The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-20
NEWELL TALKS
OF IRRIGATION.
Senators and Congressman
Listen AttsntiysIy.
ACTUAL WORK IN ARIZONA
PLANS FOR UTAH NOT YET
BLOCKED OUT.
ACTUAL WORK IN ARIZONA
lspecIaI b - HeraIdl


Washington, Dec. 19-An Interesting
joint meeting Of the senate and house
irrigation committees was held today
in Representative MondeHs commit
zee room IN order TO hear chief Engi-
ieer r. TIL. Newell explain The opera
mons 70 date Of the reclamation service
under the new irrigation act. Nearly
Inc entire membership Of both COM
Inlltees were present and Senator's
bard, Newlands Hansbrough. Gibson,
stewart and Warren. who attended,
questioned Mr. Newell closely from
uom time TO time concerning the work
accomplished and protector in various
parts OF the west, and concerning the
practical workings Of the new act, and
the desirability of any amendment.
Listened to Newell.
Chief Engineer Newell was before the
committees for over FIVE hours and ex-
Hlaned length, with the aid Of maps
@nd has relief plans the operations Of
t's Office in carrying the Irrigation act
ll'o practical effect. Work has aCtu-
ply commenced upon one project.
Known IS the Salt River or Tonic en-
icrprisc in Arizona. where irrigation
works 20 cost S3.500.O 900 and calculated
e. supplement and increase the water
supply on 100000 acres Of land now in
private ownership are to be built Bios
have also been called for on a project
On the Trucllee river. in Nevada. con-
tcmplatng a diversion canal from the
Iruckee river costing half a million
and distribution works costing $1,000
eco. the entire enterprise to water 25e,-
600 acres.
Colorado Project.
in Colorado the first work which will
be undertaken SIS Gunnison tunnel a
project TO cost upwards of two mil
lions and watering 100000 acres. In
wyoming it is contemplated actual
work viii Doc commenced next spring
upon three projects. the principal one
being ON the North Platte river from
which lands in Wyoming and Nebras-
l,a VIII be watered.
Tn New Mexico there Us prospect Of
immediate work on the HCndo river
enterprise i'm Pecos valley, costing
Sl50000
Nothing Doing in Utah.
In Utah Investigations have not been
carried 10 point possible TO say just
when actual work viii commence.
Idaho has two large projects upon
which work viii commence early next
spring. These are upon Snake river.
the largest being the Minnedoka enter
prise near American Falls. and one
near ST. Anthony contemplating the
reclamation Of 100000 acres. Idaho also
has a small project near Boise.
Projects I'm California. oregon. Wash
ington and North and South Dakota
were also explained Responding to
questions Newell explained that all the
projects deemed feasible from exam
nation no to the present time involved
on outlay OF S25 100000. Also that irri-
cation development has been greatest
ln states having land grants like Cal
ifornia, where large holdings subse-
quently became subdivided into small
ArmF He pronounced the irrigation
a practical piece of legislation and
SAID the work up tQsthe present time
mas not shown that any amendment
OF it is necessary. Further meetings
% the Irrigation committees VIII be
held from time to time to Keep mem
bers posted on the progress Of irriga-
ton work. and reports OF the proceed
ings viii he printed for the use Of
congress and the public