508 ANNUAL EEPOltT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1919. 
tracts. This is the region of most rapid development of an3^tliing 
in the service. 
The Newlands (formerly Truckee-Carson) project, in Nevada, has 
been somewhat held back in past years on account of difficulties in the 
v^^ay of forming an irrigation district to provide funds for necessary 
drainage v/ork. Recent State legislation has relieved these difficul- 
ties and the irrigation district recently formed has taken up the 
drainage situation energetically. Another difficulty has been the 
lack of storage for the lands on the upper part of the system, but 
legal and other obstacles have been thrown in the way of a proper 
regulation of Lake Tahoe, the only available reservoir site of conse- 
quence which can serve this region. The main canals for using 
water have been built, but storage works are still necessary. Pend- 
ing their development, no further extension is feasible. 
The Carlsbad project in New Mexico is gradually increasing its 
cultivated area, and is in a prosperous condition. Some drainage is 
still to be accomplished, but the water supply is ample and results 
are satisfactory. 
The Rio Grande project in New Mexico and Texas is being operated 
on a rental basis. Nearly one-half of the land is in cultivation and is 
being served by storage water from the Elephant Butte Reservoir. 
The flat topography of the valley, the peculiar fineness of the soil, 
and the very wasteful use of water in the past have brought up the 
water table over most of the valley and much of the land has been 
injured. An extensive drainage system is being installed and is suc- 
cessful so far as constructed. Its prosecution, however, is greatly 
hampered by the lack of sufficient funds. The lateral system which 
has been operated for many years by the local association of irriga- 
tors is very inadequate and inefficient, and the water is wastefully 
used. At the instance of the water users the various works are being 
gradually turned over to the Government and are being rebuilt and 
put in shape for efficient service. This will to some extent remedy the 
threatening condition of the rising water table and is necessary for 
the success of the drainage sj^^stem planned. The progress along this 
line has been successful so far, but not very extensive. 
The North Dakota pumping project, which has not been operated 
for several years owing to failure of the lands benefited to make pay- 
ment therefor, has been formed into an irrigation district and a con- 
tract made with the Secretary of the Interior assuring its operation 
and the payment for the cost thereof. It was operated in 1919 with 
results that under the conditions existing may be considered ^^ery 
good. 
The Umatilla project in Oregon has always been bothered by drift- 
ing sand and in some restricted localities by an extremely coarse sub- 
