Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1902-01-28
COST OF
FACTS AND FIGURES FURNISHED
FOR USE OF THE SENATE COM
MITTEE.

FOR USE OF THE SENATE COM
MITTEE.
Washington, Jan. 27.-Charles D.
Wolcott director Of the geological sur
vey, has sent Senator Hansbrough, for
the s of the senate public lands COM
mittee in it's consideration tomorrow
of the irrigation bill, a detailed state
ment Of facts and figures showing arid
and acreage, cost of reclamation, value
per acre of reclaimed land, population
it will sustain, etc. This statement
will be submitted as part Of the COM
mittee's report in favor of the passage
Of the bill. /.
1t forms the most convincing argu-
ment for irrigation yet made and
comes with all the force of a great
scientific government bureau which has
investigated the irrigation with special
reference to the proposed legislation.
The following statements are summar-
lied from Director Walcott's report:
From 100000 to 1OO,OOO,OOO acres
OF arid lands are available for irriga-
tioqn1, but it will not be necessary for
the government to reclaim it all. If
the government should build the great
dams and divert large rivers, indivi-
dual enterprise would be able to put
water on the greater part of this land.
It is estimated that if the government
s~conserves 20, 900, 600, which Wolcott
thinks is a fair proposition. individ-
uals would supply water for the re-
mainder. a
Water conservation costs from IS to
2 per acre, depending on natural
difficulties to be overcome. Twenty
i've dollars would be prohibitive in
Montana, where only alfalfa is grown,
but would be very reasonable in Ari-.
iona where high grade products are
raised.
The cost to irrigate 2o,eO0, 900 acres,
the governments share, would be $40
to $15 an acre, but ultimately the land
would be worth three times that figure.
OF the vacant public land, 5000, 600
acres are now irrigated, chiefly in COL
orado and California, The water SUD-
ply OF the country is sufficient for the
conservation of about 100, OOO, 900
acres. ~
Should the government reclaim 20
100000 acres, private individuals could
at once reclaim 20,0 900 acres more,
making 40,000,OOO acres. The prob
able expense to the government during
the thinty-eight years for 100000 600
acres at $50 per acre would be $780,
100000. The probable expense to in
dividuals for 20,OOO,OOO acres at $50
per acre would be $6OO,OOO,O 900.
The population made possible in
forty years as the result irrigation
would be 30,OOO,OOO; value of land
brought under settlement, excluding
buildings, cattle, etc, 40, 1000, 900 acres
at $50 per acre, in forty years, $1,000
100000.
Director Walcott after making the
statements just quoted, referred to sew
eral Of the more important proposed
irrigation projects in detail, notably
those In California, Nevada, Arizona
and Montana.
In the latter state the cost, he says,
OF st. Mary's river diversion canal for
taking the water Of the st. Mary river
In northern Montana across the gravel
ridges to Milk river will be $1,5OO,OOO.
~ would reclaim 10000 acres, all
public land, which would be worth $25
per acre where it is worth nothing
now. and would sustain a population
Of 10000. Director Walcott,s repor
is long and discusses every phase Of
the question.