The Washington times., 1904-01-26
PLAN TO RECLAIM
LANDS IN WEST
Irrigation Service Report
to Be Issued.
CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS
Surveys in Idaho and Plans Mapped
Out to Preserve Forests on
the Eeadwaters.

Actual construction has been begun in
Arizona and Nevada on two projects
which will reclaim several hundred thous-
and acres of fertile land and transform
itinto agricultural communities. Detailed
surveys have been made and are in
progress Of numerous other projects
and several of these will be taken I'D
In the course OF the coming year.
Ahe second annual report of the Irri-
CATION Reclamation Service. under the
charge of Frederick H. Newell. which
VIII soon be issued. viii give a descrip-
ton OF the work undertaken BY the Cow
eminent in the Western States and Ter.
ritories under the national irrigation Law,
The general idea is. as EXPRESSED In
the report, that the irrigation law is a
safe and carefully framed act and can
be worked out to advantage. No change
or amendment to the law is recon-
mended to Congress. II. after an actual
trial upon two or three projects. some
weak point develops, then the Govern
nnent VIII be in n position intelligeutly
TO advise Congress what change Is
needed.
Forests at Headwaters.
The report calls attention to the neces-
ssty for the protection of the head
WATTS OF streams 1t saws.
One of the important matters in
connection with the permanent develop
ment OF the water resources OF the
SOuh.ry' Is the protection of the catch
ment basins. The headwaters of many
streams are already included U,itbi,,
the forest reserves. and some Of tbe
reservoir sites are thus guarded from,
INJURY. The forest reserve bounda rIes
shouid be extended to include the coun-
lry from which comes the principaI
part OF the rainfall This land USUALLY
mas no value for cultivation. is ruxxet;
ana suitable only for the production OF
trees 10" VI
DeneI is gaining ground in Washing
ton that not only should the forest 70
serves be extended, but that the on
IRE remaining public forest lands sbould
DC permanently reserved. and that am,
LUMBER cut therefrom should be under
government supervision, thus absolutely
-s.suIins the water supply. both for ir-
60. .eS'ion ana power as well as for munic-
- VI any other need. Scores OF de-
nuoeo and bare mountain ranges in
western States. once fbickI1- c,,-l,. =
with spruce and FIR, attest to the hs,a-
laws TIMBER
Big Tonic Dam.
The official figures of the c.oio..,..,
survey show an interesting conpar,so-
OF the dimensions of the big Tonic ds =,
OF the salt River Valley Arizona VIII
other great artificial reservoir str,,c-
tof res, IN the country. The Tonic tia ts
20 rise zoo feet above the channel OF tha
sueam. Its thickness at the base VIII
oe % rect, gradually tapering to a vvidtb
VI 10 Feet at the curb; the width of tho
Gam across the canyon will be 500 feet
Inc Croton dam. which is TO sunnl,,
New York with water. Is 22O feet above
the river channel and l.sOO feet across
l was necessary in this case to dig
Gown 70 feet 10 insure a foundation.
Inc Wachusett dam near Boston is
IL feet above the river channel. 1s5
Aeet thick. at the base, and $50 feet wide.
Work in Idaho.
The Government has made a recon-
noissance Of the irrigation possibilities
OF Idaho. under the national law. and
has selected three localities for more
complete study.
One of the three projects selected fo,
special study is the Mud Lake undertal,-
ing. This includes a large extent os
desert land. and it is believed 100000
acres can be reclaimed through a canal
nt tu1hB on the North Fork of the Snake
River near St. Anthony. Various trial
lines have been run out by the Govern
ment across the desert, showing that
canals can be carried out at different
elevations and at different costs.
The Mimidoka project contenipIates
the reclamation OF about 5000 acres on
both sides Of the Snake River south OF
the Oregon Short Line Railroad. The
river is TO be damned. but the water
cannot be raised sufficiently high to get
IL out on to the best lands. so that sup
Elemental pumping on a large scale is
proposed TO reach the lands above the
gravity system.
Power for pumping can be derived by
suitable water wheels installed near tn,
dam.
The third Government project in Idaho
IL the Payette-Boise, near the city OF
Boise. The Pzyette River on the north
furnishes a supply of water, much OF
which goes TO waste. The work involved
In this reclamation will be expensive
and probably includc tuaneling. A care
ful study of this project is necessary.
but the lands when reclaimed will be Of
high value. and the bereft TO the State
vii be far-reaching.
GilEFEY AS CHAIRMAN