The San Francisco call., 1909-02-28
Federal Government Will Con-
struct Dam in Iron Canyon
... Above Red Bluff
Valley to Be Scene of First
!. Great Project Under New
Conservation Policy
w. A. Beard Leaves Washing
ton With Promise for Imme-
date Surveys for Work
Especial DapoicA to The Call

NV YASHINGTON, Fef. 27.-The
Az Sacramento valley is to be the
w scene Of the first great under
taking by the government un-
der the new policy for the conservation
OF natural resources.
Il is proposed 10 make the utiliza-
.tion Of the Sacramento river an object
lesson In the coordinate development
OF q great region in respect to forestry,
and Indirectly through flood control the
reclamation Of swamp and overflowed
lands.
The Sacramento valley has been Sc
lected because it presents the best
place in the United States for exten-
sive works which are certain to pay
for themselves.
Water for Million Acres
W A Beard of Sacramento. repre-
senting the Sacramento Valley devel-
opment association, has been here three
times since January. quietly working
up this project He left tonight for
home, after having os,Iained from Sec
retary Garfield. Reclamation Director
Newell and other government officials
the. assurance that preliminary steps
would be undertaken Immediately to
.begiH the colossal undertaking.
=" These preliminary steps consist in
making an allotment for the survey and
examination Of tie Iron canyon reser-
vofr site and irrigation system.
Iron canyon is situated seven miles
zbore Red Bluff. on the Sacramento
river. A dam is 70 be constructed at
.4hat point which will store flood water
and irapound sufficient water to irrigate
100000 acres.
Reclamation Work Asked
Beard made application to the rec
lsnatiop service and Secretary Garfield
70 recognize Iron canyon as the next
great project TO be undertaken under
the reclamation act.
. lie knew the reclamation fund did
not contain. sufficient money at this
time to execute the project, but he
wanted it placed next on the list. and
has. succeeded He was strongly sup
ported by Forester Pinchot.
Director Newell. whose idea OF hand
ling the Sacramento river was outlined
in The cali last Sunday, was also heart
*fiT.in sympathy with Boards efforts.
heard carries back with him a letter
from Secretary Garfield. in which he
ssxs:
:: 1T. is appreciated from the facts SUB
nsitied and from general knowledge
that lhis is not only meritorious plan,
"a but one. which in MANY wavs is of na
tsonsI importance in its magnitude and
in the opportunities offered for control
and utilization for public purposes of
: the waters Of great river system.
II regret. therefore. TO state that
funds are not now available for con
strnction. and from the present condi-
= tion Of the reclamation fund it is prob
2 BE that some time must olapse before
suhicient funds can be had. The pre-
URINARY examinations already made
show that the work viii be very ex-
pensive, costing possibly as high as $50
or $50 an acre. and perhaps more. and
requiring at least $4,000 900 for invest
nent before any considerable body OF
land can be reclaimed.
Surveys Are Ordered
ION. the other hand. it has long been
known that this is the dominant unit Of
tiie Sacramento valley project. The
: orfsnd unit now under construction
WAS begun as a first step in the devel-
opment of a system Of work, but is one
which does not gequire very large in
Vestment and where the results attained
will serve as an object lesson in the
extension of irrigation in the valley.
I have already directed that surveys
and examinations be made to deter
mine more nearly the cost Of the work
and TO outline somewhat more definitely
tira lands which may be Irrigated.
IT IS z course impossible for me at
the present time to do more than this
namely, to issue instructions with A
. view to obtaining complete facts for
future consideration by the officials Of
the departnlert and by the people of the
Sacrament valley
, CORNELL SEISMOGPAPH