New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-11
ARID LAND RETALIATION.
Need of Protecting Forests About
HeadzCaters of Streams.
lVRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington, Jan. 1o-The fact that nearly 5000
0oo has already accumulated in the arid land rec
lamation fund under the provisions OF the
National Irrigation act and that actual construc-
ton has begun on two great federal projects which
will add TO Arizona and Nevada several hundred
thousand acres OF fertile land built UP with dense
agricultural communities where to-day is barren
desert, gives particular Importance and interest
TO the forthcoming report Of F. H. Newell. tho
officer IN charge of the reclamation service. to be
issued public document from the Geological
Survey IN a few weeks.
Mr.. Newell declares that the National Irrigation
law requires amendment and that only after an
actual trial on reclamation projects. which
may may not develop weak points In the stat
utes, will II be possible integently TO advise Con-
gress whether any change or modification is need
ed He calls particular attention 10 the urgent
necessity for protecting the forests at the head
waters Of streams. saying on this point:
One of the most important matters in connection
with the permanent development OF the water re-
sources OF the country is the protection or the
catchment basins from destructive influences. Inc
headwaters of many OF the important streams are
already INCLUDED within the forest reserves .s and
guarded from injury The forest reserve boundaries
which comes the principal part of the rainfall.
This land usually has no value for cultivation; Is
trees
The belief IS gaining ground at Washington that
not only should the forest reserves be extended
TO this degree. but that the entire remaining public
that any timber cut therefrom should be under
government supervision thus absolutely insuring
the water supply. both for irrigation and power
we'll for municipal any other need. The
scores OF denuded and bare mountain ranges IN
Western States thickly covered with spruce
ent timber laws.
The official figures OF the Geological Survey show
interesting comparison Of the dimensions OF the
big Tonic dam of the Salt River Valley Arizona
wit str a.,
the country. The Tonic dam is to rise 80 feet
above the channel OF the stream. Its thickness
at the base Will be 1Ss feet. gradually tapering
width Of &c feet at the curb the width OF the dam
across the canyon will be 800 feet
The great Croton dam. which Is supply New
York with water IS 2o feet above the river channel
and 500 feet 1t was necessary this case
TO dig down eighty feet 10 insure a good founda-
ton.
The wachusett dam. near Boston. is 12s feet
above the river channel 1S5 feet thick at the base
and $50 feet wide.
TO IRRIGATE IDAHO DESERTS.
The government has been making general
Reconnaissance OF the irrigation possibilities OF
Idaho. under the national law. and has selected
three localities for complete study. The
southern portion OF Idaho, particularly along the
Snake River, offers some of the best opportunities
for reclamation in the United States" said F. II.
vast tracts OF arid land along this river which
e f be Transformed into great farming commun-
One Of the three projects selected by the govern
ment for special study is the Mud Lake undertake
ing. This includes large extent of desert land.
and It is believed that two hundred thousand acres
North Fork Of the. Snake River near St. 4nthony
Various trial lines have been run out by the gov
eminent across the desert showing that canals can
be carried out at different elevations and at differ
The Mnidoka project contemplates the reclama-
ton of about eighty thousand acres both sides
Railroad The Snake River is to be damned, but
the water cannot be raised sufficiently high get
on IA host QF0ne hat .ala~y~a ,rs1
pumping on large scale is proposed to reach the
pumping csn be de1eG BY Suitable ne wdeSE
installed near the dam. To furnish the water for
yded at the headwaters of the Snake River utiliz-
Jennie. all OF which have been set aside for
The third government project in Idaho is the
Payette-Boise. near the city Of Boise The Payette
River on the north furnishes a large supply OF
be expensive. and, probably include tunneing. A
lands when reclaimed will be of high value. and
the h sen aeo to Of The STAT Sd be far sohng
6aa which may result from an Of aS
or land questions 70 be dealt with by various States
In accepting the Carey act. which provides that
reclaimed by irrigation and settled upon the State
can acquire title from the general government free
vision. known to few TO the effect that whore such
case they had not been settled upon at the
piration OF two years after the completion OF the
to the reclamation company This was most
egregous. mistake f7om the standpoint OF settle
ment and community building. but would operate
nicely in the Interests Of land or irrigation
COMPANIES desirl2|to secure large tracts OF land
claiming ias.d under the Carey act to make its
sped patent tse to large poT6Rs
II not the whole. OF the tract reclaimed.
VIOLATION OF FEDERAL STATUTE
The matter having been called 10 the attention
OF the department at Washington. 1t was held that
the Idaho enactment violated that portion OF the
Carey act which says:
THAT such State shall not sell dispose Of more
than 100 acres OF said land 70 any person"
The Secretary OF the Interior however, has let
the erring State down easy and has ruled that IN
asruch Idaho has agreed with the general
government. for which purpose Governor Morrison
Was recently in Washington. that in selling and
disposng OF the land sought to be segregated the
State will not sell than 100 acres 20 any one
person. and then only bona fde settlers, the fed
eral government viii not withhold title to lands
1t would seem that in view OF the fact that the
Idaho Legislature in its terms OF acceptance of the
Carey act had enacted 4 specific provision directly
in conflict with the terms OF That act the general
government would have been warranted in making
a9 a IN une and ca4sT act to n
Idaho Legislature had repealed it's conflicting and
fraudulent enactment In his holding the Secretary
OF the Interior that should IL Udaho) fail TO
carry out its contract and violate the provisions
alone has the power TO enforce the conditions OF
The most that could be done by the executive de-
partment Of the government would be to report the
The government engineers have been active in
<udying the irrigation possibilities in Montana the
project, Investigations have been made of several
other Montana projects. In the country south of
MIX River a general reconnaissance has been in
progress along tho Sun River the Musselshel River
and the Yellowstone, particularly near the mouth OF
preliminary surveys accomplished. that lands can
be reclaimed in Eastern Montana and adjacent por-
tons of North Dakota by diverting the waters OF
the Yellowstone River on the north bank In Mon