1 HE IRR1 GA 7 ION A GE. 193 



with the progressive spirit of the a^e or in keeping with the possibili- 

 ties of the future. 



What can be accomplished depends upon the varying conditions in 

 each of the localities named, and what should be attempted also depends 

 upon the returns to be expected. In other words, the fundamental 

 question is whether it would pay to store and control the storm and 

 flood waters, which, by proper irrigation, may add increased wealth 

 and provide happy homes for willing workers. 



The average cost per acre of a properly constructed irrigation sys. 

 tern necessarily varies and depends upon local conditions. The re- 

 markable results, however, accomplished in the valley of the Nile in 

 practically redeeming Egypt from a state of bankruptcy should en- 

 courage a most liberal consideration of the question of irrigation. It 

 is desirable that such reasonable expenditures be made by the Federal 

 government, as well as by the States, as will gradually, but as rapidly 

 as possible, insure the blessings consequent upon a well-defined and 

 executed system of irrigation. 



* * * 



Under a joint resolution of March 20, 1888, directing the Secretary 

 of the Interior to make an investigation of that portion of the arid 

 lands of the United States where agriculture is carried on by means 

 of irrigation, as to the natural advantages for the storage of water for 

 irrigation purposes, with the practicability of constructing reservoirs, 

 together with the capacity of the streams and the cost of construction 

 and the capacity of reservoirs, and such other facts as bear on the 

 question of storage of water for irrigating purposes, a number of res- 

 ervoir sites were selected and approved by the department. 



These sites were intended to be used in connection with a general 

 plan of execution under the control and supervision of the United 

 States. No appropriation has as yet been made by Congress for the 

 inauguration of such a system, but provision has been made for the 

 gauging of the streams and determining the water supply of the United 

 States, including the investigation of underground currents and arte- 

 sian wells in the arid and semi- arid regions; and the results of such 

 investigation, which has been conducted under the supervision of the 

 director of the geological survey, have been brought to the attention 

 of Congress through the medium of reports, in which the best meth- 

 ods of utilizing the water resources of the arid and semi- arid sections 

 are set forth. 



The importance of the reclamation and utilization of the arid pub- 

 lic domain has attracted greater attention during the past year than a" 

 any previous time. A large correspondence has arisen in the diffe- 

 rent bureaus throughout the department, and especially with the geo- 

 logical survey, which, through its hydrographic branch, has been ac- 



