THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



265 



the season. To this is to be added the artesian and shal- 

 low-well supply. In large sections of the northern and 

 western parts of the state the same nuused supply is 

 available in a somewhat smaller amount. 



"It is impossible to even approximately forecast the 

 future of irigated farming in Texas, because of the great 

 area of the state and the local variations in climatic and 

 other natural conditions. Already there are upward of 

 400,000 acres and possibly as much as 500,000 acres under 

 irrigation, and other systems of vast proportions are now 

 in process of construction, besides numbers of small 

 projects. On the lower Rio Grande development on a 

 large scale is now most active, and it is estimated that 

 when the systems now in process of construction are 

 completed it will be possible to serve 180,000 to 200,000 

 acres or more in that vicinity alone. On the Southern 

 Pacific Railway Company's 'Rice Belt' map, David M. 

 Duller estimates that 100 canal systems in Texas listed 

 on that map are capable of covering ultimately nearly 

 1,200,000 acres, but this includes the Brownsville region 

 and others not now devoted to rice culture. It does not. 

 however, cover the irrigation from wells in the coastal 

 region, nor the central or western districts. 



"If one may judge by present development, it is pos- 

 sible that the area now irrigated may be more than 

 doubled within the next ten years. Many times this area 



in Fremont, Pueblo and El Paso counties. Scores of engineers 

 have been at work for weeks making surveys and preparing 

 plans for the mammoth system that shall supply water to 

 nearly 300,000 acres. This work is rapidly nearing conclusion 

 and it is predicted that equipment will be on the ground and 

 active work will be commenced within the next thirty days. 



President Samuel Brown, Jr., of the well known firm of 

 Samuel Brown, Jr., & Co., Chicago, advises a representative 

 of the AGE that the company will have no land for sale. He 

 states further that since December 1, 1909, his company has 

 sold water rights at a rate of $75 per acre to the aggregate 

 amount of $7,500,000. Payments for these rights extend over 

 a period of twenty years. 



By acquiring rights to nearly 500 second feet of water 

 from the Arkansas river the company can assure the settlers 

 an adequate and permanent water supply. It is proposed to 

 construct a series of twelve reservoirs to store the flood waters 

 of this stream. 



Contracts for construction work involve the building of 

 nearly 150 miles of ditches. A recent announcement by the 

 company states that Kenefick, Quigley & Russell, of Kansas 

 City, were the successful bidders. 



While Mr. Brown, the president of the company, is well 

 known in financial circles and in the east, Dal Deweese, of 

 Canon City, has been the chief promoter and the active agent 

 in arranging the details of the plan. Mr. Deweese has made 



Results of Irrigation by . Artesian Wells. 



will doubtless be developed in the state eventually, pro- 

 vided the required amount of water can be conserved in 

 the arid and semi-arid portions, and even in the humid 

 and semi-humid districts the use of water will gradually 

 be extended, not only for rice cultivation, but for the 

 assistance it will render in fruit and truck growing, and 

 even in the cultivation of staple crops. In such cases 

 irrigation will serve as a species of insurance against 

 periods of drought, even though the normal rainfall be 

 sufficient ordinarily for the production of excellent crops." 



GIANT COLORADO PROJECT. 



At Cost of Millions, Private Company Projects the 

 Reclamation of 300,000 Acres. 



Announcement that the issue of bonds has been placed 

 with a prominent Chicago bonding house, and that contracts 

 for work aggregating more than $12,000,000 have been let 

 during the past month, brings to the attention one of the 

 greatest of Colorado irrigation projects. In cost of con- 

 struction the private project will double that of the govern- 

 ment in connection with the famous Gunnison tunnel. 



In recent issues of the IRRIGATION AGE notes of the form- 

 ation of this company were given to readers. The Colorado 

 Southern Irrigation company has acquired large land holdings 



his home in Colorado for many years and has acquired con- 

 siderable fame as a hunter and some renown, during late 

 years, as a horticulturist. He is a personal friend of Col. 

 Roosevelt and is the originator of the Colorado Orange apple. 

 The head offices of the Colorado Southern Irrigation 

 Company will be at Canon City. 



ENGINEER STEPHENSON RESIGNS. 



From Boise, Idaho, comes the semi-official announcement 

 that State Engineer James Stephenson, Jr., has tendered his 

 resignation to become effective within the next thirty days. 

 It is reported that he has decided to interest himself in a pri- 

 vate company and that he will shortly remove his residence 

 from Boise to Chicago. 



Mr. Stephenson was appointed engineer in 1907 for a 

 period of four years. During his tenure of office the work of 

 reviewing plans and superintending matters related to Carey 

 Act projects has largely increased. 



Newspapers in Idaho express regret at the probability of 

 his early resignation. It is a recognized fact that Mr. Stephen- 

 son has so organized the engineer's office that it is of great 

 value to the state and has a most important bearing upon 

 Idaho's future development. 



Reports indicate that Daniel T. Martin, of Idaho Falls, is 

 a candidate for the prospective vacancy. Mr. Martin has 

 had experience in the work by reason of his connection with 

 the State Land board. 



