186 CLASSIFICATION OP THE PUBLIC LANDS. 



situated. This is essentially a withdrawal for the purpose of classifi- 

 cation, and the area withdrawn may be far in excess of that eventu- 

 ally constituting the irrigable area of the project. The withdrawal 

 is made on the assumption that the area includes some land sus- 

 ceptible of irrigation under the Carey Act, but investigation may 

 show this not to be the case. During the period of withdrawal, 

 which is limited to one year, the promoter of the project has oppor- 

 tunity to investigate the area, plan the details of the project, and 

 make a reliable classification as to irrigability without fear of aliena- 

 tion of the lands and resulting interference with the successful con- 

 duct of the project. In case such investigations and a request by the 

 State for segregation are not made, the land is restored to the public 

 domain without classification. If, on the other hand, the plans for 

 the project are perfected and application for segregation is made, the 

 lands listed in the application are further reserved until action is 

 taken on the case, and the remainder of the withdrawn lands are 

 restored to the public domain and may thereafter be assumed to be 

 nonirrigable. The regulations require that the application for segre- 

 gation shall include full data to show that the land is nonmineral 

 and desert land and is irrigable and that the project is feasible. 

 A field investigation is made by the General Land Office and the case 

 is referred to the Geological Survey for report. A careful analysis 

 of the water supply of the project is then made by the Survey, and 

 sufficient investigation of probable costs and returns is made to show 

 whether the reclamation and settlement can probably be accomplished 

 at a cost warranted by the value of the reclaimed lands. If the 

 existing data relative to the amount of water available for the project 

 are insufficient to warrant a reasonably definite conclusion as to the 

 area that can probably be irrigated, a hydraulic engineer of the 

 Geological Survey may be called upon to supplement them by stream 

 gagings and such other determinations as seem advisable. When all 

 the data are considered, an estimate of the allowable area is prepared 

 and a definite report and recommendation on the case are made. 

 Final adjustment of the area to be segregated and of the terms of 

 the contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the State 

 devolves upon the General Land Office. 



The approval of the segregation list under present departmental 

 practice is in effect a fairly reliable classification of the land as non- 

 mineral, desert, and irrigable. The aim of the work as now con- 

 ducted is to safeguard the welfare of prospective settlers, the neces- 

 sary investment of capital, and the interest of the Government. 

 Some attention is being paid also to construction and settlement on 

 Carey Act projects. When data obtained after the segregation is 

 made indicate that the area included in a project exceeds the land 



