The San Francisco call., 1904-10-28
JENNINGS DESCRIBES
CALIFORNIA; RICHNESS
Tells TranSMiSSiSSipp Congress Of Great River Lands
to Be Reclaimed in the Golden State.

ST. LOUIS. Oct. 27.-The beginning
or to-day's session Of the Trans -Missis-
sippi Commercial Congress was de-
voted 10 a general discussion of the
topics presented in the papers read
during yesterdays session. President
kerens, in a brief address, admonished
The delegates that the congress was
not accomplishing all the work in
tended by merely listening TO papers.
but that the delegates should discuss
the different subjects placed before the
congress and bring out all the potent
points. Necessarily the general re-
view was limited, owing to the number
OF papers yet TO be heard but was
earnest and animated, embracing irri-
cation methods, cultivation Of sugar
beets, the commercial aspect of the
country, labor and capital conditions,
government, protection against floods
and kindred topics.
One Of the most interesting addresses
OF the day was that delivered by Rufus
P Jennings Of San Francisco, execu-
tive officer Of the California Promotion
Committee. Jennings spoke on rivers
and irrigation. He first reviewed the
history of river reclamation as seen
along the Nile and in Italy. Taking up
the problems which face the West he
spoke as follows:
There has been much accomplished in the
,.sr+, n ne o. TlVer s in,lrossnlent las as
htst resulting from reclamation and irrigation.
Many projects for further work under way.
Notable irrigation has been accomplished
from the Jordan River in Utah. This work
meant 10 the state on Utsh the pro5uction
= ffa mi
the Rocky Mountain region. The Snake River
Valley offers possibilities Of great develop
ment for Idaho The drained directly by
this river covers thirteen thousand square
miles Under the provisions OF the reclama-
oon act sixteen hundred miles OF preliminary
surveys for canals and reservoirs have been
made and work is being energetically
pushed. The value OF land in this district.
In Nevada also the work OF retaining land
has advanced 70 point where construction
diverting dams 10 convey fourteen hundred
cubic feet Of water per second from the
Trucsee River 10 irrigable lands in the Truckee
In Arizona there are vast drainage basins
IN the ella Valley and in the Salt River
Valley. II is said. viii be the largest ever
constructed and VIII supply water sufficient
- irrigate 25o,OOO acres Of land The Gov
ernment has this work now well under way.
Irrigation and river improvement being
locked into by the United States Government
~ Colorado Surveys have been made in the
Grand Canyon OF the GunnisOn River. In
this connection il is proposed to divert the
waters of this river by means Of a tunnel
SIX miles long into the Uncompaghre Valley.
N THE COAST STATES.
The opportunities for river control in Wash
II gtcn are vast and the irrigation OF eight
million acres OF land through using waters
Of the Pen Oreille Priest and Spokane rivers
D. contemplated. The Government is looking
iIto conditions in Wyoming and has two i'm
the Lake de Srnet project and the Shoshone
project. The storage OF waters in New Mex
ice has converted thousands OF acres once
covered with cactus and cst-caws into
rezinn thar can ship train loads OF fruit COM
uanding top market prices.
The building Of jetties in the Willamette
River IN Oregon has greatly benefited naviga-
tion there In the eastern part Of Oregon
several large projects are being investigated
by the Government divert the waters of
rivers in that state in order 10 provide rri-
cation for certain districts where the rainfall
is inadequate. Surveys have been made by
the Government the Upper Columbia and
Srake rivers IN Oregon and Washington, the
results OF which indicate farorably for the
extension Of river commerce into fertile agri-
cultural country These surveys include
hundred and twenty-five miles OF the Columbia
Snake River in Washington and two hundred
and twenty-one miles up the Snake River.
The Government has gone 70 great expense
in the IMPROVEMENT of the Columbia River.
Vessels drawing twenty-three feet OF water
ascend the Columbia for a distance OF more
than one hundred miles. In the Upper Colum-
l1ia channels have been dreoged. rocks blasted
and locks and canals have been constructed.
Up 10 June. 1908. almost four million dollars
had been expended in building q canal and
necessary locks around the Cascade rapids OF
the Columbia in Oregon.