SETTLEMENT. An abundance of water in the Elephant Butte Reservoir, insuring a sufficient irrigation supply, has caused a number of property owners who heretofore have allowed their lands to lie idle to clear the land and put it in cultivation. Some of the large holdings are being subvided and sold in comparatively small tracts. To encourage the settlement of the land by practical farmers a publicity bureau has been maintained. Prior to 1915 this bureau was maintained jointly by the El Paso Valley and the Elephant Butte Water Users' Associations. During the year 1915 the Elephant Butte Water Users' Association established a separate office at Las Cruces, N. Mex., for the cooperative selling of lands in the New Mexico portion of the project. A secretary of immigration is employed and also a land sales agent. Lands are listed for sale and considerable project information distributed through this office. All the towns on the project have grown steadily. El Paso, especially, is growing fast, and large building operations are carried on during the entire year. Alfalfa is the principal crop on the project; about two-thirds of the acreage irrigated is planted to this crop. An excellent crop was raised in 1915, but the price was comparatively low, averaging $10 per ton. A fair crop was cut before June 30, 1916, and a considerable amount sold at a much higher price, averaging $14 per ton. Fruit, apples and pears especially, made excellent returns and proved very profitable, peaches alone excepted. While the peach crop was excellent, there was practically no market, and a considerable amount of the crop was allowed to rot on the trees. Garden truck. sweet potatoes, and grain made fair crops. 61309-16-22 Crop report of irrigated lands under Government canals, Rio Grande project, New Mexico-Texas, year of 1915. Irrigated, no crop: Nonbearing orchards... 1, 260 Total irrigated area farms reported... Young alfalfa.. 18 Under rental contracts. 33,876 1,092 Miscellaneous.. 32,246 1,092 Grand total irrigated..... 33, 876 268, 983 2, 223.00 .01 2,689 22.23 567,030 2,305. 00 .025 38 11.69 FINANCIAL STATEMENT. [Financial statement in detail, showing assets, liabilities, reserves, and capital, given in appendix, p. 724.] Feature costs of Rio Grande project to June 30, 1916. Feature costs of Rio Grande project to June 30, 1916—Continued. El Paso system. Administrative and general expense. Operation and maintenance during construction (water-rental basis). 34, 541.53 18, 264.10 121,051.87 1,333.82 1,469.04 1,357.00 627.45 17,881.89 1,394.11 8, 713. 70 167.83 53.73 Feature costs of Elephant Butte storage to June 30, 1916. Estimated cost of contemplated work, Rio Grande project, during fiscal year Farm units, miscellaneous work.. Permanent improvements and land, gate tender's house at Percha Dam. Operation and maintenance during construction (water-rental basis)......... Messes.. Mercantile stores.. Hospitals... Total. Estimated cost of contemplated work, Elephant Butte storage, fiscal year 1917. NORTH DAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA PUMPING PROJECT. W. S. ARTHUR, acting project manager, Williston, N. Dak. Townships: 152 to 155 N., Rs. 100 to 104 W., fifth principal meridian. Railroad: Great Northern. Railroad stations and estimated population January 1, 1916: Buford, 75; Trenton, 150; and Marley (less than 25). On Buford-Trenton unit are small unincorporated villages. Williston, on the Williston unit, is an incorporated city of about 4,500 population. WATER SUPPLY. Source of water supply: Missouri River. Area of drainage basin: 155,000 square miles. Mean run-off of Missouri River, near Williston, May to October, 1905 to 1907: 15,000,000 acre-feet. AGRICULTURAL AND CLIMATIC CONDITIONS. Area for which the service is prepared to supply water, season 1916: BufordTrenton unit, 4,049 acres; Williston unit, 8,189 acres. Area under water-right applications and water rental contracts to June 30, 1916: 5,706.48 acres. No part of the project was irrigated in 1915. The Williston unit is being operated for commercial power, under a contract with the city of Williston. Length of the irrigation season: 80 days, beginning from June 1 to June 15. Average elevation of the irrigable area: 1,900 feet above sea level. Rainfall: The actual precipitation, calendar year 1915, was 13.87 inches. The average for 12 years, beginning in 1904, was 13.51 inches. Range of temperature on the irrigable area: 49° to 107° F. Character of soil on irrigable area: Ranges from sandy loam to heavy clay gumbo. Principal products: Alfalfa, grains, vegetables. The production of corn for silage is increasing as well as the output of hogs, and dairying has become well established. Principal markets: St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Chicago. The local market is now important since it consumes all of the butter product and all of the output from the dairies. LANDS OPENED FOR IRRIGATION. Dates of public notices and orders: Buford-Trenton unit, April 8, 1908; March 9, 1911; May 13, 1911; June 25, 1912; July 15, 1913; February 26, 1914; March 7, 1914. Williston unit, April 27 and November 30, 1908; April 30, 1909; March 9 and April 14, 1911; June 25, 1912; March 11, 1913; June 23, 1913; July 15, 1913; July 21, 1913; February 26, 1914; March 7, 1914. Location of lands opened: Buford-Trenton unit, Tps. 152 and 153 N., Rs. 103 and 104 W., fifth principal meridian; Williston unit, Tps. 154 and 155 N., Rs. 100 and 101 W., fifth principal meridian. Present status of irrigable lands: Buford-Trenton unit, 249 acres entered subject to reclamation act; 212 acres open to entry; 91 acres of State lands; 3,420 acres in private ownership. Williston unit, 54 acres entered subject to the reclamation act; 320 acres open to entry; 67 acres of State land; 7,707 acres in private ownership. Limit of area of farm units: Public, 80 acres; private, 160 acres. Building charge per acre of irrigable land: $38 under public notice of 1908. |