IRRIGATION 
Amendments 
The amendments to the reclamation 
act have been relatively simple; most of 
them relate to work on the Indian reser- 
vations, or to interstate or even interna- 
tional complications. Probably the most 
important is that of June 25, 1910, re- 
lating to advances to the reclamation 
fund. Under this amendment an ad- 
vance or appropriation of $20,000,000 was 
made, to complete the reclamation proj- 
ects and such extensions aS may be 
deemed necessary for the successful op- 
eration of the works, also to protect 
water rights claimed by the United 
States. Another and very necessary pro- 
vision of this act of June 25, 1910, was 
the repeal of section 9 of the original 
reclamation act, which, by attempting to 
limit expenditures, largely by state lines, 
tended to lack of economy, and forced a 
construction of works where the need 
was not wholly established. 
Purpose 
The purpose of the reclamation act is 
to provide for the reclamation by irriga- 
tion of arid lands, the motive being one 
which is fundamental to the growth and 
maintenance of a democratic form of 
government. It gives opportunities for 
citizens to obtain homes on small farms 
where they may support their families. 
Under good irrigation it is possible to 
practice intensive agriculture to the 
highest degree, and thus produce the 
most valuable crops. 
Establishment of the Reclamation 
Service 
Immediately after the reclamation act 
was approved, the Secretary of the In- 
terior was advised by the Director of the 
Geological Survey regarding the investi- 
gations which had already been made by 
the Geological Survey as to the extent 
to which the arid region could be re- 
claimed. 
During many years preceding the pass- 
age of the reclamation act the Geological 
Survey had been preparing topographic 
maps showing the possibilities of many 
streams that could be used in irrigation, 
and their catchment areas. Thus, when 
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the reclamation act became a law, there 
were already employed in investigation 
a considerable number of men experienced 
in such work. 
Under authority from the secretary, 
these men were organized on July 2, 
1902, into the sub-bureau known as Rec- 
lamation Service, under the Geological 
Survey. This organization was so con- 
tinued until March of 1907, when the 
service was separated from the survey 
and made a separate bureau under the 
Department of the Interior. 
Indian Irrigation 
Under an agreement made in 1907, be- 
tween the office of Indian Affairs and the 
Reclamation Service, certain irrigation 
work on Indian reservations, authorized 
by Congress and provided for in appro- 
priations under the control of the Indian 
office, is being performed by the Recla- 
mation Service. The cost of such work 
is returned to the reclamation fund from 
authorized Indian appropriations upon 
statements rendered monthly. 
Work Accomplished Under the Reclama- 
tion Act 
A summary prepared by the Reclama- 
tion Service shows results to June, 19138, 
in connection with the twenty-eight dif- 
ferent projects upon which operations 
have been carried on by the service in 
the various states enumerated above, as 
follows: 
Present plans contemplate the ulti- 
mate irrigation of 38,000,000 acres. Of 
this acreage, water was available for 
1,300,000 acres. Some 27,000 farms are 
included in this area. 
The service had at this time something 
over 5,000,000 acre-feet of reservoir ca- 
pacity available by the construction of 
numerous storage dams. Hight thousand 
miles of canals and ditches had been 
constructed. 
Investment 
The total net investment of the Recla- 
mation Service to June 30, 1913, amount- 
ed to $77,231,555.24. 
UNIT OF MEASUREMENT 
The standard measurement for water 
in many sections of the country is known 
