navigation could probably be provided for about $90,000, though unforeseen contingencies might increase that amount. Most of the freight which seeks to go above Camp Mojave is for Hardyville, while the distance between the two places is only 7 miles and traversed by a good road. During the entire nineteen months preceding January 1, 1879, less than 100 tons was transported from below to points above Hardyville, the principal and only important reason for the navigation of the upper portion of the river being the supply of wood to the El Dorado mill. There seems no reason why this business could not perfectly well be done during high water in the future as heretofore, and I am therefore decidedly of the opinion that the interests now involved are very far from warranting the expenditure of so much money, not really to enable the transportation company to accommodate them, but merely to render it more convenient to do so. In a country whose only possible future lies in the discovery of mineral wealth such discovery should precede and create the demand for increased communication facilities, its case being widely different from that of an agricultural district, where the construction of proper means of communication may in itself make practicable and hasten the development of its resources. COLORADO. This State, although not the largest in size, leads in the area of land irrigable. The average value of the crops raised is not so great as in California, as the altitude is higher and the climate colder. In any comparison, however, it must be remembered that California lies to a considerable extent in humid or semihumid regions, while Colorado is entirely arid, except, possibly, in case of the higher mountain valleys. Through the necessities of the case, therefore, reclamation has been carried on more widely than in California, but as regards details not so completely as in the somewhat tropical valleys near the Pacific coast. The State of Colorado as a whole may be considered as consisting of two parts-one draining toward the east into the Atlantic Ocean or Gulf of Mexico, the other toward the west into the Gulf of California and Pacific Ocean. On the eastern side, sloping toward the Plains, the reclamation of arid land has progressed to such a degree that all of the ordinary flow of the stream is now utilized, and even the flood discharges are to a large extent controlled by reservoirs built by private or corporate capital. Further reclamation depends upon the more complete construction of similar or larger works and the distribution of the stored waters among the present owners of the reservoirs and users of the natural flow of the streams. The problems are thus exceedingly complicated, and for successful solution necessitate long-continued measurements and a careful study of the existing situation. On the western slope of the State the conditions are almost reversed. There the water supply has not been used to its full extent and there is relatively a small amount of land to be irrigated. The rivers are large and have cut their way deep into the valleys, having only narrow H. Doc. 79- -9 and not continuous flood or valley lands, these being usually first on one side and then on the other of the river. An exaggerated idea of the size of these streams is prevalent, due to the facts that they are large for the arid region and that the use of them has been small. They are by no means unlimited in capacity, as frequently stated; on the contrary, it is probable that the full development of the available land will necessitate taking out the entire ordinary summer flow and possibly supplementing this by means of storage. The area irrigated in Colorado, as shown by the recent census, aggregates 1,611,271 acres, this being an increase of about 81 per cent in ten years. The amount irrigated in 1889 was 890,735 acres. The num ber of irrigators has increased at approximately the same ratio and now amounts to 17,613. This irrigated land is scattered in nearly every county, the largest bodies being in the north, in the vicinity of Greeley, also along Arkansas River east of Pueblo and in Rio Grande Valley. Of the entire land surface of the State, a little over 3 per cent is included in what may be termed "improved land," and about two-thirds of this has been irrigated. It is probable that this area can be greatly increased, especially in the western part of the State, but progress will be relatively slow, as the works needed will be expensive. The area of vacant public land on June 30, 1901, is shown by the table below. A summary of the conditions, by States, on June 30, 1902, taken from the report of the Commissioner of the General Land Office, will be found on page 19. Area of unappropriated, reserved, and appropriated lands in Colorado on June 30, 1901. Area of unappropriated, reserved, and appropriated lands in Colorado on June 30, 1901-Continued. One of the first projects taken up for consideration in the reclamation work is that known as the Gunnison River diversion. This stream is a tributary of Grand River, emptying into the latter near the point where the city of Grand Junction is located. Attention was originally called to this locality by petitions from the citizens of Colorado and representations made as to the feasibility and importance of the work. Measurements of flow of water in this vicinity have been carried on for several years, and in the summer of 1901 a preliminary examination was made to ascertain the geologic structure of the area through which a tunnel might be built, the difficulties to be encountered, and the probable cost of the work. Upon the passage of the reclamation act, work was continued on the preparation of definite plans. LOCATION OF THE PROJECT." The lands to be reclaimed are in Uncompahgre Valley, in the southwest quarter of the State. The valley comprises parts of Ouray, Montrose, and Delta counties, and is watered by Uncompahgre River and its tributaries. Uncompahgre River rises in the San Miguel Mountains, in the southern part of Ouray County. Some of the mountains about its headwaters rise to more than 14,000 feet, but the greater part of the drainage basin lies at altitudes varying from 7,000 FIG. 16.-Map of lands temporarily withdrawn near Gunnison River, Colorado. (Portion of lands reserved has been restored since map was drawn.) to 10,000 feet, the entire range of elevation being from 11,000 feet down to 5,100 feet in a distance of 78.5 miles. The river and its tributaries cover two Colorado water districtsNo. 68, or all of that portion of the drainage basin which is in Ouray County, and No. 41, or that portion which is in Montrose and Delta counties. The earliest irrigation practiced in this valley was about 1875, the first crops raised being principally hay, for shipment to mines; but later, when it was demonstrated that the plains of the valleys when irrigated were capable of raising great crops, and especially when it became known that fruit would be one of the staple products of the region, there was a great rush for land, and a number of large irriga a From report of A. L. Fellows. |