THE YUMA RECLAMATION rPxCJECT. « 



By J. B. Lii'PiNcoTT, Supcrri.siiKj J^JiKjiiicer. 



Under the provisions of the Rechiniation Act of ll>02 ^ all the 

 piihlic Luids along tlie Colorado River from (he («i-and Canyon to 

 the Mexican line Avere Avithdrawn, pending a general investigation. 

 Surveys wei-e at once begun of this district and data are now in the 

 possession of the Secretary of the Interior relati\^e to all projects 

 therein. It is estimated that there are l)etAveen ".OO.OOO and 400,000 

 acres of irrigable valleys between the points named, innnediately 

 adjacent to the river and exclusive of irrigable lands in interior 

 valleys removed from the river. There are also !)2,000 acres of mesa 

 lands near Yuma suitable for the production of citrus fruits, that 

 may be reached by pumping from the valley canal systems. 



It has been decided that the proper point of beginning for the 

 reclamation of this vast area is in the immediate neighl)orh()od of 

 Yuma. This enter})rise does not include or interfere with the irriga- 

 tion of private lands by individuals and corporations in the vicinity 

 of Imperial, and there is no apparent reason why there should be any 

 friction between these irrigation systems and those resulting from the 

 construction of this Federal Avork. 



During the Avinter season of 11)03-1 the reclamation service made 

 surveys for the irrigation of the valley lands of (he Coloi-ado and 

 Gila rivers in the immediate vicinity of Yuma, Ai-i/., and the Yuma 

 Indian Reser\ation in California, looking toward the utilization 

 of the C^olnrado River for their Avater sii[)ply. These sur\'eys in- 

 cluded the making of a to|)ographic map, on (he scale ol' 100 f(M'( 

 to the inch, at the Laguna dam site and soundings for ImmI rock and 

 foundations at that point. On the California side of the rivei', along 



o Reprinted, by permission, from Outwest, San Francisco, June, 1904. 



''It is provided among otiier tilings in tliis act tliat water may not be fnr- 

 nished by the Department for tlie irrigation of njoi-e tlian KiO acres l)elon.uring 

 to any one individual, wlietlier tlie lands are filed u|)on subscvpuMit 1o I heir 

 withdrawal under the Keelamation Act or are in i)rivat(> ownership under 

 previous filings. Also, that water so supplied can be furnished only 1o parties 

 residing on the lauds or in their immediate neighborhood. 



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