OCR Text |
Show main head gate is completed, and that portion of the canal alongwhat are known aa the Fort Smith Bluffs is built, the construction of the Big Horn Canal becomes a comparatively easy tank. The present plan of operation is to push the construction of this canal as rapidly as possible under the conditions and requirements which govern it, and the plan for future operation, so far a8 it is within my power to dis-close it, is to continue the prosecution of the work and labor for its aocomplishment at the earliest possible time. It is quite impossible to execute an undertaking of this sort with any degree of celerity or expedition, and st the same time conform to the regulations prescribed, and neoesaary for the administration of any public reapon-aibility, and the disbursement of publio funds; end the tediousness of this work is rnacerially added to by the effort to ednaate, instmot, and train the Indians to perform 8n arduous andskill-requiring class of labor. The aohievemeut is generally lost sight of in the consideration of the means end manner of ita execution. The Crow Irrigation Survey has been more of an Indian manual training school than an institution for the suocessfal construotion and operation of irrigating ditches. However, the ditches exiat and declare for themselves. They are easily socessible, and an inspection will reveal tho oharaotcr of the atewardship of thoae intrusted with the responsibility of fulfilling the treaty with the Crows relating to the irrigation of their lands. Yakima Reservation, Wash-May 4,1896, the Department approved plans for e system of irrigation of the Yakima Reservation, the cost to be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the Wenatshapam fishery, belonging to the Indians of that reservation, amounting to some $17,000. December 14,1896, authority was granted for the expenditure of $3,000 for the construction of distributing laterals, etc., the same to be taken from the current appropriation for irrigation on Indian reser-vations. In a report dated Jane 30,1897, William H. Redman, engineer in charge of the construction, gives the following summary of the work done: I 'I'hors are 15.17 miles of main canal, with a carrying capacity of 314 onhic feet of water per ~eaondw, irh 13.6(i miles of Interill ditel~vsI nuiing therefrom for thediatri-butioiof water. The above provision does not include proviaion made near the bead of the main canal (about 3,000 feet below the intake at the Yakima River) for the turning of about200 onbic feet of water per seoand into a natural dough which runs iu a south-easterly direction (nearly parallel with the Northern Pacific Railway) s distance of about 12miles, emptying into ToppenishCreek, end which slough will slm serve aa a oanel from whioh many lateral ditches can be constructed for the distribution of its water. By the construction of more lateral ditches from these severd sources of snpply fully 50,000 scres of the very best soil oan be irrigated. Agent Erwin states that this irrigating system stands second in magnitude in the State of Washington. ~iscel1aneow.-The bulk of the appropriation of $30,000 for irriga-tion during the fiscal year 1897 has been expended as follows: Uintah and Onray reservations in Utah ................................... $10,000 Yakima, in Washington ................................................... 3,000 Tule River, in California .................................................. 1,200 Moqui, in Arizona ........................................................ 1,500 Mission reservations, in California ......................................... 1,769 Wind River, in Wyoming. ................................................ 1,215 Southern Ute, in Colorado ................................................ 3,000 Pima, in Arizona .......................................................... 9CQ Weatern Bhoshone, in Nevada ............................................. 9M) 6 7 8 2 4 |