1905 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 227 



The cost per acre varies with the Reservation, as surveys already made 

 cost of the project, the term used by indicate that they are feasible and that 

 the government engineers to designate their cost will be low. 

 irrigations plans and work in a given i n Washington the Reclamation 

 district. On projects so far under- Service is endeavoring to remove the 

 taken the cost runs from $15 to $30 an obstacle in the way of the Washtucna 

 acre. The Reclamation Service care- Coulee Project, which is to irrigate 

 fully considers the character of the i OO ,ooo acres of land in the vicinity of 

 land, its proximity to markets and p asca This is one of the largest pro- 

 transportation facilities before under- j ects so far undertaken by the govern- 

 takmg any improvements, in order to ment an( ] involves the construction of 

 make sure that there will be left an a i arge dam across the mouth of 

 ample margin of value above the cost Washtucna Coulee, for the purpose of 

 of the work when completed. creating a reservoir in which to store 



The purchase money received by the the waters of the Palouse River. The 



government goes back again into the principle obstacle lies in the fact that 



reclamation fund to be used over and the coulee is now occupied by the 



over again in building other canals and tracks of the Oregon Railway & Navi- 



in supplying water to new districts. gation Company, a branch 'line con- 



The irrigation projects along the necting with the Northern Pacific at 

 lines of the Northern Pacific Railway Cannell. This branch must be moved 

 on which work will probably be inau- to higher land if the government en- 

 gurated during the present year by the gineers go forward with their plans, 

 government Reclamation Service are It is understood that good progress is 

 the Lower Yellowstone Canal, which being made in the negotiations be- 

 will irrigate 40,000 acres in Montana tween the Reclamation Service and the 

 and 20,000 acres in North Dakota, and Oregon Railway & Navigation Corn- 

 several others of importance. The pany for the removal of the branch. 

 Yellowstone canal will take water In all likelihood the work of construct- 

 from the Yellowstone River at a point ing this irrigation project will be corn- 

 about thirteen miles below Glendive, menced this year. 

 Mont. An association of the land own- Surveys have been made for a large 

 ers under the canal has been formed number of other projects along the 

 as required by the Reclamation Ser- lines of the Northern Pacific Railway, 

 vice and is called the Lower Yellow- some of which have been found im- 

 stone Water Users' Association. It practicable under present conditions 

 is expected that all of the necessary and others possible. Among the lat- 

 preliminary work will be completed ter are two projects for pumping from 

 within sixty days, after which con- the Missouri River in North Dakota, 

 tracts for the construction of the canal one in the vicinity of Fort Buford and 

 will be awarded. the other in the vicinity of Bismark. 



On the Crow Reservation several The engineers are working out the de- 

 canals are contemplated by the Recla- tails of these two projects, 

 mation Service, one of which, known In addition to the projects of the 

 as the Huntley Project, will irrigate Reclamation Service there are a num- 

 30,000 acres and will be put under ber of irrigation canals under con- 

 contract within a few weeks, it is ex- struction by private capital at different 

 pected. The lands irrigated by this Northern Pacific points. At Forsyth, 

 canal are in the vicinity of Huntley Mont., the canal of the Rosebud Land 

 Station, on the line of the Northern & Improvement Company, irrigating 

 Pacific, a short distance east of Bil- 12,000 acres, will be completed and in 

 lings, Mont. It is expected that at operation this year. The Billings 

 least two other good irrigation pro- Land & Irrigation Company will also 

 jects will be developed on the Crow complete a large canal, irrigating 40,- 



