The Gardens of the West 



.23 



From F. H. Newell, U. S. Geological Survey 



Fifteen Lignite Beds in Single Section of Little Missouri River near Johnson's 



Ranch, North Dakota 



There are about 250,000 acres along the Tittle Missouri River in North Dakota which if 

 reclaimed would make ideal farms. This large area is, however, distributed in small terraces, 

 none over 15,000 acres in extent, from 50 to 100 feet and more about the river bank, so that if 

 it were not for the very lucky deposits of fairly good coal along the river it would not pay to 

 reclaim any of them ; but with this coal pumping plants can be very cheaply operated. The 

 Reclamation Service has already approved projects to reclaim two terraces on the river. 



irrigation works. By the terms of the 

 reclamation law the cost of every irri- 

 gation enterprise constructed by the 

 government must be paid back by the 

 people benefited within ten years after 

 completion of the work. The repay- 

 ment is made by installments. As the 

 government charges no interest and 

 seeks no profit, government irrigation 

 works cost the people considerably less 

 than works built by private corpora- 

 tions. The illustrations on pages 118 

 to 124 have been chosen to show the stu- 

 pendous magnitude of some of the proj- 

 ects and the natural difficulties that 



have to be overcome. Irrigation on 

 such an enormous scale has never been 

 undertaken in the history of the world. 



The reclamation law is working ad- 

 mirably. It is elastic and equally fair to 

 all sections. Too much confidence and 

 praise cannot be given Mr Newell and 

 his efficient corps of engineers for the 

 ability and good judgment with which 

 they are carrying out the provisions of 

 the law. The picture on page r 20 shows 

 that not only engineering skill but cour- 

 age and coolness are constantly needed 

 to solve the many varied problems of the 

 work. 



