1906 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



305 



fours the organization has increased 

 from less than a dozen men to over 

 four hundred engineers and assistants, 

 carrying on work throughout widely 

 scattered localities in the arid West. 

 Contracts have been let and work is 

 under way involving the expenditure 

 of upwards of $25,000,000, and other 

 contracts are being prepared which 

 will necessitate the expenditure in all 

 of nearly $40,000,000. There are now 

 working for the contractors nearly 

 10,000 men, and the Reclamation 

 Service has working directly for it 

 over 2,000 men, including day labor- 

 ers and mechanics. The monthly ex- 

 penditures aggregate about $1,000,- 

 000, having gradually increased until 

 they are now practically at the maxi- 

 mum. It is not probable that there 

 will be further expansion, but, on the 

 contrary, a considerable consolidation 

 and reduction of force as the larger 

 works are completed. 



The rapid growth of the Reclama- 

 tion Service is indicated by the annual 

 expenditures. For the fiscal year end- 

 ing June 30, 1903, these were a little 

 over half a million dollars ; for 1904, 

 one and one-half millions; for 1905, 

 three and three-quarter millions ; and 

 for the year ending June 30, 1906, 

 very nearly eight millions, the greater 

 part of this amount being expended 

 during the months of May and June, 

 when the expenditures reached over a 

 million dollars each. 



The Secretary of the In- 

 of Funds terior has adjusted the 



allotments of the recla- 

 mation fund in accordance with recent 

 estimates from the General Land Of- 

 fice as to the probable amount of this 

 fund during the next two years. The 

 fundamental principle has been to allot 

 the fund to the projects where the 

 work is now furthest advanced and 

 where returns to the fund may be ex- 

 pected in the near future. 



The surveys and examinations al- 

 ready made show that at least $100,- 

 000,000 con Id be used to advantage 

 in various parts of the arid West.- The 

 total fund which will be available 



from the proceeds of public lands foi 

 the years 1901-8 is est. mated by the 

 General Land Office to be a little over 

 $41,000,000. In order, therefore, to 

 continue the work, it is necessary that 

 this money, or as much of it as pos- 

 sible, be invested in works which will 

 begin to yield returns to the fund at 

 the earliest possible date, so that the 

 money may be used over again as soon 

 as possible for the construction of 

 other works. 



In several of the projects a num- 

 ber of years must elapse before the 

 works will be completed. Such pro- 

 jects will not be revenue producing 

 for some years. On the other hand, 

 in Nevada the work has advanced to a 

 point where upwards of 50,000 acres 

 are already under irrigation and rev- 

 enue may bee expected soon from this 

 area. Other projects are nearing com- 

 pletion and every possible effort is be- 

 ing made to finish these so that they 

 may begin to repay the cost. 



Reclamation Oregon leads . in the 



ce r on n Government work of 



reclamation, both in the 

 amount of money contributed to the 

 reclamation fund through the disposal 

 of public lands in that State, and 

 through the amount of money set 

 aside for the construction of works 

 within its borders. 



It also leads in the difficulties en- 

 countered in getting the work started. 

 Although the natural advantages of 

 the State are great and appear at- 

 tractive on first sight, yet it has re- 

 quired more time and energy to find 

 feasible reclamation projects than 

 elsewhere. This is due to a number 

 of conditions, such as legal complica- 

 tions, the lack of transportation facili- 

 ties, and the ownership of land in 

 large bodies by cattle companies and 

 syndicates who have acquired vast 

 tracts under the Federal Land laws. 



Immediately after the passage of 

 Reclamation Act on June 17, 1902, in- 

 vestigations were begun throughout 

 the State. Public meetings were held 

 by interested citizens and a large num- 

 ber of schemes suggested. One after 



