278 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION June 



districts to study fires while in the pro- Uncompahgre Valley reclamation pro- 

 cess of burning. Instead of waiting ject, one of the five great irrigation un- 

 until the fires are over and relying for dertakings the government has now in 

 information on local reports, as has been hand. The organization was accom- 

 done heretofore, the fires are now being plished without any friction, four offi- 

 observed by the Bureau's agents, and cers and an executive committee of seven 

 full data will be obtained as to how they being elected by the delegates to draw 

 were caused, how fast they burn, what up a constitution and by-laws and to in- 

 conditions favor or hinder them, and corporate for the transaction of busi- 

 just what damage they do to the soil ness. 



and to tree growth. Each agent of the Mr. A. L. Fellows, resident hydrog- 



Bureau has been assigned to a district rapher, who has the work in charge for 



and is investigating all fires that occur the government, addressed the meeting, 



within his territory. For example, one outlining the scope of the undertaking 



man studies a lumber tract, another a and explaining the rights and duties of 



farming district, a third a turpentine the consumers. From an engineering 



orchard. standpoint, he said, he believed the 



In connection with this detailed study, Uncompahgre project to be the greatest 



the agents will observe the methods of of the five irrigation undertakings now 



fire protection practiced by railroads under consideration b}^ the national 



and other owners of timber lands. The government, and he estimates that 



fire warden systems of the states which 125,000 acres will be under the main 



have forest- fire laws and the patrol canal at a cost not to exceed $25 an 



system in use on the federal forest re- acre to the consumers, the amount to 



serves will also be observed closely. be paid in ten annual installments. He 



By such methods the Bureau of For- suggested that some revenue might be 



estry hopes to replace with carefully derived from power developed at the 



gathered facts the vague general notions dam, which would materially decrease 



that now exist about forest fires. When the cost to the farmers. Mr. Fellows 



the problem is solved for an}' particular also suggested the plan of organization 



region, the Bureau will be ready to whereby complications could be avoided 



recommend methods of fire prevention by having the government deal with the 



and control for the private land owner, corporation in the adjusting of all 



and to suggest forest-fire legislation for claims, even to buying the ditches ; if 



the various states. the corporation could make satisfactory 



The investigation is now in progress terms with ditch owners, the govern- 

 in northern Florida and southern Ala- ment might advance the money. He 

 bama and Georgia under the direction explained that there would be several 

 of Ernest A. Sterling. H. J. Tomp- canals leading from the Gunnison tun- 

 kins, with a small corps of assistants, nel, and if the Gunnison River did not 

 has begun the work in Minnesota, Wis- furnish enough water to irrigate all of 

 consin, and Michigan. Later in the the valley at its lowest water season, 

 season a study of forest fires will be storage reservoirs would be constructed, 

 made on the Pacific coast. It will be seen that the incorporation 



^ of the water consumers simplifies the 



matter of dealing with them, as was 



Uncompahgre At a meeting held at done in the case of the Tonto Reservoir, 



Valley Water Olathe, Colo., May 5, described in our May issue. The ques- 



Consumers several hundred farm- tion of dealing with water users will 



Act. ers and business men, probably be simplified in this manner 



with delegates from all with all of the projects, making such 



the canal companies of the Uncompah- minor modifications of detail as may 



gre Valley, were empowered to incorpo- seem to be required by local conditions, 



rate to form a legal body to deal with A description of the Gunnison River 



the federal government in all matters tunnel may be found in the April issue 



which may arise in connection with the of FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



