1904 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



519 



and W. H. Sanders, recently convened 

 to discuss the possibilities of irrigation 

 in North Dakota. 



It has been found that the use of 

 gravity systems, except in the' Fort 

 Buford project, is out of the question, 

 and the problems connected with the 

 raising of water by pumping are now 

 engaging the attention of the engi- 

 neers. 



Surveys and investigations by field 

 parties under the direction of Mr. H. 

 A. Storrs have disclosed the fact that 

 bench lands suitable for irrigation by 

 pumping water from the river, exist 

 near Bismarck at elevations of from 

 25 to 30 feet above the river. 



Besides this section some possible 

 locations for pumping plants are be- 

 lieved to exist on the Little Missouri, 

 Mouse, Hart, Knife, and other rivers 

 in North Dakota which will be includ- 

 ed in the present investigation. 



On many of the proposed projects 

 small streams and washes cut across 

 the irrigable lands and at certain sea- 

 sons of the year carry large quantities 

 of water. Some of this water could 

 be stored by building low dams, thus 

 lessening the amount of irrigation wa- 

 ter that would have to be pumped. It 

 is believed that the coulees and deep 

 gulches which frequently occur might 

 be converted in some cases into canals 

 to conduct water from the river back 

 to the pumping plant, or from a pump- 

 ing plant at the river bank back to an- 

 other plant for a higher lift at some 

 distance back from the river bank. 



The cost per acre for pumping 

 plants, canal systems, and fuel supply 

 cannot be estimated until the present 

 season's work secures data as to the 

 extent and elevation of benches, size 

 and location of plants, etc., and upon 

 this the feasibility of the project will 

 largely depend. 



Land Withdrawals for Milk River Project. 



T N compliance with the recommenda- 

 tion of the Acting Director of the 

 Geological Survey, the Secretary of 

 the Interior has temporarily with- 

 drawn from any form of disposition 

 whatever, under the first form of with- 

 drawal authorized by Section 3 of the 

 Act of June 17, 1902, for irrigation 

 works in the State of Montana under 

 the Milk River project, certain public 

 lands in the following townships : 

 For Chain Lake reservoir site 



T. 33 N., R. 13 E. M. P. M. 



T. 34 N., R. 12 E. 



T. 34 N., R. 13 E. 



T. 35 N., R. 12 E. 



T. 36 N., R. ii E. 



T. 36 N., R. 12 E. 



T. 37 N., R. 10 E. 



T. 37 N.,R. ii E. 

 For Lonesome Lake reservoir site 



T. 29 N., R. ii E. M. P. M. 



T. 29 N., R. 12 E. 



T. 30 N., R. 12 E. 



T. 29 N., R. 13 E. 



The withdrawal of Lonesome Lake 

 reservoir site is for the Marias sub- 

 project, under the Milk River project. 



Studying Colorado River. 



]W[ R. E. C. MURPHY, general in- 

 *** spector of stream gauging un- 

 der the United States Geological Sur- 

 vey, has been detailed to make a com- 

 prehensive study of all hydrographic 

 data of the Colorado River Basin, with 

 a view to estimating the effect of stor- 

 age upon the overflow of valleys on 

 the lower river. 



He will bring together and arrange 

 for publication all the facts bearing 

 upon the rainfall and run-off of this 

 basin, consulting all the present office 

 records regarding reservoir sites to 

 obtain data which may aid him in 

 making a complete and detailed report. 



