The Indianapolis journal., 1903-10-03
MAKING WASTE PLACES FERTILE.
storage Reservoirs Planned Under the
Irrigation Act.
Portland Oregonian.

POrtldnu OreSOnian
The United States geological survey IN
working steadily upon preliminary plans for
irrigation In States and Territories where
there are arid land sections that may be
reclaimed TO agriculture under the new na-
tional law. These surveying parties have
had a busy season, and many OF them will
continue in the field until snow flies,
long as they can do effective work. The
law sets aside the proceeds Of the sales Of
public lands in the regions covered for gen.
eral irrigation work. Up TO the close OF
for this work amounted TO about sl5,0Oo.000
The annual receipts showed steady in
crease. The total for 1901 was s. sol, for
1902 il was s4,565,5l6 and for the year ending
June 30, 1903 IL was equal to the proceeds or
the two former years. The States and Terri
tories entitled TO irrigation money from the
zona, California. Colorado. Idaho. Kansas.
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico.
North Dakota. Utah, Washington and wyo-
ming. The report is interesting. as IL
touches upon reservoirs. dams. artesian
possibilities and the undertow OF large
streams whose beds are dry in summer.
ton Of the irrigation problem and It's possi-
bilities. decided last year 10 build what are
known as the Sweetwater dam and the ST.
Mary system OF canals IN Montana, the
Gunnison tunnel irrigation works in Colo
rado, the Truckee system In Nevada ana
the Salt river dam in Arizona The aggre-
mater at slo,ooooov. Arid lands in the re-
gions where these works are 10 be UNDER
taken are now practically valueless. except
for grazing, and for that purpose will not
bring 81 an acre. The great increase in
value of these lands through irrigation 10
predicted upon the fact that land In the
same localities that is supplied with water
seels now for $50 an acre and upward
On an average an acre OF irrigated land
will support one person: In the United
States there 6o0oo0.0oo acres of vacant
land, one-half OF which is suitable only
Tor grazing. Enough water runs 10 waste
in these arid and semi-arid regions every
year TO irrigate 100000 acres. Ii is clear
that matter so extensive must be dealt
with system9 tically and that it's prelimi-
nary steps must be carefully taken. The
five projects above noted rest upon former
Investigations and engineering reports. 80
that no risks are involved. The lands In.
iuded In the tracts in which these opera
tions have been decided upon have been
Withdrawn from settlement. TO be reopened
again when water can oe applied 10 them
for agricultural purposes.
Secretary Hitchcock ar the beginning OF
last year indicated the part that the ma
cation follows: Water should DO
brought TO the point where the settlers
can. with their own labor or by co-opera.
tion, construct bitches and laterals TO re-
claim the desert land With the require-
ments OF actual settlement and cultivation.
TO be followed by the payment OF the cost
of storing water. the speculative element
Will be eliminated. leaving the ground
free TO bona nde settlers This policy may
be said TO have been fairly inaugurated
and its continuation cannot fall In time 70
be OF immense value In making fertilS the
waste places OF the continent.