Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-11-11

49, l
conditions exist with reference 10 the
Uncompahgre project In Colorado
comprising about 100 900 acres. Con.
tracts have been let In Idaho for the
Minidoka project. which will water
$50. 900 acres OF land below the AMER
lean falls. In Montana extensive sur.
veys have been made in connection
with the MIX river project, which
contemplates the diversion OF the
naturally stored waters OF 81, Mays
lake. and when completed this will
insure the reclamation OF several run.
dred thousand acres.
No contracts have yet been let for
this construction. Surveys and
studies have been made OF other 10
callties In Montana which will IN.
doubtedly lead to their adoption and
Improvement. In Nevada the True
kee-Carson project has been contract.
cd and the work IL well under way.
This will reclaim about zoe. 900 acres.
Plans and estimates OF projects IN al
most all Of the states coming under
the provisions OF the act will soon
be completed. and when approved con.
tracts will be let and during the com
ing year the work will be actively FRO
gressing throughout the entire arid
district.
With the view uf protecting avail
able districts from private entries the
interior department has withdrawn
from entry and settlement large areas
Of land, amounting In the aggregate
TO about fo%rty.three and a half mil.
lion acres, OF which three and a half
million have been restored. II has
been ~variously estimated that in the
sixteen states subject 10 the provision
; Of the reclamation act there are avail.
: able from fifty million TO sixty mil
J Hon acres Of land capable Of sustain.
: Ing q population OF from fifteen mil
, lion TO twenty million people. II IL
difficult for the mind 10 conceive the
comprehensiveness OF such a stupen.
J dons scheme
, importance Of Storing the Flood Wa
tiers.
The storage and conservation OF
; water In large reservoirs, which are
costly OF construction but which are
, essential 10 insure n constant supply
: Of water when most needed. consti.
tute one OF the main features OF the
reclamation system, by the retention
. OF flood water both In moderate and
! torrential streams and the proper d.
. version thereof TO meet requirements
the present development Of irrigation
which under existing conditions has
about reached its maximum Of eff.
cheney in the watering OF seven mil
lion acres OF land. may undoubtedly
be doubled In a short period OF time
y The government will lose nothin,
8 by the operation. M It will be REIN
bursed by the proceeds OF the sal,
OF the lands restricted to purchase b,
the actual settler In small tracts a
n the actual cost of reclamation as ap
a piled TO each particular locality, to b,
h paid in easy annual instaliments. TIL,
proceeds Of sales are returned to tn,
h reclamation fund, to be used agar
I for the extension OF the system II
other localities. and thus the govern
ment viii gain by the conversion 0
the parched plains and waste place.
into fruitful fields and blessed homeI
for the millions OF patriotic peopl,
d who will come TO possess and enjo'
d them.
That the west, with It's remarkably
y dry and healthfuI climate, will achiey,
agricultural success In sections wher,
the arid plains will be irrigated ther'
Is no doubt.
is In the irrigablc valleys today III,
chief cereal crops are barley. whea
r and oats, II viii be possible 10 clil
81 tivate fruit trees beyond what evei
II the residents today imagine. Al
II fruits will grow plentifully. There I
liz a great almond industry In Nevad,
le and other states today. and with tn
h irrigation under way this product vii
n increase, might 20 further into de
tail and enlarge upon the POSSIBLE
II. ties for the home seeker. but tn,
le plans under way are SO s%tupendou
that a calculation Is quite impossible
c. In this heaIthfui country TAX,
Ct into consideration all states mention
p ed~-theee may he grown every val
NJ iety of fruit. These lands will b
Mt made productive when water molsten
"a the soil. The soil Is rich, II can b
transformed from It's arid state int
In one unhroken stretch az green. Tree,
bearing apples, plums, peaches, a
Ia. monds. olives, oranges. lemons an
"a every known variety - fohl Aaiscac