THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



215 



4. Recommend for resoration to entry all lands now 

 reserved under the terms of the Reclamation Act, the 

 reclamation of which can not be undertaken in the near 

 future, withholding, however, all reservoir sites or lands 

 which may be required for rights of way for future works 

 whose practicability has been determined. 



In explanation of these instructions the secretary said : 

 "The notably increased cost of materials and construction, 

 the uncertainties encountered in transportation and the scar- 

 city and high price of labor are deterring contractors from 

 bidding for the Government work. 



"Conditions have altered so materially since the first 

 estimates of cost of construction were made and the allot- 

 ments of the fund approved that I have deemed it advisable 

 to direct that a reduction of the work in some instances 

 and a suspension in others be considered. It would be most 

 unwise to continue work where circumstances are so dis- 

 advantageous or to incur expenses which in the future may 

 be considered as unduly large. 



"By concentrating on those work now nearing completion 

 new revenues will be coming into the fund and when the 

 labor conditions and transportation facilities become normal 

 the work on other subjects can go forward more economically 

 and with greater rapidity. The expenditures during the past 

 quarter have averaged about $1,500,000 a month. At this rate 

 the funds available for new construction will be exhausted 

 before the end of the calendar year." 



An area of approximately 28,320 acres embraced in the 

 Truckee-Carson irrigation project, and formerly allotted to the 

 Piute Indians, has been restored to the public domain by 

 Secretary Garfield, who canceled today the Indian allotments. 

 This land, which comprises some of the most fertile and 

 valuable in the great irrigation project, and are subject to 

 entry in farms of not more than 80 acres each under the 

 terms of the Reclamation Act. The present canal systems 

 and proposed extensions cover the entire area, and everything 

 is in readiness for prospective homeseekers to make their 

 filings at once. 



A very desirable class of farmers is now taking up claims 

 on this project, and the outlook is extremely favorable for 

 the early development of all the irrigable lands in Carson 

 Sink Valley. The transformation already apparent in this 

 desert valley so long regarded as one of the most desolate 

 spots on our continent is little less than marvelous. A new 

 railroad has been built through the center of the valley, 

 towns are springing up, and the sage brush plain is dotted 

 with the homes of the new settlers. The town of Fallpn, in 

 the center of the project, which one year ago had only sixteen 

 inhabitants, has today a population of more than a thousand 

 and is growing rapidly. There is great activity in the nearby 

 mining camps and rich strikes are frequent, confirming the 

 prediction that the agricultural lands will soon be surrounded 

 by prosperous and permanent mining camps which will af- 

 ford markets for all the valley's products. 



The Government still reserves about seven sections of 

 land under the canals, which will be allotted to the members 

 of the Piute tribe in farms of ten acres each as soon as Con- 

 gress provides funds for paying for the necessary water 

 rights. 



PIONEERS WANTED. 



Uncle Sam is seeking 500 hardy farmers, mountaineers 

 preferred, to turn over to them for a merely nominal rental 

 75,000 acres of irrigable land located in the Uintah Indian 

 Reservation. More than 15,000 acres of these lands are now 

 irrigated by ditches constructed by the Government. Other 

 canals are being built rapidly to cover the balance and the 

 new settlers will be given employment at good wages on this 

 work. 



These lands are the allotments made to the Ute Indians, 

 the band which recently left the reservation and wandered 

 northward into Wyoming and South Dakota. As these Utes 

 don't care particularly for farming the Government is offering 

 the white farmers an opportunity to acquire a home and a 

 competence by cultivating these farms. 



Location of Farms. 



The Uintah Indian Reservation is located in Northeastern 

 Utah, in the drainage basin of the Duchesne River and its 

 tributaries. The lands are in the valleys of these streams. 

 The altitude is from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level, giv- 



ing this section a delightful climate. The summer tempera- 

 ture is rarely above 80 degrees and the winters are extremely 

 mild. Wheat, oats and alfalfa are the principal crops grown, 

 although in the lower and more sheltered valleys apples, 

 pears, apricots, peaches and plums do quite well. AH of the 

 fruit is of excellent flavor. 



Surrounding the irrigated lands is a vast area of grazing 

 lands which sustain enormous flocks of sheep and herds of 

 cattle. Extensive deposits of minerals have been found in 

 the reservation of the development of this resource will pro- 

 vide a splendid market for all farm products. 



At the present time the demand for stock food exceeds 

 the supply and prices are very high. Last fall oats sold at 

 the thresher for two cents a pound and in the winter for 

 three and one-half cents. Alfalfa early in the fall sold at $14 

 per ton and in the winter for $30 per ton. As the yield of 

 alfalfa runs from three to five tons per acre, it affords a very 

 profitable crop for the farmers. 



How to Get There. 



Take the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad to Mack, eight- 

 een miles west of Grand Junction, Colo., and there transfer 

 to the Uintah Railroad to Dragon, Utah, where a stage meet* 

 the train and carries the passenger to the Indian agency at 

 White Rock, Utah, in the center of the farming area. The 

 Indian agent there will show the homeseeker the lands and 

 arrange the terms for acquiring a home thereon. 



Uncle Sam will lease these lands for a term of five years 

 at an annual rental of twenty-five cents per acre, payable 

 semi-annually. The settler is not required to live upon his 

 farm, but must cultivate it. On the expiration of his lease 

 he will be permitted to renew it, and in the event of the death 

 of the Indian allottee he may acquire the property in fee 

 simple by purchase. The particulars regarding terms, loca- 

 tion of the farms ready for occupancy, climate, crops, etc., 

 may be obtained from Capt. Hall, Indian Agent, White 

 Rocks, Utah, or from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, 

 Washington, D. C. 



The reservation is in a region of wonderful scenic beauty 

 surrounded by lofty mountains rising 13,000 feet above sea 

 level, their slopes heavily forested. Beautiful lakes abound 

 throughout the reservation. The streams are well stocked 

 with gamey trout and in the mountains are many kinds of 

 big game. 



The vigorous, hardy mountain farmer will find this sec- 

 tion ideal for a home. 



The following described lands, which were withdrawn 

 from entry on January 20, 1905, for use in connection with 

 the Bismarck irrigation project, North Dakota, have been 

 restored to entry and settlement under the public land laws: 



Fifth Principal Meridian. 



Ts. 139, 140, 141 and 142 N., R. 78 W., all. 



T. 138 N., R. 79 W., all sees. 1 to 5, 8 to 17, 20 to 29 and 

 32 to 36, inclusive. 



T. 139 N., R. 79 W., all sees. 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23, 24, 

 25, 26, 35 and 36. 



Ts. 140, 141, 142 N., R. 79 W., all. 



T. 137 N., R. 80 W., all sees. 2 to 11, and 14 to 24 incl. 



T. 138 N., R. 80 W., lot 5 of sec. 7, lots 6 and 7 of 

 sec. 19; lots 7, 8 and 9 of sec. 29; lots 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, 

 e Yt nw Yt, e Yz sw %, s*4 ne ^ and se % sec. 30; all of 

 sec. 31, lots 5, 6, 7 and 8 of sec. 32. 



T. 139 N., R. 80 W., all sees. 1 to 24 and 27 to 30 incl.; 

 and lots 1, 2 and 3 of sec. 31. 



Ts. 140, 141, 142 N., R. 80 W., all. 



T. 137 N., R. 81 W., all sees. 1, 2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 23 and 24. 



Ts. 138, 139, 140, 141 and 142 N., R. 81 W., all. 



These lands shall not be subject to entry, filing of set- 

 tlement, however, until ninety days after notice by such pub- 

 lication as may be prescribed by the department. 



The Secretary of the Interior has executed contract and 

 approved the bond of W. D. Lovell, of Minneapolis, Minn., 

 for the construction and completion of the structures on 

 Division 1, Garland canal, Shoshone irrigation project, Wyo- 

 ming. 



The work consists of headgates, culverts, crossings, bridge 

 abutments, etc. Mr. Lovell's bid was $50,544.50. 



