OCR Text |
Show 22 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR There are about 150 Indian irrigation projects, of which 18 may be classed as major projects. Approximately $27,500,000 has been expended in the construction of such projects and about $8,500,000 in operation and maintenance, a total of $36,000,000. Considerable progress has been made during the year on the Cool-idge Dam across the Gila River, near San Carlos, Arii.. Plans and specifications for this dam were printed and advertisement had in September, 1926. Nine bids were received, ranging from $2,268,- 525.50 to $3,010,275.50. The contract was awarded to the lowest bidder, and preliminary work promptly begun with a view of e.xpedit-ing completion of this dam at the earliest date. The preliminary work consisted chiefly of building a road to the dam site, constructing a power l i e from Hayden, Ariz., to furnish electric energy for con-struction purposes, and the erection of suitable quarters to house Government employees supervising this work. It is expected that this dam will be completed on or before June 30, 1929. The act of June 7,1924, authorizing construction of this dam, limits the holdings of any one individual to 160 acres of land to be irrigated from this project. This has presented some difficulties due to the fact that a number of landowners holding areas in excess of 160 acres already have outstanding agreements with the Government in connection with the existing Florence Casa Granda project, which latter project will form a part of the larger project to be irrigated from the Coolidge Dam when completed. The matter of adjudicating water rights in the Gila River, both Indian and white, is also receiving attention, it being the contention of the Government that as the Indians were the first users of water from this stream they are entitled to prior rights. The quantity, or extent, of such prior rights presents the main diffi-culty, white water users above the Coolidge Dam having heretofore diverted a large part of the flow of this stream. Negotiations have been pending looking to the execution of an agreement with white landowners in the Walker River Valley, Nev., in the hope of amicably settling controversies there between the Indians and the whites, it being here again contended that the Indians have a prior right to suflicient water from Walker River for the irrigation of their lands. Should these negotiations prove un-successful, it will become necessary to press the suit previously filed for the protection of these Indians. Two suits, recently decided, against a white landowner on the Wind River Reservation, Wyo., are of some interest and importance. One holding is to the effect that the United States has an exclusive right to use the waters of an Indian reservation for the benefit of the Indians, and the other that white landowners on an Indian irrigation project are liable for payment of the annual operation and mainte-nance charges, fixed by the Secretary of the Interior, regardless of |