The daily sentinel., 1902-02-14
FEDERAL CANALS.

ADAAknA OnhllAOs
Colorado May Benefit by First
Government Experiment in IT.
rigation. Survey of Portion of
Grand River Soon to be Made.
That this section Of arid America
would be the first or among the first to
secure recognition from the government,
under the proposed new irrigation laws
for the reclamation OF arid lands in the
west, has been the prophesy OF The SEN
tinel for some time past.
There have been three different Sec
tions represented to the government for
experiments and Colorado is not includ.
ed in these; but, if any one of them
should for reasons OF impractical bility be
let go as an experiment, Colorado will be
among the very first states selected for
an experiment and the Grand river val
ley the distinct section 10 this state
The following, taken from Washing
ton special explains the matter more
fully:
F. II. Newell, chief photographer of
the United States geological survey, has
expressed his belief that Colorado stands
good chance OF receiving some OF the
benefits of government irrigation expert.
ments in case any Of the three localities
selected by the survey for experimental
purposes fails TO satisfy congress when
the irrigation measure passes. The
three points which have been designated
by the survey as suitable for expert
ments and likely to command wide at
tention are the San Carlos Indian reser-
vation in southern Arizona, lands lying
at the western border of Nevada and ex-
tending into California, and lands lying
along the extreme north of Montana.
or course, if serious objections be
raised as to the ntness Of either of these
localities or the expense OF constructing
the irrigation works, suitable points in
these states or other states will be cho-
sen. Although Colorado has not been
recommended, the irrigation opportuni-
ties OF that state are we'll known to the
photographic department OF the survey.
The chief propositions that would be
considered are the Gunnison river def1ec-
tion where the state is at present con-
structing a canal and tunnel, and the di-
verting OF waters of the Grand river near
Grand Junction onto the arid lands sur
rounding Grand Juaction and extending
into eastern Utah.
Mr.. Newell expressed his opinion that
irrigation systems could be readily con-
structed at these points and would be of
considerable use in demonstrating to the
country the value Of irrigation legisla-
ton should congress authorize their con-
struction.
II the appropriation asked for by the
United States geological survey is grant
cd by congress, it is practically certain
that the survey and examination Of
the Grand river, with view to diverting
to waters OF that stream on to arid lands
in the vicinity OF Grand junction will be
made at once. A petition recently got
ten up by citizens OF the region involved
was submitted 20 the secretary OF the in
terror by Senator Patterson. the mat
ter was referred by the secretary to the
director OF the geological survey, who
has returned the following communica-
ton on the subject:
"The Honorable, the Secretary OF the
Interior, Washington, ID. c.:
"Sir.-1 have the honor to acknowledge,
by reference dated January 18th, letter
from Hon. T. Nj. Patterson, dated Janu-
ary 9th, transmitting a petition dated
August 2Sth.
"Mr. Patterson heartily endorses the
petition, which calls for an examination
and survey OF the practicability OF di-
verting the Grand river by means OF
large canal heading in the canon above
Grand Junction This is an important
matter in the development OF the vacant
lands OF western Colorado and eastern
Utah. A hasty preliminary eIamina-
ton has recently been made and it is be-
lieyed to be highly desirable to make
detailed survey. The country to be ira
versed by a canal is in places rough and
oF alfoppa tive