The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-01-24
ARID LAND
Eleven Government Irri1a<;o,
Projects Now Under Wav.

Eleven Government Irrigatio,
Projects Now Under Way.
WORK WILL. COST OVER s37, ooo.oo(
Many Miles Of Canals and Ditch~.
Dug - Millions Of Dry Acres to n.
Brought ia Fertility-Desire Of tn
Sacramento valley People - How
the Value Of Land IL Increased By
1rriEating II.
A bulletin issued by the geological
survey says the approval by the secre.
tary Of the interior Of the Rio Grande
reclamation project in Texas and New
Mexico. and the Carlsbad project in
New Mexico. will bring the number of
reclamation projects up to twenty-four.
OF these eleven are under way. They
provide for the reclamation Of 1903, 600
acres Of arid lands ut a cost of $37,-
O2S.571.
On June 80 the total cost Of con-
%struction and engineering work per-
formed by the reclamation service, to-
gether with the administration ex-
penses. amounted to s.. 462. 1863. On
that date the reclamation fund had
reached u total Of $~oS.OcS.571. It was
estimated Mt that time that the receipts
for the fiscal years 19O6-OS would
amount to $9.OOO.OOO, so that the sum
Of money available for reclamation
purposes up to the end of 1908 will be
$37.O2S,571.
Since the work Of reclamation began
seventy-seven miles Of main canals
have been constructed and fifty-four
miles Of distributing canals, rs we'll as
1856 miles of bitches and 147 bridges.
Over 0.35O.NN cubic yards of earth
ave been %excavated and three and a
half miles Of tunnel driven.
Labor. the bulletin says, is one Of the
most serious problems the engineers
have to confront. Several contrac-
tors" the bulletin adds, engaged on
government projects have already fail
ed because Of their inability to secure
the services Of Il sufficient number of
workmen. and others are on the verge
OF failure for the same reason. 1t is
equally difficult to find competent SUBJ
contractors and foremen.
The people Of the Sacramento valley,
in California, are anxious that the gov
eminent should extend the irrigation
work that it Is now doing In the west
SO as to take in a part at least Of
their land. The Development associa-
ton Of the Sacramento valley, which Is
taking a very active interest in the
subject, has a representative In Wash
now In the person Of W. A.
Beard, the secretary Of the association.
Mr.. Beard has already had an inter-
view with the secretary Of the interior,
under whom the general scheme Of the
reclamation service Is being plotted,
and while there has been nothing def
nitely promised to the Sacramento peo-
pie yet there is considerable prospect
that the valley will be included in the
work mapped out for the coming year.
At the recent hearing at the interior
department Mr.. Beard and Director
.alcott of the geological survey were
both present. and the whole situation |
was clearly put before the secretary.
The Sacramento valley Is about 80
miles wide and 200 miles long. It con.
fains q little owe 100000 acres Of
arabic land. and the surveys that have
been made Of It show that there Is not
only water enough in the Sacramento
river to irrigate the whole Of It, but
that there are reservoir sites enough
to hold the water for distribution dur
the long dry summer without inter
Per1ng with the navigation Of the riv-
This Is an unusually favorable |
showing for any irrigation project. The
sites are such also that the
work can be done economically and
With more than usual speed.
The counties interested in the work
ave been cooperating with the geo.
logical survey for about six years In
he surveys and preliminary investiga-
The state appropriated $4,000
70 aid in the original survey work.
Now that the Investigation IL practical
all done the Sacramento Valley as
0nO SNACA Wy luo WOIA VlkOC. |
'usly In hope Of seeing one or another
u the several projects put through.
The people Of the valley do not expect
70 see the whole Of the work taken
up at once. but they are In a frame OF
mind where they will heartily support
he engineers Of the reclamation sery-
ce. no matter which Of the several
lnits OF the work they elect to start on.
As has been said. the reclamation
has work under way in eight
sen states that will ultimately cost
over $37. 100000 and will reclaim some
hing over 100000 acres Of land. but
here are more than 1900, 900 acres in
ne Sacramento valley alone that are
susceptible Of irrigation and
the water and reservoir sites.
II rate ut which land increases in
'alue when One 1t is under ditch" is
in%explicable to the average
'asterncr. The land in the Sacramento
IN IINOS