THE kecla:mation of the west.« 



By F. H. Newell. 

 In charge of the Hydrograpliic Branch and CJdef Engineer of the Reclamation Service, 



U. S. Geological Survey. 



CongTess, in the spring* of 19t»2, following the recommendations 

 made by President Roosevelt in his first message, took up the matter 

 of the reclamation of the arid West and on the 17th of June, a day 

 celebrated in American history, the President signed the bill known 

 as the reclamation law, setting aside the proceeds from the dis])osal 

 of public lands in thirteen Western States and three Territories for 



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Fig. 1. — Map sliowiug arid, scini-arid. and luuiiid rt^duns of tlu' I'liitcd States. 



the construction of irrigation works. At that time the matter 

 attracted little attention other than from those who were interested in 

 the measure. It was thought to l)e simi)ly a western scheme which 

 had been successfully lobbied through against the opposition of the 



"An address before the National Geographic Society, November 6, 1903: Reprinted 

 after revision by the author, fn.m Tlu- National Geiigraphic Magazine, Washington, 

 Vol. XV, No. 1, January, 1904. 



827 



