262 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



A hydraulic dredge has also been constructed with which to pump 

 the silt, that may settle from the water, back into the Colorado river 

 again. This dredge is now at work near the temporary heading of 

 the canal. The permanent heading has not as yet been constructed. 

 Below the permanent heading there will be a large settling basin in 

 which all the coarser matter in the water will settle. This basin will 

 be about half a mile long by a quarter of a mile wide. The lower head 

 gates now being built are located just below this basin, and a tempo- 

 rary heading a mile below the permanent heading and just above the 

 lower headgates is now being used to take the water from the river 

 into the canal. 



For several months past a large force of teams and Fresno scrap- 

 ers has been at work constructing the main canal that is to furnish 

 water to that portion of the desert between Salton and New rivers. 

 This main canal is seventy feat wide and will carry four or five feet of 

 water. By the first of June the water will be at the town of Imperial 

 and the distributing canals will be completed as rapidly as possible, so 

 that by next winter those who are located between these two rivers 

 will be able to have the water delivered to their lands. Many of the 

 settlers will be able to procure water this summer for summer crops, 

 such as sorghum, Egyptian corn and other similar crops. 



Recently a steam excavator has been brought to Imperial and will 

 be set to work to assist in dredging the distributing system of canals 

 and ditches, and the work will now progress more rapidly. The work 

 with teams has been very expensive, as hay has cost $30 a ton and 

 grain $35 a ton, and with feed at these prices, one hundred and seventy 

 horses have been kopt busy on the works for months. This has been 

 in addition to nearly as many more employed on the canal near the 

 Colorado river. 



During the past year an immense amount of work has been done 

 under great difficulties. The worst is now over. The water will soon 

 be delivered. The public confidence in ultimate success has been ex- 

 traordinary. 



It was hoped that the water could have been delivered to the set- 

 tlers in time for active work in cultivating their lands this season,' but 

 unforseen obstacles delayed the work for a few weeks beyond the ap 

 pointed time. 



This is the record of a year's work. The public are asked to scan 

 it carefully and pass judgment 



