Lake would impound 41,000 acre-feet at the 40-foot level above present water surface. This dam would be about 375 feet long on top. Pacific Creek, which would furnish the water supply for these basins, had a discharge of 40 second-feet on October 2, 1902. There is no doubt, therefore, but what there will be an ample water supply for the purpose. Jenny Lake is situated about 3 miles southwest of Jackson Lake. It lies at the foot of the Great Tetons, and is fed by several large It contains an area of 1,214.8 streams and two or three small lakes. acres, and if raised to a height of 20 feet above its present level, would have a storage capacity of 24,269 acre-feet. This would require a dam 25 feet in height, which would be 450 feet long on top. A measurement was made of the discharge of the outlet of this lake on October 9, 1902, when the flow was found to be 28 second-feet. None of the dams above mentioned would be very high, although some of them would be long. An estimate has not been made of their cost, but it is Mr. Ross's opinion that their total cost would be less than $1 per acre-foot for all of the water impounded. These basins would have a combined storage capacity of 607,079 acre-feet. appear very After making these surveys, Mr. Burke and party proceeded to the Boise Valley for the purpose of investigating the storage facilities below the line of the upper canal on the south side of the river. Surto be feasible veys were made of four basins, two of which for the purpose. These are situated from 4 to 8 miles west of Nampa, on what is known as the Deer Flat. The largest of these basins, with a 55-foot dam, would impound 45,600 acre-feet, covering 2,971 acres. It would be. The dam at the outlet would be constructed of earth. about 3,000 feet long on top. The largest item of expense in connection with the utilization of this site would be right of way over lands entered prior to August 30, 1890, some of the land being in a high state of cultivation, and worth at the present time from $40 to $75 per The other site lies immediately northwest of the one just described, and would have a capacity of 22,908 acre-feet, with a dam of 25 feet in height. This dam would also be of earth and would have a length on top of 3,600 feet. acre. After the Boise Valley surveys were completed the party was moved into the Payette Valley for the purpose of investigating the feasibility of constructing a canal taking its water from the Payette River at a point known as the Blackrock Canyon, about 6 miles above the town of Emmett, and diverting it over into the Boise Valley. A trial line was first run in order to ascertain the relative elevation of the point of diversion and the lowest saddle on the ridge between the two valleys, a point about 25 miles distant from the canyon. The first 25 miles of this canal will be on ground some of which, from 4 to 5 miles, is quite steep. The entire canal will be constructed in earth, with the exception of perhaps one-quarter of a mile near the point of diversion, where some rock will be encountered. At the crest of the ridge. referred to it will be necessary to construct a tunnel perhaps one mile in length. The indications are that the ridge is composed of earth. The surveys have not yet been extended beyond the ridge, but the canal at this point will be divided into three smaller canals whose construction would be comparatively cheap and simple. Mr. Burke's party then began, in December, 1902, a topographic survey along the line of this canal for the purpose of making a more definite location and approximate estimates of cost. If it is found feasible to construct this canal, about 50,000 acres of public lands could be reclaimed, and the water supply increased for the irrigation of about 25,000 acres more, lying under ditches which divert their water from Boise River. If a dam should be constructed at the point above referred to, about 17,000 acres lying on the north side of the Payette River could be reclaimed from this point of diversion; 100,000 acres would be benefited, all told, about 75,000 acres of which are at present without facilities for their irrigation, and the water supply for 25,000 acres more would be permanently increased. During the early part of September a small party was organized and placed in charge of Mr. G. H. Hogue, for the purpose of making storage surveys on the headwaters of the Weiser River. Besides looking up all the available sites on this drainage, quite a careful examination was made of the conditions surrounding irrigation on all the principal tributaries of this river. A survey was made of a storage basin in Lost Valley. This basin is situated in and around sec. 21, T. 19 N., R. 1 W., Boise meridian. This basin, with a dam 277 feet long on top and 55 feet high, holding 50 feet of water, would flood 291 acres and provide a storage capacity of 11,000 acre-feet. A dam could be constructed of loose rock and earth, there being an abundance of material of this nature available. A suitable wasteway could be constructed over a solid rock ridge on one side of the dam. Mr. Hogue estimates that the bed rock is not more than 5 feet below the surface at the center line of the dam. The water from this reservoir would probably be used chiefly upon lands in the lower end of the Weiser Valley, in the vicinity of the town of Weiser. It is not likely, however, that these lands will ever require the amount of water which this basin would be capable of storing. A survey was made by Mr. Hogue of a reservoir basin on Crane Creek, also one on Manns Creek, and a canal line to divert the water at the latter point over into Monroe Creek, a small tributary emptying into the Weiser River near the town of Weiser. Reports and maps of these surveys have not yet been forwarded by Mr. Hogue. On the 1st of December the two parties were joined and placed · under the direction of Mr. Burke and engaged in making the PayetteBoise canal survey above referred to, KANSAS. In the State of Kansas practically all of the land has passed into the hands of individuals or corporations. The Government owns a million acres, but this ownership is more apparent than real, the title being in process of adjustment. Thus the reclamation of vacant public land is out of the question. Irrigation has never been practical on a large scale in this State, although widely employed in a relatively small way. The area irrigated in 1889 was 20,818 acres and in 1899 was 23,620 acres, an increase of only 13.5 per cent. The number of irrigators in 1889 was 519 and in 1899 was 929, an increase of 79 per cent, indicating that more persons are practicing irrigation and that the average size of the irrigated farm has decreased. This is due to the fact that some of the large projects reported in 1889 were abandoned in the ten-year interval before the next census. These were located along Arkansas River and on account of the irregular water supply were not successful. On the other hand, an increase in windmills and improvements in methods of pumping have led to a wide adoption of irrigation dependent upon underground sources. Unappropriated, reserved, and appropriated lands in Kansas on June 30, 1901. |