line is estimated to amount to 55,000 acres in Montana and 22,000 acres in North Dakota; of this 90 per cent can probably be reclaimed.

Missouri River itself has been in past years examined thoroughly for opportunities of diversion. Level lines have been carried along the river for several hundred miles, and it has been found that the fall of the river is so gentle that gravity canals can not be taken out to surmount the bordering bluffs. It is popularly believed that water might be taken from Missouri River over into the central part of North Dakota, but this could be done only by a canal several hundred miles in length, extending through many miles of deep cutting. The cost would be prohibitory and the benefits doubtful.

As water can not be taken out of the Missouri by gravity, the project of pumping it has been discussed, utilizing the cheap fuel obtained by mining the lignite which occurs along Missouri River and its tributaries. A general study of this question was made by Prof. F. A. Wilder, of the State University, who has pointed out a number of localities where pumping plants might be established. The lands to be benefited are, however, mainly in private ownership. The report by Professor Wilder is given on pages 400-412.

OKLAHOMA.

In this Territory examinations have been made, particularly in the western part, of feasible opportunities for reclamation. A number of localities where works might be built have been pointed out, but the preliminary surveys of these have shown that either the water supply is deficient or other conditions are unfavorable. There is no general demand for irrigation in Oklahoma, and the climatic conditions. are such that it will be of doubtful utility, except in localities where convenience to market or other favorable conditions render intensive farming practicable.

The western prolongation of Oklahoma in Beaver County may offer some opportunities for reclamation, but, compared with the needs of the country farther to the west, the Oklahoma situation is not pressing.

OREGON.

In eastern Oregon are vast tracts of arid land, much of it still in public ownership, but cut up by wagon-road grants and swamp selections. The water supply as a rule is small, as the streams which flow out upon the vacant land rise in comparatively low or small mountain Nearly all of the meadow lands have passed into private ownership under the terms of the swamp act, and the basins which might be utilized for water storage are used to a large extent as cattle ranches. The principal stream on the eastern side of the Cascade Range--Deschutes River-is in many respects favorable for utilization in irrigation

areas.

development, but its waters are largely claimed by various corporations proposing to irrigate lands under the terms of the Carey act.

The opportunities for reclamation under national auspices are somewhat limited by the physical conditions and by the present condition of ownership and control of irrigable lands.

A reconnaissance of the State has been made, and various projects suggested have been given especial consideration. Out of the large number of possibilities, systematic surveys have been concentrated upon three localities-one in the northern part of the State, west of Umatilla River; another in the eastern part of the State, on Malheur River, and the third in the center of the State, in Harney County. About one-fourth of the lands under the Umatilla project are Northern Pacific Railroad grant lands. Much of the desirable land in the Malheur project is so-called military road grant land, and of the land under the Harney County project, practically the last vacant land has recently been selected by the State under the Carey act. Each of these projects offers engineering difficulties, particularly as regards securing a certain water supply. Each has its merits, and it is probable that one or another will be found to be feasible after thorough study has been made of all the surrounding circumstances. The complications and alternative propositions on each project are so involved that it has not yet been possible to obtain a summary of these in terms of cost and acreage, but it is hoped that plans and estimates looking to early construction will be completed in the near future.

SOUTH DAKOTA.

South Dakota, like its sister State on the north, embraces a comparatively small amount of arid land. It has, however, the great advantage over Nebraska and North Dakota in that in the western arid end of the State are the Black Hills, from which come several streams of considerable size, and where the topographic relief is such that storage reservoirs can be built.

Examinations have been made during 1903 of the streams issuing from the Black Hills, to discover the best reservoir sites, and stream measurements have been systematically carried on to obtain the amount of water available for storage. Trial lines of various possible canals have also been run, and preliminary surveys made of several possible projects.

The most favorable opportunity for reclamation appears to be on lands north of Belle Fourche River. A canal can be taken out of this stream which will carry the flood waters to depressions that can be converted into reservoirs, and from these distributing canals can be built. to irrigable lands. The systematic investigation of this project has not progressed to a point where it is possible to state accurately the acreH. Doc. 44, 58-2-5

age and cost. The land is gently rolling, and very detailed surveys are required to outline the irrigable areas.

Other projects of secondary importance have been found along the east and southeastern sides of the Black Hills, and it is probable that one or another of these will prove to be feasible in the future. From present knowledge, however, the Belle Fourche project offers best opportunities.

UTAH.

Utah, with its well-distributed but small water supply, has afforded exceptional opportunities for reclamation by individuals and associations of water users. The water resources of the State are fairly well utilized, the principal exceptions being in the case of the two large fresh-water lakes-one in the central part of the State and the other on the northern boundary. These receive a considerable amount of water which is lost by evaporation. The future development of the. State is dependent largely upon the ability to check the evaporation by reducing the area of the lakes and making them serve better their purposes as reservoirs.

The citizens of Utah appreciate the great importance of a better system of water conservation, and, especially in the case of Utah Lake, have asked that general studies be made and plans prepared looking toward a more complete control of the available supply. Preliminary investigations were made by the Geological Survey in 1888 and 1889 and measurements of important streams have been continued since that time. In 1903 the work on Utah Lake was taken up again at the request of the State commission on reclamation, and detailed surveys of the lake were begun in order to determine upon a plan for utilizing the entire water supply of the lake, either by extending the pumping facilities, or by lowering the bed of the Jordan as well as reducing the area by dikes, cutting off shallow portions. The examinations have also been extended to the arid areas in the vicinity with a view to their reclamation.

In the case of Bear Lake, additional facts were obtained during 1903 as to the water supply which can be brought into the lake and as to the cost of a canal from the lake to the river and of ditches to the arid land along the course of the stream.

WASHINGTON.

One of the largest projects of reclamation in the United States is that of the utilization of the arid land in what is known as the Big Bend country in central Washington. There is a vast area, a million or more acres, of arid land lying at moderate altitude, to which the waters of Spokane River or other streams of eastern Washington might be taken. The cost of bringing water to this land is known to be

Extensive

great, but it is believed to be feasible, in the future at least. surveys have been carried on to ascertain the practicability of diverting water to the Big Bend country and of storing it at available localities. Some time must necessarily elapse before the many alternative projects can be discussed with full knowledge of the cost and benefits.

A general examination and study has been made of the country along Yakima River, but the conditions of land ownership and of claims to water are such that reclamation work by the Government is not at present regarded as practicable.

Other tributaries of the Columbia have been considered, and in particular detailed surveys have been begun along the Okanogan, in the extreme northern part of the State. The complicated topography and the numerous small reservoirs which might be constructed render the study of alternative projects important. The situation necessitates detailed and careful estimates before specific projects can be recommended.

A reconnaissance has been made in the neighborhood of Palouse River in order to determine the feasibility of a plan to take water from Palouse River to irrigate a body of land of the best quality lying between Snake and Columbia rivers below the 800-foot contour.

This reconnaissance seems to indicate that while this project is feasible, it is of considerable magnitude. It is expected that construction will be begun in the near future. The amount of land that can probably be irrigated is about 100,000 acres.

WYOMING.

From Wyoming and adjacent portions of Colorado issue the headwaters of the streams most important in the agricultural development of the West. The State covers a considerable portion of the higher catchment basins of the great rivers of the arid region, and occupies what has been termed the "crest of the continent." As a whole, the State is at a higher altitude than any other political division, and embraces vast areas of rugged mountains, partly forest clad. Toward the east and north the land falls to a moderate altitude and valleys as low as 3,500 feet above sea level are found.

The water supply of the State, as might be expected, is notably large, and there are many excellent reservoir sites. Development has proceeded, under private and State auspices, so far that canals of considerable size have been built, and there has been as yet little need of water storage for lands within the State, except on the small tributary streams which issue from the mountains. The canals under construction or projected, however, will have capacity sufficient to make water storage necessary, especially about the edges of the Bighorn Basin.

Owing to the situation of Wyoming at the headwaters of important streams, much time has been devoted to the State, and several projects

have been suggested. Attention was first directed to the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains, where scarcity of water was already beginning to be felt. In particular, consideration was had of Lake De Smet, a closed body of water lying at the foot of the mountains. Here flood waters of adjacent streams might be stored and the water taken out upon irrigable lands in the lower valleys.

The project as a whole is somewhat expensive, and its feasibility can not be determined without knowledge of the probable water supply which can be diverted into Lake De Smet and taken out again. The lands to be irrigated are largely in private ownership, and are in long, narrow strips fringing the streams. The benefits to be derived are mainly in increasing the production of forage crops, since grazing is the principal industry.

West of the Bighorn Mountains, in what is known as the Bighorn Basin, are vast tracts of irrigable lands and a large supply of water coming from the Yellowstone Forest Reserve. The slope of the country is so great that the rivers are readily diverted, and irrigation development has taken place at moderate expense and with great rapidity; so much so that along Grey Bull River a scarcity of water in the latter part of the irrigation season has been experienced. An examination was made of the reservoir sites at the headwaters of Grey Bull River, but most of these were found to be high up in the mountains, where the catchment areas are small and of limited capacity, so that by the construction of these the low-water flow would not be increased sufficiently to meet the demands made upon it. Water from Grey Bull River is used in a very extravagant and wasteful manner, so that many impartial observers have been led to the conclusion that the low water of summer has been a blessing in disguise to the farmers along Grey Bull River, by inducing them to practice greater economy in the use of water.

The principal water supply for the Bighorn Basin is obtained from Shoshone River. Canals have already been taken from this and from the South Fork, and large systems are under construction through the operation of what is known as the Carey act (approved Aug. 18, 1894, Stat. L., vol. 28, pp. 372-422; amended June 11, 1896, Stat. L., vol. 29, p. 434; amended again Mar. 3, 1901, Stat. L., vol. 31, p. 1188), described in the First Annual Reclamation Report, pages 56-59. A large tract of land on the north side of Shoshone River between Cody and Garland has been segregated under the terms of this law, and attempts have been made to obtain capital to construct the necessary works. As difficulties were encountered in doing so, the attention of the Reclamation Service was called to the matter, and, in accordance with requests from citizens and officials of Wyoming, a careful exami nation of the project was begun. On January 26, 1903, Hon. De Forest Richards, governor of Wyoming and president of the State board