The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-04-06
INDIAN LABOR
CHIEFLY USED
Government Constructing lrri-
cation Systems on Some
of the Reservations.
REPORT ON PROGRESS MADE
WORK AT UINTAH WILL COST
ABOUT 100000.
(Snecial to The HeraldN

Washington, D. c., April 5-The recent
~ inaugurated policy of the government
in throwing open to settlement the yari-
Gus reservations of the west, has called
for large appropriations of money by con-
gTess in order that the water rights of
the Indians may be protected through the
construction of canal systems for the
proper irrigation of their allotments.
This important branch of the govern
meut work is conducted under the super
vision of ". II. Code, chief engineer of
the Indian service. Mr.. Code, who is now
in Washington, has given the following
details with reference to the scope and
character of the work under way or con-
templated:
Work in New Mexico.
In New Mexico, on the Zuni reserva-
ton, the government is constructing a
large combination loose rock and by
draulic earth fill dam for the purpose
OF creating a reservoir for storing the
flood waters of the Zuni river. The max
imum height of this dam is seventy feet
above the stream channel and its width
on top approXimates 500 feet. The COM
mon labor entering into its construction
has been chiefly Indian to date, the Nav
ajo, Zuni and Pueblo tribes furnishing
the greater proportion of men.
This character of construction requires
that the Indians be taught to work with
derrick and hosting engines, operate
SLtdNl utlllS, perform CuilCIElt ana
tunnel excavation, and become more or
less familiar with the hydraulic process
of depositlng the earth fill comprising
the upper portion of the dam
Indian Laborers.
This work of the Indians is. of course.
conducted under the supervision of COM
petent engineers and foremen assisted by
a sprinkling of skilled white labor. Some
of the Indians have shown marked ability
fuNf Ha3I
an untutored Navajo Indian in a semi
civilized garb, operating steam drill as
satisfactorily as his white brother, is an
encouraging sight and one to be remem-
bered.
In Arizona a large sum approximating
half million dollars has been tentative
ly promised by congress for furnishing
the ella reservation with a proper water
supply This will probably be obtained
by a combination of gravity canals Cii-
VeTting flood waters of the ella river
supplemented by a number of direct con-
nected electrically operated centrifugal
pumping plants drawing upon the under
ground supply
An irrigation system is under process
of construction on the Wind River reser-
walton, Wyoming, which viii involve the
expenditure of approximately SEQ, 900, and
cover a vast area Of alOtments belong
ing TO the Arspahoe and Shoshone In
dams,
Uintah System.
on the former Uintah reservation in
Utah system is being built which will
ultimately cost about S600,000. In addi-
ton 10 The above, special appropriations
tor the fiscal year beginning July l, pro-
vides $4,000 for the construction of a
reservoir and canals for the irrigation of
the Fort Hall reservation, Idaho and the
ceded lands contiguous thereto. The sum
OF 10000 was appropriated for the Black
foot reservation and $4,000 for the Tongue
River reservation, both being located in
Montana.
Smaller projects are under way ON res
ervatiCns in many other states, these be-
ing paid for from the annual apprOprfa-
ton specifically made by congress for ir-
rigation purposes on Indian reservations.
Chief Engineer Code states that there
are most excellent opportunities for men
OF small means and wOuld-be settlers on
the former Uintah reservation, Utah
where thousands of acres of Indian aIlot-
ments now being covered by a compre-
hensive irrigation system can be leased
from the Indians on exceedingly favor
able terms. In addition TO being afford
ed an opportunity to acquire land and wa
ter for a period of five years at a NOM
inal figure, there is ample work for in
dustrious men with good teams on canal
now under way. which will
require several years for completion. The
government is now paying $40 per day
for man and team Captain e. G. Hail
at White Rocks, Utah, will upon applica-
ton furnish full Information regarding
the leasing of Indian allotments SINH
lar opportunities also exist on the Wind
River reservation. Wyoming.