UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, The Honorable the SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR. SIR: During two seasons a field party has been engaged on the investigation of underground waters and possible reclamation in the valley of the Arkansas near Garden City, Kansas. Measurements have been made of the velocity of the underground waters and the probable quantity which may be expected from the large pumping projects. The ground is remarkably open and the water plane close to the surface so that a large water supply may be obtained by a very moderate lift. All attempts to furnish water for the irrigation of lands in this vicinity by gravity systems supplied by diversion from the river, have proved failures. This is due to the rapid loss of water from the river to the underground reservoir and the uncertain supply of water in the river. The investigations of the engineering parties have led to plans for a pumping system which will utilize what is known as the Farmers Canal for distribution purposes and give an ample water supply for 8,600 acres of land. The plans have been carefully reviewed by a board of engineers consisting of Messrs. O. H. Ensign and H. A. Storrs, electrical and mechanical experts; Messrs. Chas. S. Slichter and W. H. Sanders, consulting engineers, and Mr. Morris Bien, supervising engineer. They report that an ample supply of water may be furnished at a cost for installation of not to exceed $258,000 or $50 per acre for 8,600 acres and that the annual cost for pumping and distribution is estimated at about $1.50 per acre per annum. They state that those estimates are conservative and will probably cover all contingencies for increasing or extending the plant which may be necessary to furnish sufficient water supply. From these estimates it appears that a maximum annual expense until the charges under the Reclamation Act have been fully paid will be $5.20 per acre per annum, which will be diminished in such years as the rain-fall is sufficient to reduce the requirements for irrigation water. The board reports that the lands in question will sustain such a charge and that the residents of this section will be ready to subscribe for water at this rate and have expressed their willingness to comply with all the requirements of the Reclamation Act. The land is all in private ownership. The Finney County Farmers Irrigation Association proposes to transfer its irrigation system to the Water Users' Association now in process of formation and at a recent meeting informal pledges of subscription to the stock of the Water Users' Association were given for practically the total of 8,600 acres, entitled to water from the system. In pursuance of these considerations the board recommends that the project be constructed as soon as the water users association has been organized in satisfactory form, and practically the entire area of 8,600 acres under the Farmers Ditch system have been subscribed to the water users association. I have the honor to concur in the recommendations of the board and to recommend that the project be approved, and that I be authorized to inform the water users association in Finney County that the project outlined by the engineers will be constructed by the Reclamation Service as soon as practicable after the complete subscription in the usual manner of all the lands to be benefited in order to insure the return of the fund in accordance with the provisions of the Reclamation Act. In this connection I desire to call attention to the fact that this project has not before been definitely brought to the attention of the Department, also that an examination of the reclamation fund justifies the belief that there will be ample funds for its construction. Very respectfully, (Signed) H. C. RIZER, Acting Director. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, September 16, 1905. The DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. SIR: Concurring in the recommendation by the board of engineers named in your communication of the 14th instant and of the Acting Director, the Garden City, Kansas, Reclamation Project is hereby approved and you are authorized to inform the Water Users Association in Finney County in said State that the project outlined by the engineers will be constructed by the Reclamation Service as soon as practicable after the complete subscription in the usual manner of all the lands to be benefited in order to insure the return of the fund in accordance with the provisions of the Reclamation Act. Very respectfully, (Signed) THOS. RYAN, Acting Secretary. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, Washington, September 18, 1905. The DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. SIR: Referring to Departmental letter of the 16th instant approving, on your recommendation, the Garden City irrigation project, I have to advise you that after further consideration of the matter and of the statement filed with your letter of September 1, 1905, in the Owens Valley matter in which you show a probable deficit of $2,350,000.00 in the Reclamation Fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, said action of the 16th instant approving said Garden City project is hereby recalled and canceled for further consideration of said project by the Department. The Department does not feel justified in taking any action that would render even probable a deficit in the Reclamation Fund at any time. Very respectfully, (Signed) THOS. RYAN, Acting Secretary. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, The DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. SIR: Referring to my letter of September 18, in the matter of the Garden City Reclamation Project, I have to advise you that after consideration of the matter and of your letter and recommendation of September 14, 1905, in relation thereto said project is hereby approved and you are hereby authorized in accordance with your said recommendation to inform the Water Users Association in Finney County, that the project outlined by the engineers will be constructed by the Reclamation Service as soon as practicable after the complete subscription in the usual manner of all the lands to be benefited in order to insure the return of the fund in accordance with the provisions of the Reclamation Act. This action is taken in view of the statement of your said letter of September 14, 1905, "that an examination of the reclamation fund justifies the belief that there will be ample funds for its construction." Very respectfully, (Signed) E. A. HITCHCOCK, Secretary. REMOVAL OF GARDEN CITY PROJECT LIENS An act for the relief of the Garden City (Kansas) Water Users' Association, and for other purposes. (Act of June 5, 1920, 41 Stat. 1054, Public Law 268, 66th Cong., 2d sess.) That the contracts affecting lands in the Garden City project of the Reclamation Service in Finney County, Kansas, heretofore entered into between the Finney County Water Users' Association of Finney County, Kansas, or with individual landowners, and the Secretary of the Interior for the supply and use of water from the irrigation plant of the United States be, and the same are hereby, canceled and relieved; and the liens upon the lands in said county created by such contracts are hereby released and discharged. GILA PROJECT ARIZONA 1 The Gila project 1 was found feasible by the Secretary on June 8, 1937, and approved by the President on June 21, 1937, pursuant to section 4 of the act of June 25, 1910 (36 Stat. 836), and subsection B of section 4 of the act of December 5, 1924 (43 Stat. 702). The act of July 30, 1947 (61 Stat. 628) relocated the boundaries, reduced the acres, and reauthorized the project. The act of June 13,1949 (63 Stat. 172),2 authorized the furnishing of water to the Yuma Auxiliary project through the works of the Gila project (63 Stat. 172). OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, THE PRESIDENT, The White House. MY DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: The following report is made to you on the First Division of the Gila Reclamation project, Arizona, under Section 4 of the Act of Congress of June 25, 1910, 36 Stat., 385 and under Subsection B of Section 4 of the Act of December 5, 1924, 43 Stat., 701. Section 4 of the Act of June 25, 1910, provides in effect that after the date of that act no irrigation project to be constructed under the Act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat., 388) and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto shall be undertaken unless and until the project shall have been recommended by the Secretary of the Interior and approved by the direct order of the President. Subsection B, Section 4 of the Act of December 5, 1924, provides as follows: 1 The Gila Project was initiated under the provisions of the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935. See Yuma Auxiliary project, page 1033. |