The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1903-08-26
.RECLAIMIHG aRDLAHDS
Details Of Plan For Converting
Deserts Into Farms.
ONE MILLION ACRES INVOLVED.

Any one but Bona Eide Residents.
After nine months Of careful inves.
tigation the geological survey has de-
cided upon and Secretary Hitchcock
has approved five irrigation projects
to be developed under the terms Of the
arid land reservation act Of June, 1902,
says William 70. Curtis, the Chicago
Record Herald Washington correspond
ent These projects are to be located
at Sweetwater dam, Wyoming; Gun
nison tunnel, Colorado; Truckee and
Carson rivers, Nevada; Milk river and
St Mays lake, Montana, and Tonic
creek. Arizona Roughly estimated.
they will make possible the irrigation
of 100000 acres Of land at cost Of
$7,500000, an average Of $3.50 an acre.
AS a matter of fact however, much Of
the area that may be reached by water
is unsuitable or unavailable for cult-
walton. It is not expected that more
than go per cent of til total win be
found worth irrlgating, which will in
crease the average cost to something
like $3.50 an acre. The cost is even
tually to be paid By the owners Of the
land reclaimed in ten annual INSTALL
ments That is the policy Of the gov
eminent. Much of the land is already
in the hands Of private individuals
and undoubtedly that which still re-
mains viii be taken up by settlers as
soon as the plans are made known,
but the government viii require pledges
that the cost Of the reclamation viii be
refunded according to the provisions
of the law.
The irrigation bureau of the geolog
ical survey Will encounter many com
plications and legal difficulties in SCI
curing reservoir sites and rights Of
way, and the riparian laws Of several
states must be observed in every par
ticular. The agents Of the government
understand that the reclamation scheme
is still in tile experimental state and
have been proceeding with the great
est caution in order that the first step
may be successful and attended by no
serious errors. In selecting locations
the first consideration is to insure
return Of the costs Of construction to
the government, which depends entire
ly upon the availability of the land for
cultivation and the disposition Of set
tiers to Own or occupy it. They win
not venture upon any estimate or pre-
diction as to the time required to COM
plete the five projects mentioned. They
must feel their way and modify their
plans as difficulties and obstacles may
develop
Sweetwater dam is to be located on
Sweetwater river at Devils gap, forty
miles west OF the town Of Casper and
similar distance north Of Rawlins,
Wyo. The total area to be reached by
irrigation is 100000 acres, and original
" it was supposed that nearly all Of it
was susceptible Of cultivation. but sub
sequent investigations have discovered
large patches of alkali which viii have
to be eliminated from the estimates.
Detailed inspection will determine the
exact amount Of lands that may be re.
claimed, and only those suitable for ag-
riculture viii be included in the plan.
The Gunnison tunnel scheme Is ex.
pected to reclaim nearly 100000 acres
near Montrose in central Colorado. but
upon closer inspection tlfis area will
undoubtedly be cut down.
In Nevada it is proposed to divert
water from Lake Tahoe, California.
and its outlet. the Truckee river, into
the Humboldt valley, aud supply set
tiers in the vicinity of Reno 1t is be-
ieyed that nearly 900, 600 acres may be
reclaimed there.
The Milk river project in northern 4
Montana is expected to reclaim nearly
100000 acres in the vicinity of Malta
Ind Glasgow, but this enterprise is at (
ended by serious complications. be- 4
,ause q part Of the water supply
,omes from Canada
AT Tonic creek, eighty miles above
'henix. Ariz., immense impounding
eseryoirs are to be located to provide
supply of water to irrigate about
100000 acres in Salt River valley,
which is already thickly settled. There
) private irrigation system already
q operation, which makes it necessary
or the government to establish its
ource Of supply at higher level than
he canals already built.
The land necessary for bitches and
which il now owned BY
riYate individuals, must be secured
y condemnation proceedings. Public
md within the area to be irrigated
annot be entered except under the
laws iii tracts Of not less
han 40 nor more than 100 acres.
When the plans are finally decided ,
pom, the secretary of the interior is !
aquired by the law TO give public no
ICE OF the location Of lands to be irri. !
ated, the number Of acres that may
e entered BY any one person, the
barge per acre for the water and the
umber of annual payments required.
% sale can be made to any but bona
de residents. At least one-half Of /,
very entry must be irrigated, and the
charges assessed against !
le claim must be paid before a patent !
an be issued
-aIue of American Fuel 10 Hawaii.