Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1905-04-01
Conquest If n. Great
American Desert



1t is gratifying to note that the
present attitude of the government is
rigidly to safeguard the remaining
public lands writes G. j. Blanchard,
statistician of the reclamation service
of the u. S. Geological Survey. Under
the beneficent policy of national recla-
nation, the arid west is taking on a
new individuality. An era of substan-
tial development is dawning on many
desert valleys now waterless and I'M
inhabited.
The pioneer irrigator with scraper
and spade has invaded the widest
and most remote sections of the inter
mountain country. He has turned the
precious waters of a thousand streams
upon $4,000 farms. More than 10000
ntches stretch out for 10000 miles to
cover 1900. COO acres of productive land
wrested from aridity. These bitches,
monuments of the indomitable indus
try and courage of their builders, rep
resent an initial outlay of 1913 ,OOO,O 600.
The fertile fields and blossoming or
chards, which to-day attest the wisdom
of the irriga tors, yield annually more
than $1OO,OOO,OOO in crops, while the
increment by irrigation works is in
excess of $374,OOO,OOO in land values
alone.
The day of the individual ditch dig
ger is over. The irrigation systems in
use require pra ctically all the normal
flow of the important streams, and ag-
ricultural development under these has
reached its maximum. SO precious has
the water been found to be, and so
abundant the rewards following its APP
plea ton. the irrigat tors in their efforts
to increase the supply have not been
deferred from undertaking engineering
works involving millions of dollars
To-day surface water, drainage water,
seepage water, water from artesian
wells, from tunnels penetrating noun
tains and water impounded in reser-
voirs are alike utilized. Such irriga-
ton possibilities as are known to exist
involve enormous expenditures and Of
fer no attractions to investors in the
way of quick returns or substantial
profits. 1t has therefore become the
duty of the government to develop
u these enterprises, and, backed by. the
u millions in the reclamation fund. sew
;, eral great projects have been under
=. taken.
Although organized only two and
: one-half years, the reclamation service
=, has already formulated plans which,
, when completed, will reclaim !, 131 ,OOt
acres Actual construction has begun
:, on five projects which will require an
! outlay of S1O,4OOOO0. Eleven others
- involving nearly $2OOOO,OU0 are almost
y, ready for the contractors. In nearly
= all of the arid States other projects are
waiting further investigation or are
p held up until the reclamation fund viii
warrant their consideration.
Id An apparently feasible project il
Washington which embraces the enor
y nous area of 100000 acres would re
u quire S25 100000. sum in excess o
the whole fund, to construct ii. ThesI
at gigantic works. furnishing employment
- to thousands of men, will ultimatel,
10 create homes for millions of our PEG
III pie. When fully inaugurated the gov
eminent works, together with thos
Is now being constructed by private com
gu panies, Will Quadruple the irrigate'
u area and will transform a region nov
ST the widest and most deSoate on on
continent into one of the richest agrt
ng A careful review of the preliminar
IS work of the government indicates tina
or there are two focal points in the Yves
nd in which we may expect the larges
er development in the future. The frs
Is and perhaps the more promising, is i
40 the drainage basin of the Iellowston
'e- River in Wyoming and Montana; tn
IS second in the valley of the Snake RiN
ne er in Idaho and Oregon. In the frs
err mentioned the important factors c
irrigation-land and water--are foun
We in enormous quantities. In the 'Snak
Valley the irrigable land is largely
err excess of the water supply. but the are
which can be reclaimed is of sue
lat extent, and the soil so productive an
III, adapted to such wide variety of proc
en- ucts. that it will sustain denser popl
ed lation than can be cared for in IL
to Yellowstone on the same area.