AZ vs. CA:16 California Exhibits, Vol. XVI; Nos. 2600-2644

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1/u507 of May 25, 191S (40 Stat. 566) in addition to appropriating funds for continuing construction and for operation and itiaintur.ance of the pumping plant contains the following proviso: ¦«••»•# and for continuing the purpose of securing an appropriation of water for the irrigation of approximately one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land on said reservation by the conduct of surveys and the preparation of plans and estimates for a complete irrigation system to supply watsr to said land, £50,000, reimbursable from funds in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Indians of said reservation arising from the proceeds from the sale of town lots authorized by the Act of April thirteenth, nineteen hundred and eight (Thirty-fifth Statutes at Large, page seventy-seven). It was under the authority of this proviso that the original surveys were conducted and the report prepared covering the irrigation of approximately 100,000 acres. The present proposed development of an irrigation system to serve approximately 100,000 acres is being started under the specific authority of this Act of Hay 25, 1915 and the Act of August 30, 1935 (4? Stat. 1039-40) which authorizes the construction of the necessary/diversion dam in the Colorado River as well as the structures, canals and incidental works necessary in connection therewith (see Appendix A). A further and more complete soil survey to supplement that made in 1919-20, is now being made of the tentative project lands, for the purpose of definitely outlining the boundaries of the irrigable area. When this is completed a map will be made that will show the exact area to be irrigated and the area found to be non-irrigable. Judging from that part of this survey that has been completed at this time (September 1940) the area of land that may be economically irrigated may be reduced slightly below the 100,000 acres previously estimated. Although disposal of what was then considered surplus irrigable lands was authorized by-Congress by the Acts of April 21, 1904 and March. 3, 1911, this has never been accomplished. During the past generation the need for retaining the irrigable lands for use of Indians regardless of where their original homes may have been, became increasingly apparent. Then again, Congress by tha Indian Reorganization Act of June 18, 1934 (48 Stat., 984) provided, among other things, for the conservation and development of Indian lands and resources and the extension to Indians of the right to form business and other organizations, including the orgainization of Indian tribes for their common welfare and the adoption of appropriate constitution and by-^vs. This legislation has been accepted by the Indians