, but in all probability
II VIII be a project of modest propor-
lions, costing from $500. 000 TO 81 ,00O, 900,
and one. whose success is reasOna bly,
certain The secretary is now plan
ming the work OF the field examinations
with view to selecting those sites
which give the most promise OF sue
cess and from which the earliest re-
turns may be had.
He believes in getting back into the
irrigation fund as rapidly as possible
all the money that IS to be expended
IN constructing reservoirs and canals
and with this end in view. is arrang-
ing prellmlnarieS. 1t is very apparent
that neither the Milk river project in
Montana nor the ella river or Truckee
canyon projects in Arizona are to be
among the first chosen. because of the
enormous cost involved. Moreover. the
secretary wants TO know more abous
these projects from a money stand
2.
Numerous reports that these systems
will cost very dearly in proportion TO
the amount OF lanc reclaimed. have
somewhat alarmed him. and resulted in
his choosing a medium course This
course, moreover. had been recommend
ed by many western senators and rep
resentatives before they left for home
The secretary does not mean to aban-
don these larger projects, but merely
70 le1
have examined the proposed systems
declare them to be entirely feasible and
capable of irr1gating vast areas of fer
tile land With a view of satisfying
himself in this respect. the secretary
has ordered more detailed examina-
tons of the projects which may extend
over several years.
In deciding to begin with the small
er projects the department has made il
possible TO undertake a number of
projects simultaneously, and to dis
tribute work into several states, as by
the time field operations are. COM
menced. there will be an available sum
of from 5000. 600 to $S.000.o O0-
~ Samuel Z. Emmons of the geological
survey, now making field examinations
in the west, has been directed to visit
the Thunder mountain mining region
during the present summer and make
careful reconnaissance of the entire
field. with a view to ascertaining. in a
general way, whether this newly dis
covered camp is as rich as generally
reported, and to report whether or not
it viii be advisable for the geologicas
survey to next year make detailed ex-
animation of its mineral deposits. En-
mons report will not be made before
next winter.
The secretary of the interior is pre-
pairing to expend $4,000. appropriated
in the deficiency bill, for the purchase
of buffalo for the Yellowstone Ma
tional park. and for fencing in suit
able corral for the herd. In making a
selection none but pure blooded animals
VIII be accepted. and. If possible not
over $3.50 a head will be paid. although
prices range up TO $500. The depart
ment now has an option on Allard's
herd of sixty buffalo in Montana, and
also has its eye on the Goodnight herd
in Texas.