RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS NEWELL. 197 



the Indians. The soil and transportation facilities are excellent. 

 For the reclamation of these lands the plans provide for the en- 

 largement of the old and new reservation canals which were built 

 with tribal funds, the building of other canals and laterals, and 

 the storage of over 200,000 acre-feet of water in Yakima lakes. 



Kittitas unit: This unit on which no work has been done con- 

 templates the irrigation of land in the vicinity of Ellensburg. A 

 canal 90 miles long will bring water from the Yakima Kiver just 

 above Easton. The growing season is somewhat shorter here than 

 in the lower valleys, but the lands are well adapted to diversified 

 farming. This is the dairying section of eastern Washington, and 

 the soil and climate are favorable for the growing of cereals, timothy, 

 vegetables, and winter apples. 



Wyoming, Shoshone project. — The most striking feature is an im- 

 pounding dam at the head of the canj^on of the Shoshone River in 

 northern Wyoming, storing the waters for the irrigation of about 

 155,000 acres of land. This dam (pi. 12), the highest in the world, 

 was completed in the winter of 1909-10. It is 328.4 feet high from 

 bedrock to top of parapet walls, 108 feet thick on the bottom, and 

 only 200 feet long on top. The reservoir created by it has an area 

 of 6,600 acres and a capacity of 456,000 acre-feet. The diversion dam 

 at Corbett, which turns the waters of the river through a tunnel 3^ 

 miles long into the main canal, is a reenforced concrete masonry 

 structure 18 feet high and 400 feet long. The watershed area is 1,380 

 square miles, the average annual rainfall on watershed 15 inches, and 

 the estimated annual run-off is 1,150,000 acre-feet. The rainfall on 

 the irrigable area is from 6 to 10 inches. The elevation is about 4,500 

 feet above sea level, and the temperature ranges from — 30° to 95° 

 The climate is dry and agreeable and the light soil produces abun- 

 dantly when water is applied. Alfalfa, hay, wheat, oats, barley, and 

 vegetables can be grown; also potatoes, sugar beets, and fruits. 

 Large numbers of cattle and sheep are pastured on the surrounding 

 ranges during the greater part of the year, but require feeding in the 

 winter months, so that there is alwaj^s a good home market for hay. 



The farm unit varies from 40 to 80 acres of irrigable land. The 

 building charge is $46 per acre of irrigable land, payable in 10 annual 

 installments. The annual maintenance and operation charge at pres- 

 ent is $1 per acre, one-tenth of the building charge, and one year's 

 maintenance charge, or $5.60 per acre are due at the time of filing. 



The surrounding mountains are covered with spruce and fir and 

 supph^ the farmers with timber and the stockmen with summer range. 

 Coal mines located in the vicinity supply cheap fuel for domestic and 

 manufacturing purposes. Well water of good quality is found at 

 depths varying from 30 to 50 feet. 



