The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-11
ABUNDANT WATER
FOR DESERT LAND
Secretary Hitchcock Allows
S27,OOO,OO0 for Irrigation.
WILL DAM GREAT RIVERS
Fourteen Projects in Thirteen States
at a Cost Ranging From 100000
to 100000 Each.

An apportionment of $27, 900, 600 of the
reclamation fund for the construction OF
fourteen irrigation projects in the arid
west has been decided upon by the Sec
rotary OF the Interior, who has approved
the plans Of the engineers for works in
Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho.
Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mex
leo, North Dakota. Oregon, South Da-
kota, Utah, and Wyoming.
Actual construction has already begun
on the Salt River project in Arizona,
and on the Truckee project in Nevada.
Each of these projects involves a con-
structive cost of $500, 600.
The sum Of 81. 500, 900 is reserved for the
completion of the Uncompahgre project.
This project is located in AIontrose and
Delta counties in western Colorado on
the west side of the main ridge of the
Rocky Mountains.
II Idaho the sum of s.. 600. 900 has been
professionally allotted for the construc-
ton of the Minidoka project in the val
ley OF the Snake River. The area to
be irrigated is about 10000 acres. Prae-
ucally all of the land under this project
belongs to the Government. 1t is pro-
posed to divide the lands into tracts of
forty and eighty acres each, thus Gre
ating LOO new farms. with homes for
1000 people.
For California the Secretary has set
aside $S.000.0O0 for the construction OF
an irrigation work on the Colorado
River above Yuma. The irrigable lands
in the Colorado basin consist almost en-
tirely of long. narrow valleys. ranging
from i've TO ten feet in elevation above
the stream in low water
Storage of Flood Waters.
For the completion of the Milk River
project In Montana 1880 600 has been
apportioned. This project in it's entire
" contemplates the storage in St Mary
Lakes of the flood waters of ST. Mary's
River. tributary Of the Saskatchewan
River In Hudson Bay drainage.
Owing TO the international complica-
lions which ii is feared would arise. the
Canadians already being users OF .tI4e
waters OF the Milk River. it is probable
that plan of keeping the we..> IS who'll
~ within the United Stsfes will be
adopted.
When il was determined that the
SWeetWater reservoir probably could not
&c nlled, owing to an Inadequate water
supply seaFch was made for other res
srNoif SECS and one was found on the
Perth Platte River about three miles
belosH the mouth Of Sweetwater River
y MS Is at the beginning OF the car Won
through the Rattlesnake range Of noun
A dam constructed here will be seven
ty-nxe feet IN length at the bottom, 200
Ieet high, and about 250 feet long at the
ton Surveys show the superficial area
OF the reservoir thus created 10 be about
1850 acres, and the capacity 1,0S0 coo
acre-fest- IL Is probable that it viii
mold all the Hood and surplus water
flowing in the North Platte River to this
point. The waters thus stored will be
used on lands IN eastern Wyoming in
the Goshen Hole region south OF the
braska
The Hondo project in New Mexico is
located on Hondo River, a tributary Of
FecOs River in southeastern New Mex
leo. about twelve miles southwest from
the town OF Roswell in the county of
cnayes, The river is torrential in char
Is already appropriated.
II IS proposed TO construct a reservoir
IN depression near the river divert me
storm or hood waters. and unappropri-
ated water flow into the reservoir and
hold II for use during the irrigation sea-
son 10 trrigate lands lying east OF the
reservoir and south and southwest from
Roswell The area to be irrigated I'M
der this project embraces about 20. COZ
acres. and the cost VIII probably be
about $4,000.
Canal Eighty Miles Long.
The Buford project, Norh Dakota. is
located on the west or left bank of
Yellowstone River, and involves a canal
about eighty miles long and covers Co.
900 acres of land in Montana and North
Dakota The cost is placed at S1,65O, 900.
The Malheur project. Oregon. contem-
plates the reclamation Of land in eastern
Oregon. near Snake River. in the vicin-
ity Of the towns OF Vale and Ontario
The Belle Fourche project. South Da-
kota. involves the reclamation of lands
In the northeastern part OF the Black
e c, an Butte and Meade counties. |
South Dakota, by the diversion Of fba
waters Of Belle Fourche River ana H.
storage OF It's hood waters IN basins east
OF the town of Belle FOurche. From
reservoirs filled by a large feeder canal
from the river. the water will be dis
tributed TO lands in the Belle Fourcba
valley, where II IS thought at least en- 1
OO acres may be reclaimed, about one
nall or which Is In public ownership.
The reclamation works II is estirnafAd /
VIII cost about 81, $50, COO
Ctah Lake Is IN effect a large stora % 4
reservoir, catching the mountain ao1-
and delivering 1t to the canals. unfor. 1
tunateiy, however, the lake is too large i
Tor effective use, and the losses by evan
Grafton are far IN excess of the amount /
put TO beneficial use. An extension III 4
irrigation in Salt River Valley Is de- /
pendent upon the ability 70 reduce tb.
loss by evaporation and to handle Utah /
lars has been set aside for this project 1
The Big Bend project Washington /
contemplates the reclamation Of a large 4
body of land surrounded partly bv re 4
Columbia River. which hows along the
northerly and westerly sides. The lands /
In ld townships have been withdraw
from entry pending an investigation of 4
this project. Considered as a whole the /
Big Bend project embraces the largest /
area OF irrigable land OF any project /
under consideration by the Government
The Secretary has set aside 81 $50 600 FOR
the continuance OF the work on this
project
The Cody project Wyoming. contem-
plates the reclamation Of land on the
north side Of ShoshOne River. in the
town OF Cody In Bighorn county. The
lrrigable land extends along the river
for distance OF about forty miles and
comprises approximately 50. 600 acres. Il
most OF It being high-grade agricultural
land. The stored water will be used to
re-enforce the summer flow. The, esti-
mated cost OF this project Is s., 250. O)0.
4 lMMAMhHEHDf AIIrn