420 



IRRIGATION. 



of the cost and benefits of each, and every individual scheme should 

 be considered solel}^ upon its own merits and its relation to the full 

 ultimate development of the (;ountry. This work, as above stated, has 

 already been conmiitted l)y Congress to the Geological Surve3\ which 

 in 1888 was authorized to begin the investigation of the extent to which 

 the arid lands could be reclaimed by irrigation. In the succeeding 

 years this organization has been systematically measuring streams, 

 surveying reservoir sites, and has now a fulh' equipped and experi- 



FiG. (i. — Map showing (by cross lines) approximate location and extent of open range. 



enced corps of h3^draulic engineers, man}' of whom have had experi- 

 ence in the construction of large works. 



The necessity for prompt action is shown hy the way in which the 

 remaining public lands are being taken up by speculators. It has 

 been pointed out V)v recent students and writers upon the subject that 

 although several million acres are being disposed of annually, yet 

 these are not passing into the hands of people who are making homes 

 upon them, and that the homestead and desert-land act is ))eing used 

 as a means for securing titles to lands which are not brought under 

 cultivation. 



