Unappropriated, reserved, and appropriated lands in North Dakota, etc.—Continued.

In North Dakota irrigation has not played a conspicuous part. The eastern part of the State is humid or subhumid, and the western unsettled portion reaches into the borders of the arid region. Farming is carried on extensively east of Missouri River, crops being usually successful, the percentages of failure increasing toward the western part of the State. Beyond Missouri River the country is at present devoted mainly to stock raising. There are a number of valleys where irrigation is practiced in a small way, and where by means of water storage it can be increased as necessity arises.

The largest source of water supply is Missouri River. This is bounded throughout most of its course by bluffs, at the foot of which are occasional fringing valley lands. Most of these lands are sufficiently humid to produce fair crops, and irrigation has not been absolutely essential. The diversion of water from the Missouri, in a small way at least, is practically impossible, since the fall of the river is very little, being less than that of the ordinary irrigating canal.

To divert water from Missouri River a gravity canal must head in Montana, where the grade of the river is greater than in North Dakota. A preliminary survey has been made, showing that such diversion on the north side of the river might possibly be made to reach some of the lands along the stream, but would be very expensive; a detailed survey must be made to settle the fact.

While the Missouri may possibly not be utilized by gravity, it is believed that some of its waters can be employed advantageously by

means of pumping. There are throughout North Dakota vast areas of impure coal, or lignite; it may be feasible to utilize this lignite in the creation of cheap power to be used in pumping the waters of Missouri River on a large scale. This matter is under investigation, preliminary work being begun during the summer of 1902.

The total area irrigated in North Dakota in 1899 was 4,872 acres, only 57 acres of which are reported as being watered by means of wells. In 1889 there were irrigated in all only 445 acres. Settlement is rapidly increasing in the western or arid portion of the State, and there has been a succession of years favorable to agriculture, so that the newcomers are encouraged in their efforts. If, however, these years should be exceptional as regards the amount of moisture available, there will result, as in western Kansas and Nebraska, great suffering and hardship from the failure of crops. It will be remembered that in these States a wave of settlement advanced toward the West during the periods of unusual summer rains, and retreated, with great disaster to individuals, following the return to normal climatic conditions. Thus it is in western North Dakota; while at present the settlers, inexperienced in irrigation, do not appreciate its necessity, later there may be an urgent demand for its speedy introduction. The way in which this can be done successfully is not at first obvious, and will require very careful consideration of methods and cost.

OKLAHOMA.

The amount of vacant 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.

Unappropriated, reserved, and appropriated lands in Oklahoma on June 30, 1901.

Unappropriated, reserved, and appropriated lands in Oklahoma, etc.—Continued.

In this Territory settlement has progressed with wonderful rapidity, and the public lands, except in the western prolongation known as Beaver County, have nearly all passed into the hands of individuals. Crops are raised throughout the Territory without irrigation, even in the western portion adjacent to the panhandle of Texas certain drought-resisting crops being successful each year. In 1899 only 2,759 acres were irrigated, mainly in Beaver and Woodward counties.

A considerable part of the Territory lies within the Red Beds region, where gypsum is abundant, and there the waters are consequently so heavily charged with mineral water that it is doubtful whether they can be successfully used in irrigation. The principal streams flow with gentle fall in broad, sandy channels, dry throughout the summer season. Water can not be easily diverted by gravity ditches, and the construction of dams across the streams involves serious engineering problems.

One of the most important matters in connection with the development of Oklahoma is to ascertain the character of the waters which can be obtained from wells, utilizing the localities where the water is not heavily charged with mineral matter, and ascertaining whether artesian conditions exist. It is probable that pumping may be resorted to over some portion of the Territory to provide water for scattered areas cultivated by irrigation.

WICHITA MOUNTAIN PROJECTS.@

In the southern part of the Territory are the Wichita Mountains, granite hills from which the Red Beds have been largely removed. From this crystalline area small streams of pure water issue, and it is probable that these can be successfully used in irrigation. Already several projects have been planned by corporations and individuals. Nearly all of the land to be irrigated is in the hands of settlers, and so far as can be learned, there are no considerable tracts of Government land which can be reclaimed, excepting an area of about 400,000 acres now held as an Indian pasture.

In the latter part of 1902 an examination was made by Mr. Bailey Willis, of the United States Geological Survey, extending from Lawton, Okla., up the valley of Medicine Bluff Creek and across the Wichita Mountains to Mountain Park, and thence northwest across and along the valley of Red River to Granite. The topographic conditions in this area are peculiarly favorable for reservoir purposes, but among the numerous instances three deserve special note. In the order in which they were visited they occur, first, on Medicine Bluff Creek, in sec. 7, T. 3 N., R. 12 W.; second, in secs. 3, 4, 9, and 10, T. 3 N., R. 17 W.; and third, in sec. 22, T. 5 N., R. 20 W. A brief description of each of these situations follows:

MEDICINE BLUFF SITE.

In sec. 7, T. 3 N., R. 12 W., the valley of Medicine Bluff Creek is an extensive bottom land, approximately from 1 to 13 miles wide 60 feet above the stream level. The stream itself has moderate fall. Near the south line of the section the valley narrows to a canyon 75 feet deep and 400 feet wide, between steep walls. Beneath the wider valley the rock is rather impervious red shale and sandstone; in the canyon it is granite, more or less jointed, but forming a fairly solid mass, suitable for the foundations of the dam. The stream in the canyon runs on bed rock.

The drainage area tributary to this site is estimated from the map at about 90 square miles. The waters from the reservoir might be conveyed, in a distance of 10 miles, down the valley to Fort Sill and thence over the prairie lands in the vicinity of Lawton. The height of the dam site above Lawton is 200 feet, and the water would be available upon the highest prairies of the neighborhood.

The value of this reservoir site is limited by the small area tributary to it. Medicine Bluff Creek has the reputation of being a comparatively constant stream, for that region; but from field observation, without measurement, it would appear probable that the greater part of its flow throughout the year could be stored without utilizing the entire capacity of the reservoir site.

a From report of Bailey Willis.

The waters of Medicine Bluff Creek flow largely from granite slopes, and so far as they are derived from other rocks are not contaminated by gypsum or alkali.

LOWER NARROWS OF OTTER CREEK.

In sec. 9, T. 3 N., R. 17 W., several branches of Otter Creek assemble in an unusually flat valley, and the combined stream enters a canyon about 200 feet wide and approximately 100 feet deep, with nearly vertical walls. The conditions are the same as those already described on Medicine Bluff, except that the valley above the canyon. is much broader and shallower and the canyon is narrower. It is estimated from the map that the drainage area of Otter Creek tributary to this reservoir site is about 125 square miles. Surveys have been made by the Otter Creek Irrigation Company on the basis of a dam 60 feet in height, constructed to throw the water over the lowest point in the divide to the southeast, and according to Mr. Mark Roberts, the originator of the plan, the area included within the contour at the level of the top of the 60-foot dam is 6,000 acres and the average depth of water in the reservoir would be about 20 feet. Aneroid readings appear to agree fairly well with Mr. Roberts's statements of the position of the outline of the reservoir, at least along the route by which it was crossed.

The area to be irrigated by the water which may thus be stored lies south of Mountain Park, on the lower course of Otter Creek and along Red River. The area of agricultural lands available is probably more than can be supplied by the drainage basin, which it is proposed to utilize, and the capacity of the reservoir also is probably sufficient to hold all the water that can be stored from that basin.

The waters of Otter Creek flow in part from hills of igneous rock, but in greater part from areas of the Red Beds. They do not, however, contain any notable quantity of gypsum or alkali.

QUARTZ MOUNTAIN SITE, NORTH FORK OF RED RIVER.

North Fork of Red River is joined in T. 5 N., R. 20 W., by a very considerable stream, known as Elm Fork, the waters of which contain a large amount of gypsum and probably of other salts. Any irrigation plan contemplating the use of the waters of North Fork of Red River should exclude those of Elm Fork on this account. Above its junction with Elm Fork, North Fork of Red River flows from a valley in the Red Beds across a small area of granite in the east end of Quartz Mountain. The narrowest point of the short canyon which is thus formed is in the eastern part of sec. 22, T. 5 N., R. 20 W., and the wider valley above the canyon occupies sections 14 and 15. The canyon has a minimum width at water level of 500 feet. The depth to granite in the bottom land is indeterminate. Fence posts are sunk in red and