davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
REDEEMS ARID LAND
Reclamation Service Efficient
in Saving Dry Regions.
A GREAT UNDERTAKING
Even Salt River Is Utilized in Its
Operations.
TO Birdie COLORADO RIVER
Immense Dams in Course of Con-
struction to Act as Irrigat-
ing Reservoirs.
% Birdie COLORADO RIVER
BY WILLIAM +. CURTIS.

b1 W LILLIAN r. CtRilS-
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The work of the reclama ton service.
which since June so, 1908. has been en-
gagged in constructing irrigation reser-
vOirs and canals upon the arid sections of
the west. has now reached point where
results can be enumerated without boast
ing. Thirty-one different enterprises have
been in progress, of which nine are en-
tirely completed and ten more are more
than half done. According to Secretary
Garfied's annual report, 37S,365 acres of
land are already under bitches, and 5000
acres are already irrigated by 1850 miles
of canals. There have been 41,O3S,62o
cubic yards of earth excavated, and more
than 100000 cubic yards of rock. Three
hundred and seventy-f four miles of road
have been built, S2,279 feet Of tunnels.
and reservoirs have been constructed with
total capacity Of $40 100 acre-feet OF
water. The cost of the land purchased
to carry out these enterprises has been
$1,6l2,641.
=. Money Spent on Irrigation.
The total area that will be redeemed
when the entire thirty-one enterprises
are completed will be 2292,346 acres. and
the estimated cost will be $50, 431 500, of
which $4,000 900 has already been ex-
pended.
This money has not come from the pub
lie Treasury. but has been derived from
the sale Of public lands, and, under the
provisions Of the law. every dollar Will
be eventually repaid by the sale of the
irrigated lands at an appraisement cover
ing the cost of the work. AS fast as one
of these enterprises is completed the land
is sold by the government at a price
equivalent to the actual expenditure, and
irrigation works and everything that APP
pertains thereto are turned over to an Or
ganization of the landholders. to be man
aged by a committee of their own selec-
ton for their own profit. In other words.
the government advances the money, does
the work and collects in annual INSTALL
mentS the amount of the cost from the
future owners of the land that is lrri-
gated.
The money collected goes into per-
petual fund to be used in irrigatine other
lands and this progressive method Will
continue until the entire desert, Or So
much of it as can be reached by water. is
reclaimed and under cultivation. The
construction work has been carried on by
contract under the supervision of DR.. +.
III. Newell. chief of the reclamation Du-
reau of the Interior Department. No
such extensive work has ever been un-
British authorities in India have been
carrying on several large projects Of this
kind for many years, but they are COM
paratively small and inexpensive when
considered beside the great reclamation
works of the United States.
List Of Projects Completed.
The following Is a list Of the projects
that have been completed, with the area
irrigated and the cost Of the work to date:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
GUESTS OF YOUNG LAWYERS.
Judges Gould and Wright Enter.
tanned at a Smoker.

At Rauscher's Saturday evening 143 of
the younger members of the bar of the
District of Columbia had a subscription
smoker at which Judges Gould and
Wright were the guests of individual sub
scribers. and there were present all but
a few of the total number. The exercises
which were announced to begin at 0
o'clock, were entered upon within a few
minutes of that hour and terminated
shortly after midnight. The affair was
wholly without formality. and such ad-
dresses as were made were strictly un-
expected and spontaneous. but did not.
for that reason. lack in the qualities of
either substance, mirth or good-fellow-
ship.
The following musical and literary pro-
gram was presented: Songs and innita-
tons, George O'Connor; vocal selections,
William Clabaugn, Ollie Metzerott,
Charles J. Murphy. Joseph Sullivan. and
James F.. Kelly, accompanied by Matt
Horn. pianist recitations, James A.
o Shea and Ralph w. Quinter. and imi-
tations by Leo p. Harlow.
Alexander Bell, Charles ]. Murphy and
Henry Quinn composed the committee in
charge.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04

hospital for a long time and at great ex-
pense. After his discharge from the hos
pital, he declares. he remained perman-
nently disabled from manual labor and
disqualified for earning livelihood by
reason of his injuries. which were re-
ceived while in line of duty for the fire
department.
He further says that August 81 last the
District Commissioners, well knowing
his permanent injury by reason of the
injuries received while In line of duty
made an order dismissing him as q cap
tain in the fire department, claiming that
he had not maintained discipline i'm the
company over which he was the captain.
The order, it is averred. was I'm deroga-
ton of the rights of the petitioner, who
claims that the Commissioners were with
out authority TO pass an order to affect
in any wise tho interest and rights Of the
petitioner TO pension.
The petitioner is representeds by At
torneys Mcneil & NcNeill.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
bree million dollars, provides for the di-

three million dollars, provides Tor the d.
version of the Colorado river on both
banks about twelve miles northeast of the
town of Yuma. 1t will redeem 1900 acres
of an Indian reservation on the California
side, and about $4,000 acres of public
lands on the Arizona side, at a total esti-
mated cost of $5.635.OOO.
There will be dam nearly mile long,
PIT feet wide and 10 feet high, which
will be completed during this winter. so
that water can be turned into the canals
on the California side for next summers
crop. Secretary Garfield, in his annual
report, says: I'm response to very ur-
gent and practically unanimous petition
from the people of the Imperial valley, the
reclamation service has undertaken the
survey Of a Nighttime canal to connect
with Laguna dam, in order to provide for
the irrigation of about 100000 acres of
land lying above the private canals IN
that valley"
Eccentric River to Be Tanned.
This is the locality that was In such
great peril year ago when the Colorado
river broke through its banks and flooded
the Salton sea. 1t was feared that the
entire population of the Imperial valley.
which lies below that curious salt lake.
would be driven from their homes and all
of their property submerged by the insub-
ordinate floods of the Colorado. But the
Southern Pacific Railway Company step
ped in and rescued the settlers by building
a heavy dyke. which turned the river back
into it's natural channel. The Colorado
is one of the most eccentric and violent
streams in all the world, and it can be
made useful to degree beyond calcula-
ton if 1t is properly treated. The gov
eminent projects contemplate its complete
subsection, and it will turn out to be as
important to the prosperity Of the coun-
try as the Hudson or the Ohio before the
engineers are through with it.
The gunnison river. which Is one OF the
principal branches of the Colorado, will
be diverted from its present channel
through a tunnel six miles long into the
beautiful Cncompahgre valley in south
western Colorado. portion of which Is
already under private irrigation. rms
enterprise has been one of the most diff
cult ever undertaken. because the water
in the river end Of the tunnel has been
especially troublesome, and the treacher-
Gus nature Of the soil has made the con-
struction of the canals unusually difficult
and expensive. This project. when COM
pleted, will redeem $4,000 acres of desert.
but the cost will be enormous-something
like $5.JOO.O00
valley of the Grand river, about Grand
Junction. will be redeemed by high line
canal This is the famous fruit section
of Colorado, where large area is al
ready producing marvels under private
irrigation systems. The government prof.
Get is intended to reach lands that are
above the levels of the existing canals.
Will Construct Storage Reservoir.
There have been several projects to
redeem the rich soil around the city of FL
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
WANTS A PENSION.
Former Fire Department Captain
Seeks a Mandamus.

Anthony ]. Mosheuvel, a former captain
in the fire department. who was injured
at the fire at Eisinger's lumber yard in
March last. has filed petition for a writ
of mandamus against the Commissioners
of the District Of Columbia, asking the
courf to require the Commissioners TO
pension him at the rate of $75 a month
because of the permanent and serious in
iures received at this fire.
He claims that all bones of his left leg
and ankle were crushed and broken, and
severe injury was sustained pN his riSn'
leg AS result of such injuries ne says
ne was compelled to take treatment In a
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
Character and Magnitude Of Work


1t is difficult for the human mind to
comprehend the magnitude or appreciate
the significance of these enterprises. The
only other instance of government pater-
nalism that compares with II in cost, or
in the extent of the benefits, is the work
being done by the British government in
absentee landlords and others and break
ing them up into small farms for the
benefit of the tenants who are now cult
waiting the soil. The difference. however,
is, that the funds for the Irish projects
are obtained by issuing bonds, while
those for the irrigation projects in the
United States are derived entirely from
the sale of public lands.
Some of these enterprises are very III
teresting. That at Minindoka, Idaho. di-
verts water from the Snake river on both
banks, and when the pumping works are
completed about 10000 acres now covered
with sage brush on either side can be
brought under cultivation.
The Payette-Boise project, which is
about half completed provides for the
and Boise rivers for the irrigation of
900 acres at a cost of nearly five mil
lion dollars. Already two million and a
quarter of dollars has been expended and
the work is about half completed. There
are several large private irrigation en-
terprises in this locality, and the arid
lands Of Idaho are thus being rapidly re-
deemed.
Salt River Project Interesting.
The Salt river project in Arizona,
which is intended to irrigate about go, OOG
acres of very fertile land in the vicinity
of Phoenix, is in many respects the most
interesting of all the government enter
prises. A large storage dam is being
built on Upper Salt river, at the town OF
Roosevelt which will catch and hold the
floods in the rainy season and the melting
they are needed upon the farms around
i'm the dry season. The area to be irri-
gated is far In excess of the water sup
ply, and the engineers are now exercising
their ingenuity to secure more water
There has been great deal Of trouble
because of a series of unusual floods
which have washed out the masonry, car.
ried away the dam and injured the canals
but the contractor has gone back to hi:
task bravely. and the dam has now
reached the height of seventy feet, which
is above the danger line. 1t is believed
there will be no further damage.
The project as A whole Is about 70 pei
| cent completed. and il is expected tina
| the entira work will be finished i'm 1910
| This enterprise is especially interestin,
because of the large opportunities Offered
! for the development of power incidental Il
| irrigation, and also because of a schem,
| to supplement the rainfall and the meltin;
SHOWS by pumping.
Yuma Dam Well Under Way.
! The Yuma project, which is about hal
completed at an expenditure of nearl!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
List Of Projects COMPLETED.

The following Is a list of the projects
that have been completed, with the area
irrigated and the cost Of the work to date:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
Fire From Defective Flue.

No. Is engine company shortly before
10 o'clock this morning put out a fire at
437 10th street southwest. occupied by w
3. Jennett. The fire was caused by "a
defective fiue. No damage resulted.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
Paso, where Texas, Mexico and New
Mexico have a common interest and al

Mexico have a common interest, and al
though very little of the work has been
done, the government Of the United States
has proposed to expend $S.OOo.OOO. or 10
per cent of the entire estimated cost of
the proposed irrigation system. to redeem
100, 600 acres of land. and give certain
supply Of water to about go, 900 acres more
which are now under cultivation with
an unreliable supply. The plan contem-
plates the construction of a storage reser-
voir below the station of San Marcial on
the Santa Fe railroad, with capacity
Of over 100000 acre feet of water. and a
complete regulation Of the entire flow of
the Rio Grande river at that point. BY
treaty with Mexico a portion of this water
will be delivered to the farmers on the
Mexican side, because the Rio Grande Is
the boundary line between the two re-
publics, and. although the waters origi-
nate in our territory. the Mexicans prop
erly claim an equal share in their use.
This very troublesome question has been
in controversy TOR many years Already
so much water is taken out OF the Rio
Grande for irrigation in New Mexico be-
fore it reaches the border. that our neigh
bors over the line consider themselves
unjustly treated, and there has Deen
great deal Of correspondence ana nego-
tiations to adjust things. An amicaole
arrangement has at last been reached ana
Congress has made a direct Appropriation
Of 81. 600 900. which will be expended IN
acquiring rights of way for the reservoir,
|nreparations for the construction of the
dams and a railway to carry the material.
The Mexican government, on the other
hand, has consented that the people on
our side of the border shall have the
benefit Of the larger supply OF water
provided we pay the BILL
Kansas Pumping Stations.
Garden City, thriving little town in
western Kansas. which has been consd-
cred the extreme limit of dry farming,
has been supplied with power plant con-
sisting OF steam turbines driving electric
generators that operate twenty-three sep
arate pumping stations and irrigate 1855
acres of land in that immediate vicinity.
The water all comes from under the sur
face-from mysterious subterranean
stream, which flows almost parallel with
the Arkansas river, and has been the
subject of scientific inquiry for many
years.. There is no doubt that the water
is there and can be utilized for agri-
cultural purposes by ordinary pumps.
The Garden City plant was In operation
during the latter part Of the past sum
mer and now reaches $500 acres. Be
fore spring it Is expected to be in full
acres.
There are several interesting projects
in New Mexico and Wyoming. and the
waters i'm the North Platte river arc
to be gathered into large reser-
voir about fifty miles above the town
of Caspar, Wyo.. and used for the
reclamation of the North Platte valley.
between that town and Bridgeport, Neb.
This is one Of the most important OF al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04

Mr. William X Allen of Virginia has
returned home after a pleasant stay here
with his parents, Capt and Mrs. 7. l..
Allen of Church street.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
ro crRE A COLD IN ONE DAY

Take LAXATIVE BROMO Quintne Tablets.
Druggists refund money II II fails to cure.
r. ". GROVES signature Is on each box. &c
oc5-m,tf
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04

the works undertaken by the government
million dollars. 1t is almost completed
Water was delivered to $1,000 acres of
land during the recent summer. Be
fore the end of the present year it is
blieved that it will reach 10000 acres i'll
Nebraska and 3O,O0O acres i'm Wyoming.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-04
Shoshone Project Expensive.

What Is known as the Shoshone project.
eight miles above. Cody, Wyo.. is intended
to irrigate 10000 acres Of land and, ex-
cepting the Ell Paso and the Salt river
projects, will be the most expensive un-
dertaken by the government. The great
err part of the cost is due to the con-
struction of the highest dam in the world.
which holds $4,000 acres feet of the
waters of the Shoshane river, so that
they can be distributed through canals to
the country around. Nearly all OF the
area to be irrigated by this dam has
already been taken up and settlers are
filing on the remaining lands very rap
idly. A diversion dam and tunnels have
been completed near Corbett and water
was delivered to about 1000 acres last
summer,
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
Work On Conowingo Bridge.

Actual work of rebuilding the Como
wingo bridge across the Susquehanna
River, which was destroyed by fire about
two years ago, has been started
The piers on the Hartford side are
being raised four feet and those on the
Cecil side two feet. The additions are
being constructed of concrete of the most
substantial character. The iron struc-
ture is expected in the next few weeks
and the work will be pushed rapidly to
completion. The bridge must be ready
for travel about the middle of August
under the'terms of agreement and it is
expected it will be completed on contract
time. The public road on the Cecil side
is being widened to meet the require
ments of the state road commission.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
Miss Louise Collom.

Miss Louise Collom, for thirty-two
years telegraph operator at Oxford Sta
tion, died Monday evening, at the home
of her brother, Rev. Absolom G. Collom,
in Birdsboro Pa.
She had long been a sufferer from can
Ger of the liver, and was compelled to
give up her work during April, but had
only been confined to bed about two
weeks. Two brothers, Rev. Absolom G.
Collom, of Birdsboro, and John Collom,
of Glenside, and one sister, Mrs. Annie
Ellis, Of Philadelphia, survive.
The deceased was daughter of John
and Mary Elizabeth Collom, and was
about 90 years old. She was born in
East Nottingham. At an early age she
learned telegraphy and after serving for a
short time as operator at Oil City, accept
ed the position at Oxford which she filled
so acceptably for years.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
Woman Shot In Front OF Her Home

Mrs. Idenia Bradfeld, wife of William
Bradfeld, formerly of Perryville, was shot
three times by Edward S. Bacon about
six o'clock Monday evening, on the steps
in front of her home on 4Io East Fifth
street, Wilmington, Del. She was taken
to the Delaware Hospital, where her con-
dition is reported to be serious.
Divorce proceedings are now pending
in the Circuit Court for Cecil County, of
Mr. Bradfeld,, who is an engineer on the
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington
Railroad, from his wife, and Bacon, who
is brakeman on the same road, is named
as the correspondent in said suit. Bacon,
when arrested, would make no statement
other than to say that he knew what he
was doing.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
Real Estate Sales.

Mrs. Caroline Wright has sold her house
and lot on West High street, Elkton, to
Oliver c. Giles, for $1,45o
The 265-acre Mackey farm, in the
Fourth district ofCecil county, has been
sold to Osborne S. Mackey for $I4, 700.
The Caroline Armstrong property, in
Port Deposit, was purchased on Saturday
by Robert Armstrong, of Washington, for
$1,000.
The VanKeuren farm of I3o acres in
the Fourth district, has been purchased
by John Barber, the former owner, for
81, 800.
The Wills property, consisting of house
and lot at Octoraro Junction, was sold
Monday at the Court House door, by
Henry NJ. Mccullough, Esq, Assignee,
to George S. Wills, for 500.
William M. Knight sold at public sale
in Elkton Tuesday the Laws farm of zoo
acres near Earleville, to Captain James
E. Woodall, of Kent county, for $S75S,
and the Price farm of 2oS acres, in the
same locality, to Thomas c. Roe for
$1,000.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
CECIL COUNTY LEAGUE.
Opening Games played On Memoir
ia1 Day.

The recently organized Cecil County
amateur. baseball league played its opening
games on Decoration Day, Rising Sun
winning from Elk Mills, Chesapeake
City from Elkton, and North East from
Perryville.
The schedule for Saturday, sth inst, is
Chesapeake City at Rising Sun; Elk
Mills at North East; Perryville at Elkton.
The game between Rising Sun and Elk
Mills was played on the grounds of the
latter. The visiting team opened with
rush on Jackson and by good stick work
secured enough runs in the first and
second innings to practically settle the
game, although the Elk Mills boys had
batting rally in the last inning, and added
three runs to their scoie. The splendid
work of Devon behind the bat, and some
sharp fielding of w. Snyder at short,
were big factors in holding the score of
Elk Mills down. Steel and Moore carried
off the fielding and batting honors for
their team. The score:
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
Class Day Exercises At Tome.

The Class Day Exercises of the Tome
School for Boys will be held on Monday,
June 9TH, at 8 p. M, in Memorial Hall.
The Class Presidents address will be
given by Roger Nicholson, of Quincy,
Massachusetts; the Class History will be
read by George Pratt Smith, of Washing
ton, D. c.; Ralph Clifford, of Zion, Md,
will deliver the Mantle Grafton, and the
reply to this will be made by Merrill
Wallace Staples, of Mexico City, Mexico.
The Class Prophecy will be read by
Attilla c. Grant, of Cleveland, Ohio.
John K. Buscher, of Havre de Grace, Md,
will present the class banner to the school,
and Charles Gilbert Cooley will present
the Class Memento. Melvin Fowler Swal-
well, of Everett, Washington, will make
the presentation of the gifts to the mem
bers of the class. The Farewell Address
will be made by William James Ches-
brough, of Detroit, Michigan, and B.
Buckner Ringo, of Lowmoor, Virginia,
will give his Grafton.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
State Militia To Camp Near West
minister.

The board of officers appointed to select
site for the brigade encampment of the
Maryland National Guard next July has
submitted report to Governor Crothers
recommending tract of nearly 100 acres
near Westminster
Elkton made an effort to secure the en-
campment, but Westminster won because
of offers of free land, free water all the
way out to the camp site and other facil-
tiles. In addition the railroad rate be-
tween Baltimore and Westminster is to be
65 cents for the round trip, whereas the
rate between Baltimore and Elkton was
o be $I.55 for the round trip. The troops
will go into camp on July IS and remain
in the field until July rs.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
Festivals.

The members of Porter's Grove
church will hold festival on the church
grounds Tuesday evening, June s.
A festival will be held at Octoraro M.
E. church on Saturday evening, June S.
Music will be furnished by Rising Sun
Cornet Band. If stormy Saturday eve
ming, the festival will be held Monday
evening.
An ice cream and strawberry festival
will be held on the church lawn at
Ebenezer M. E. church, near Greenhurst,
Saturday evening, June 5. If stormy,
Monday evening. Proceeds for benefit of
church and Sunday school.
The festival under the auspices of the
Rising Sun base ball club, held last night
on the lot near the packing house of B. P.
Nichols, will be continued tonight.
There is ample shedding on the ground in
case of rain, and the festival promises to
be successful one, even should the
weather proveNinclement.
The midland journal., 1909-06-04
r. Harvey Manahan.

Francis Harvey Manahan died Friday
evening, at his home in East Nottingham,
Pa, from hemorrhage. He had been a
sufferer from Bright's disease, but had
been confined to his bed but few days.
Deceased was So years of age. For a
number of years he conducted a bakery
business in Oxford, but for years past had
followed farming in East Nottingham
township. His wife, who was Miss
Anna Young, died about five months ago.
Eight children survive. The funeral was
held on Wednesday.