618 



TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 



Ill the United States, west of the lOOtli meridian of loniritudo, there are vast 

 areas of unproductive arid Jand. Teu million acres have already been reclaimed 

 and made very valuable by irrigation, and it is estimated that 60,000,000 acres 

 more (an area equal to that under irrigation in India and Egypt combined) can 

 be reclaimed. 



As the result of experience the conclusion was reached in America that the 

 greater irrigation projects could be carried out by the Government better than by 

 individuals, and in 1902 the Reclamation Act was passed, putting the whole 

 matter under Government control. Funds were provided by setting aside the 

 moneys received from the sale of public lands in the avid States. This fund now 

 amounts to 6,400,000/., and it is increasing at the rate of 850,000/. yearly. 



Under the provisions of the Reclamation Act Government engineers survey 

 the arid lands, prepare plans for the irrigation works, and construct or superintend 

 the construction of them. 



The Government is reimbui'sed for this outlay by each settler on these irrigated 

 lands paying to the Treasury, in ten or fewer annual instalments, the charges that 

 have been apportioned against his tract. In this way money employed in the 

 construction of works becomes available in a few years for the construction of 

 other works. 



Twenty-four projects, as shown below, have been approved, and on thirteen of 

 them work has actually begun : — 



Note. — Those marked with an asterisk are under construction. 

 Yellowstone ' is treated as two projects. 



The ' Lower 



After considering the engineering and legal features of some of these projects, 

 and touching upon the dispute between Canada and the United States over water 

 rights, the author enlarged upon the Colorado River as the American Nile, and noted 

 the changes in the Colorado desert due to irrigation. The role of the Government as 

 an irrigation farmer was considered, and mention made of the investigations and 



