The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-03-19
TO OPEN A MILLION
ACRES OF ARID LAND
Gigantic Undertaking by |
Geological Survey.
PROJECTS COST 100000
Each Acre Irrigated TO Be Assessed
According to Amount
Expended.

Officials Of the Geological Survey are
delighted with the decision of the Cabi-
net to place at the disposal OF the In
terror Department $1,000 900 OF the sl0.-
100000 in the public land, fund for the
purpose Of carrying out irrigation plans
in the West. For the past ten years the
Geological Survey has been pros
pecting IN the arid regions OF the West
with the view OF determining where the
least money could be spent and accom-
plish the greatest good The claims Of
the various sections were thoroughly
considered and the department outlined
five projects which have met with the
approval Of the Cabinet and will be be-
gun In short while.
The first is in Wyoming and is called
the Sweetwater project. II will be a
matter Of damming the sweetwater
River.
The second enterprise is the MIX
River project. in Montana. This in
wolves a storage dam, diversion canal.
and distributing system.
The third Is the Truckee. in Nevada
which offers a problem similar to that
on MIX River
A Difficult Task.
The Cunnisou project. In Colorado
differs from the others in that. instead
OF building a dam. the irrigators viii
have TO bore q tunnel twelve feet In
diameter through four miles OF gran
lite. No especial trouble IS anticipated
l. a- he
end away from the river. where shale
instead of granite viii be encountered
and will require expensive snoring.
The fifth is the salt River project. in
Arizona. where an immense storage dam
Is to be built.
About loco. 900 acres of arid land Will
be opened for cultivation IL the Ave
projects are completed. though the
amount OF good accomplished viii de-
pend largely upon the action of the land
owners in the sections where the work is
10 be done Ten years have been spent
by the biologists in surveying and map
ping the arid sections which are 70 be
improved. and the plans are now COM
pleted One thing that remains is 70
buy the land necessary for the -reser-
voirs. That viii be the first use to Which
the 100000 viii be put.
Owners Acquiescent-
The~land owners have been sounded
and have generally been willing to set
tic at reasons5ic amounts. The Govern
ment owns large quantities Of arid
ground. but the reservoirs viii natural
" all valleys where there are already
streams and vegetation. so that the pub
lie property will not be available. After
the owners OF reservoir sites are brought
into camp will come the reasoning witt
the owners OF the soil which Will be
benefited by irrigation. The scheme Of
the Government is 20 make tho improve
ments pay for themselves in ten years
II 100000 acres Of private land are bene-
fted and the dam or tunnel cost $1,000
600. each acre would be assessed at SO
payable in ten annual installments o.
81 per acre. without interest II 5000
acres OF private land and the same
amount OF Government land are i'm
proved. the Government assumes il
share Of the cost and holds it as lier
against any purchaser or homesteadel
by whom Il may be acquired
Must Share Expense.
should the land owners in any particu
lar locality refuse 10 bear their share
Of the expense attached TO betterinl
their condition. then that project will b.
abandoned and its money spent in
more appreciative section.
r. H. Newell. CHIEF Of the division o
photography OF the Geological Survey
said yesterday that some OF the worl
may be finished in two years and iha
some may require Eve years or more
the willingness, of the land owners-to co
operate with the Government being al
Important feature IN reducing the tim
required
Besides the FIVE plans upon which op
erations are 10 begin at once others ar
under consideration. but have not ye
passed the preliminary stage