1904 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 513 



vested in construction in South Da- A field party investigated the possi- 

 kota as soon as the land owners take bility of diverting the waters of John 

 action. The enormous increase of Day River onto Umatilla lands, and 

 value which will result should be suf- reports that any project to divert water 

 ficient to attract these men, but many from North Fort of John Day River 

 of them think that by holding back below the confluence with Bull Run 

 they can secure benefits without mak- is impracticable, as it would involve 

 ing payments. In this they will be the construction of a canal approxi- 

 disappointed, as alternative plans are mately 120 miles long at a cost rough- 

 being considered to build a smaller ly estimated at $1,600,000. This party 

 system, and cut out areas for which will investigate the diversion possibili- 

 the owners have not signed. It is not ties at the confluence of North and 

 desired to condemn this land to per- South Forks below the town of Monu- 

 petual sterility by so doing, however, ment. A diversion at this point would 

 and land owners are being given op- justify a heavy expense, as the mini- 

 portunity to subscribe. mum discharge is large. 



The work consists of a canal taking Topographic parties are busily en- 

 water from the Bellefourche River, on gaged in sinking test pits and mapping 

 the north side of the Black Hills, and various sections connected with the 

 irrigating the lands on both sides of several projects contemplated. 



o ^j 



the stream. It is probable, however, 



that the original plan will be modified, The Truckee-Carson Project, 



omitting the south side canal, and Truckee-Carson project in 



planning a smaller canal on the north [ approved, 



side, if the land owners delay much ^^ c i ns ff uct ion 



longer If the land is excluded it will go und f 



probably not be possib e to enlarge the water win bg 



works to cover it, as the construction d * d some of the irri ble land 



is of a permanent character and there In ^f i[on o 



is strong pressure brought to bear to - ^ ^ examinations 



begin construction at other points m j^ese ^ been made and 



the state as soon as this matter is defi- pre p a red for four township, 



mtely determined upon. . w ^^ ^ considerable areas 



As construction has already _ been ]and ich ^ begn 



begun in this locality it is the mten- .* under h ^^ form of with . 



tion to give the people every reason- g h Reclamation 

 able opportunity, and if this is neglect- 



ed, to at once" reduce the system or ^^ 1&nds haye ben dassified into 



transfer the work to another part of farm units and tfae Hmit of afea per 



the state. entry which may be reasonably re- 

 quired for the support of a family 



Progress in Oregon. upon these particular lands fixed. The 



UNDER direction of Mr. John T. charges which shall be made per acre 



Whistler, engineer in charge of upon said entries, and which are ap- 



irrigation work in Oregon, exhaustive portioned equitably and determined 



examinations of alternate schemes in with a view to returning to the rec- 



connection with the Umatilla project lamation fund the estimated 



are being carried on, and work on the construction of the project, are esti 



Malheur project has been continued mated to be $26 per acre, to be paic 



along the lines of the development of ten annual installments, 



topographv of irrigable lands. Bor- when payments shall commence upon 



ings with' diamond drills have been these lands will probably be on the 



made and test pits sunk in the vicinity first day of December of the year in 



of dam sites which the water has been delivered to 



