Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-11-11
Senator W. A. Clark, President
Of National irrigation Con.
gress, Discusses Sub.
ject
PROJECTS AL
READY UNDERWAY
Optimistic Forecast Of Good To
he Accomplished By Great
Work ofThe Government

Tho event OF the greatest import.
ance to the southwest In the near fu.
ture Is the meeting OF the National
Irrigation congress at FL Paso. At
the request Of the enyer Republican.
Senator w. A. Clark. president OF the
congress. contributes the following &C
count OF the aims OF the great gather
Ing and Of the plans OF the Federal
Reclamation service. OF which he IA
an ardent champion:
In compliance with your request for
some data and information relative
to the work OF the irrigation congress
which at FL Paso, Tex, on
Nov. II, beg to submit a brief out.
line Of the progress OF the reclamation
OF arid lands which has been vigor.
cuEly begun since the passage of the
act In 1902. az well as a description
Of aome OF the work contemplated,
with q few suggestions az to the III.
ture possibilities and beneficent re-
suits of this vast and comprehensive
undertaking by the government.
BY an act OF congress on June II,
1902. II was provided that all funds re-
ceivcd from the sale Of public lands In
xce Of the 8 per cent set aside for
educational I'M other purposes in the
states OF California, Oregon, Wash
ingtnn. Idaho. Montana. Nevada, North
Dakota, South Dakota. Colorado.
Utah, Wyoming. Nebraska. Kansas
and the territories OF Oklahoma. New
Mexico and Arizona should be Sc.
apart to be used for the reclamation
Of arid lands In those states and ter
ritories. Since the passage OF this
act. up TO the present time there has
accumulated a fund Of about $50. 900.
600 available for the purpose Of rec
iamation.
GVI EItEutG VI AuIIlluirkv utlbU
the reclamation service was made a
division In the photographic branch
Of the geological survey, and a staff
OF engineers was appointed. OF whit Il
Mr.. +. II. Newell was made chief
The executive and consulting staff Of
engineers. selected on account of
ability and experience. consists OF
about twenty-six In the various statca
and territories. besides about 40 nd.
ditionai engineers and assistants and
q considerable number of helpers and
IRborers.
Important Conferences are Held by
The Engineers.
The principal engineers hold a %
ference each year nj the place where
the irrigation congress meets. THIS
was nj III paso. TEX Chief Enrln
eer Newell presides at these confer
noes He ~ an officer oil the widest
experience and Of the highest ski
and was selected on account uf hi
eminent fitness for the work. Durin.
the spring and summer he visits Ink
various states and territories in whicl
the law ia operative. studies tha con
ditions and directs operations.
All reports of the reclamation scr
vice are made TO the director Of III
geological survey. and through hin
10 the secretary of the interior. Sine
the passage OF the reclamation ac
several ~ the states 10 which II Ia Of
plicahie have passed acts providln
for cooperation with the governmen
officers. and In others local organlzs
tions Of water users and others inteI
ested have been formed 10 assist /
the work.
The preliminary work OF reclamg
ton In the line Of reconnaissance;
measurements and surveys has bee
pressed forward with a zeal and 81
ergy that deserve the highest con
mendation. and projects for activ
work have been laid out in aimot
all the states. upon which estimate
have been submitted. and n few (
them have received the approval ,
the interior department. The Ian
embraced in the projects alread
adopted comprises about 1900. OF
acres. The Salt river project,
Arizona. which cost about $4,000 90
will provide for the irrigation OF los
900 acres OF land and contracts nav
been let for The completion Of "a
work. For the Yuma project on ID
Colorado river, $4,000. 900 has he
aside by the interior department.
1t is estimated that II win COS
about that amount and win result !