The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-05-10
= II. DILLON g. co,
PROJECTS
OF THE GOVERNMENT
Twenty-eight in Process of Construc-
ton, with Total Area of
100000 Acres


Washington, May 1o-A graphic
statement of the vast extent Of the
governments irrigation projects and
the success that attends their opera
ton was made today by c. J. Blanch-
Service, who has returned from a tour
of inspection.
cat the present time there are %
projects in various stages Of construc-
tion,' said Blanchard. 1.-THE total
acreage involved in these projects is
100000 which will provide homes for
approximately 800, 900 persons on farms
and an equal number in cities, towns,
and villages within this area or in the
neighborhood thereof, or a total of
$4,000 people. The total area now
under water is 1000 900 acres, on which
have been established approximately
1900 families and an equal number
have taken up their homes in the cit
les, towns, and villages.
1.-THE progress of the engineers has
been rapid, notwithstanding isolated
location of the principal engineering
works from transportation and the
many difficulties which have been en-
countered in the promotion Of the
work. Up to the present time the
canal systems constructed have a to-
tai length Of 5,621 miles. Many of
these canals carry whole rivers.
Placed end to end they would reach
from New York city to San Francisco
and back to New Orleans. Tunnels
having total length of 16 miles have
been excavated, mostly through noun
tains. The excavation of rock and
earth amount to the enormous total
Of 66.000,0O0 cubic yards, or more than
one-third of the yardage required for
the Panama Canal. Owing to the
location of some of the principal
works in regions heretofore inacces-
sibIe, the Reclamation Service has
been compelled to construct 575 miles
of wagon roads, some Of which are in
the most rugged country on this con-
tinent. The Service has in operation
1,50S miles of telephones, 275 miles of
transmission lines, and is furnishing
power and light for municipal and
manufacturing uses to seven cities
and towns from it's own power plants.
1.-The investment of the government
in the projects now under construc-
ton is So, 2O8,0OO The total comput-
ed cost of these projects when COM
pleted is $145,00O,0o0. The allotment
to cover the work during the present
fiscal year is 100000. This does
not include the issue Of $4,000 900 in
certificates which will be available
when required.
Using as a basis the present value
per acre of irrigated land in the pro-
jects Of the Government with suffi-
cient water right, it is conservative
to state that the total value of all the
lands under these projects when irri-
gated will exceed $320,000,000. These
lands are virtually mortgaged to the
Government to repay the cost of the
irrigation systems, which is computed
at $145, 900 900.
s'The gross value of crops produced
in 1910 on lands which were supplied
by the Government irrigation systems
approximated SIS, 900, 900. The value of
the improvements Of the settlers, in
GLIDING buildings, fences, etc., is ST.
100000 The value Of live stock is
81, 4OO, O00 The total increase In the
values including lands. implements,