1 904 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 217 



tion of the slopes of the Sierra Madre with contours of the water planes, giv- 

 Mountains, and which fight bitterly the ing the depth at which water is to be 

 sawmill magnate, who for immediate expected at any point ; and purity 

 profit denudes them of their timber lines, showing the character of the 

 cover and paves the way for wasteful water, and inferentially its source in 

 floods ; likewise they prosecute relent- some cases. There will also be pub- 

 lessly the careless camper who permits lished a general discussion of the struc- 

 his fire to spread into a destructive con- ture of the \vater basins from the geo- 

 flagration. It is in recognition of these logic point of view, their character and 

 strong interests that the present work is extent, the circulation of the water 

 being done by the Division of Hydrology within them, its conservation, and, so 

 on the underground water supply. far as conclusions may be drawn, the 

 The result of this work will be pre- lines of safe development. It is ex- 

 sented to the public in a series of re- pected that one or two of these water- 

 ports, which will contain maps showing supply papers will be written this com- 

 the area and distribution of the artesian ing summer and issued as soon there- 

 basins and other water-bearing lands, after as possible. 



BOISE-PAYETTE IRRIGATION PROJECT. 



AN INVESTIGATION BY THE RECLAMATION 

 SERVICE THAT PROMISES TO MAKE A TREMEN- 

 DOUS ADDITION TO THE PROSPERITY OF IDAHO. 



BY 



C. J. BLANCHARD. 



THE marvelous development of the enty-two thousand acres, or more than 



great West offers an instructive the total irrigated area in Arizona, 



subject for the consideration of every Washington, or New Mexico, are to be 



citizen of this country whose interest brought under one comprehensive na- 



and pride in his native land extends be- tional irrigation project, and fulty 270,- 



yond his own immediate surroundings, ooo acres reclaimed from sage brush to 



A wonderful impetus is being given productive orchards and fields of alfalfa, 



to the growth of the arid West by the The 100,000 acres now irrigated in these 



work of the government under the irri- valleys are to be guaranteed an ample 



gation act. Uncle Sam's engineers in w^ater supply for all time to come. The 



every Western State are exploring the stored waters of Payette River are to be 



mountain fastnesses for favorable reser- diverted through a tunnel under a low 



voir sites, hydrographers are measuring divide, and together with the restrained 



the flow of streams, and surveyors are floods of the Boise are to be spread over 



laying out the lines of broad canals these famous valleys, making possible 



across desert wastes. the building of hundreds of prosperous 



In Arizona and Nevada construction and happy homes. 



work has actually begun on systems in- The Boise-Pay ette project is in two 



volving the expenditure of millions of sections, the first comprising a masonry 



dollars. dam in Payette River with a canal on 



Two of the fairest and most fertile each side of the stream, the south side 



valleys in the arid West, the valleys of ditch connecting with a large pumping 



the Payette and Boise rivers, in south- plant. Under this system 1,000 cubic 



western Idaho, are soon to be the scene feet per second will be diverted for irri- 



of a stupendous irrigation work by the gation to 150,000 acres of land. The 



government. Three hundred and sev- dam will be 90 feet high, 450 feet long 



