The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-08-31
IN
STATE OF IDAHO
Great Cost Of RecIaiming Arid
Land by irrigation.
WAFER in GREAT ABUNDANCE
FIELD EXAMINATIONS ARE NOT
UNFAVoRABLE.
lsnecIaI 10 - HaraIdl

Especial 20 The Herald)
Washington, Aug. S0.-Idaho is one OF
the western states that contributes
comparatively small amount to the ma
tonal irrigation fund, yet which stands
in great need ct government aid in the
reclamation o. its desert lands. There IS
one thing, however that may serve 70
put orr indefinitely the day when the
government viii undertake the cOntsruc-
ton OF very many WORKS IN the state
That IS the excessive cost OF installing
reclamation systems in most OF. the 10
CauCieS that nave been examined up 10
III present time. While there are
..rt- ga favorable Dam sites, ana III
some regions a superb bunO2nce OF water,
tno structure OF tne soil and the uneven
| surface OF the country is SUCH as 10 rem
Gel gravity canals expensive. tleld eN-
amndttOns are being pursued through
out the present season however. IN the
hope that some location may be found
where conditions are sucn as 70 warrant
the early Construction OF government
irrigation system. That site has not yet
been developed.
There is a rather full discussion Of the
irrigation situation in Idaho contained IN
the annual report Of i. II. Newell, chleI
OF the reclamation service. Mr.. Newell
reviews the work that has been done in
/ the past and points out the merit or lack
I OF merit OF many of the schemes that
have been brought TO the attention of
/ the government, both before and after
/ the passage of the national irrigation
/ law. Among other things, ne says:
The Idaho irrigation has developed
/ mainly along Snake river and its tribu-
! taries in the southern or wider portion
! of the state. The valley lands Of the
4 northern end are relatively limited and
humid. The broad lava-covered plains
q OF the south are Tor the most part sui
] owned by the government Water has
! been taken out of the tributary streams
/ wherever it could be diverted at moderate
/ expense. The largest development OF
/ urilized lands is that made possible by
J Of troll nd m Of
/ waters OF Snake river.
Upper Snake River Valley.
What is known as Upper Snake River
( valley is the country lying between
Z American Falls and the headwaters OF
J the river. The irrigable portion of the
! valley is about 13j miles long and aver
ages nearly nine miles in width. compris-
ing all told about 100000 acres. or this
/ tract about 2l5.010 acres are now irri-
gated; about 10000 acres lie below the
level of canals already constructed or
1 partly constructed; about 121OO0 acres
are within the boundary OF the Fort Hall
Indian reservation, while the remaining
$4,000 acres lie below the level of pro-
posed canal system on the west side OF
the river near the lower end of the val
ley. There are 800 acrs5 of irrigab bic
lands on the upper tributaries, of which
15O00 acres are irrigated.
"On the lower river there are only two
points at which water can be diverted
onto the high bench lands. High dams
win have to be constructed at both these
places. These dams can be carried only
TO reasonable height, which effectually
can ever be reclaimed in this portion Of
the valley
Obstacles to be Encountered.
1.-The construction OF proposed canals or
P the north side of the river in the upper
valley will be comparatively easy, but II
order to reach any large amount of lanC
beyond their present location, say east O
Malade river. they would have to be car
ried over miles Of lava fields, at eX
, pense which would probably not be war
ranted for many years 10 come 4 cana
covering any of the high table lands ives
of Maiade river would have to be diverted
at least as far west as MinidOka rapids
IL would have TO run through lava for
. nation upwards Of a hundred miles fol
lowing route over which railroad con
structiOn has been deamed impra cticable
, of the lands of the high plateau in tina
vicinity by the waters Of Snake rive
would be only Visionary
Investigation of Irrigable Lands.
Mr. Newell regards as irrigable land
those below the level of existing canal
, and over which the construction of canal
, is known TO be feasible. A large body o
such land is situated on the nOrthwes
boundary OF the great lava field. a grca
level plain in which streams sink. lynn
between the foothills and the lava fields
/ The main body OF this land comprises a
area Of at least 10000 acres. The onl
, source of water for the reclamation O
this tract IS n Snake river, and the dis
covery of 4 feasible route for a canal Ia
seen the serious problem II connectio
- with its reclama ton. a satisfactory rOut
s Is yet TO be found, although people resid
, ing in the vicinity generally believe tina
, the project is entirely Feasible.
The lands in the vicinity of Mud lax
are considera bly, lower than the highes
- canals diverting from Henry Fork in tn
70 vicinity Of St Anthony The fntervenin
- lava fields. however. make the constru,
tlon of "A canal from anv point in this V
: cinity very expensive. From an engineer
3 ing standpoint, the obstacles in the wa
- Of retaining these lands NAV not be IL
{ superable. but considered in its relatio
= 70 the economic features Of the problel
i OF irrigation development in Snake Riv,
undertaking should be postponed for SCI
| eral years at least.
Proposed Dam Sites.
Surveys of Henry lake and the su
rounding country show that a dam cou
be constructed at from $4,000 to $4,000
4 head Of its outlet. which would provide
IL ! reservoir of 5000 aCre-feet CAPACITY II
" varying cost Of such n dam depends upC
n the kind of material used in constructio
- a reservoir OF 5000 acre-feet capacf
could be constructed for from S3O.e00
Ie $4,000 at Coffeepot rapids in the Hem
,U i Fork OF Snake river. while another fea
s. lDle site Is found about six miles belo
a / Buffalo creek on Henry Fork. other sit
II We're found on Little Smoky creek N
ii | Middle Fork.
u, Surveys and examinations made in Pa
m cite valley showed that If - Is -four
Id practicable % construct a canal taEiI
n Water from Payette river. about six mil
above the town % Emmett about 59l
acres of public lands could be recIairne
lp and the water supply increased for . Z
S. acres more. lying under bitches which
NJ vert their water from Boise river.
D.
is NlfTTE lR man Fn1ROR