Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-10-28

liminary surveys for canals and res
ervoirs have been made and work 10
now being energetically pushed. The
value of the land In this district based
on its products is very high. In Me-
va1a also the work Of retaining land
has advanced to point where con-
'struction has already begun. Canals
will be built with; diverting dams to
convey 400 cubic feet Of water per
second from the Trvceee: river to rri-
gable lands in the Truokee and Carson
valleys. The opportunities tor river
control In Washington are vast and the
|irrigatton OF eight million acres OF land
/ through using the water Of Pend
IQreille. Priest and Spokane rivers Is
contemplated. The building Of Jetties
in the Willamette river and Oregon has
greatly benefited navigation there. In
the eastern part of Oregon several
large projects are being investigated by
the government to DIVERT he waters of
rivers in that state in order to provide
irrigation for certain districts where
the rain fall Is Inadequate. Surveys
have been made BY the government on
the upper Columbia and Snake rivers
in Oregon and Washington, the results
Of which indicate favorably for the ex-
i tention Of river commerce into fertile
agricultural country. These surveys
include 125 miles OF the Columbia river
from Cello, Oregon, to the mouth OF
the Snake river in Washington and 221
miles up the Snake river. The govern
ment has gone to great expense in the
Improvement OF the Columbia river
Vessels drawing twenty-three feet OF
n water ascend the Columbia for dist
I ance Of more than 100 miles. In the
upper Columbia channels have beer
dredged, rocks blasted and lochs and
canals have been constructed. Up t
June. 1903, almost four million dollars
had been expended In building q cana
and necessary lochs around the Cas-
cade rapids of the Columbia In Oregon
4 The Problem in California
Il In California the water problem as Il
\ well known has always been promi-
nently to the front. It il gratifying t
be able to state that this problem il
. being rapidly solved. The problem nov
| confronting the people Of California 4
] the control and conservation or its riv
! ers where there. IL an over supply Q
j such and the obtaining of water II
! SUFFICIENT quantities in other sections o
d the state. Irrigation II taking care o
!. the latter problem. The wonderful re
: suits accomplished in the southern
e part of California by irrigation ar,
4 we'll known What was once deser
is now fruitful garden. A plan i
now being perfected to improve ant
: control the Sacramento and San Joa
: quin rivers, whose flood waters hav'
e caused great devastation. A commits
e sion appointed by the river improve
e ment and drainage association OF Cal
Y ifornia has been at work on Califor
: MAS rivers for some time. and Is nov
: about completing its labor.
81 1t is anticipated that the report Q
this commission will point out wa
It to improve and control the rivers o
California SO that the dangers fror
flood will be averted. the rivers mad
= available for navigation and a vas
d area Of land reclaimed. 1t is gratifyin
o to know that the people of CaIiforni
al and especially those more directly In
Ie terested in the Improvement Of thes
y rivers are fully alive to the situatic
lie and are ready to put forth tfrefr cor
le centrated energies to follow out II
al comprehensive Ian that win be devise
IS by the commission Of engineers layir
,e aside individual and local prejudice
> as 1t is generally conceded that in 7
he other way can this Improvement
4 rivers and the reclamation of lands
d. successfully carried out. In all tn
r. commendable effort for river imprcv
IN ment it must be borne in mind tn
,e, the consequence Increased prospect
he of this great western country will bel
i'd eft not only the people Of the prese
OF day but also the generations to CON
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