length being about 140 miles. About 600,000 yards of earth will have to be excavated. The laterals have been located with a view to delivering water to each farm unit under the gravity system. The capacity of these small ditches is based upon the delivery of 1 secondfoot for each 40 acres. No lateral, however, is to have a capacity of less than 4 second-feet. Many long low embankments will have to be constructed in building these small ditches. Owing to the character of this work, the varying dimensions of the ditches, and the importance of having them well constructed it has been decided to do the work by force account. In order not to interfere with the plans of the contractors as they relate to the employment of labor, work on the lateral system will not be undertaken, however, until practically all of the work under the grading contracts has been completed. TOWN SITES. Surveys of the town sites of Rupert and Heyburn were completed by the United States General Land Office in November, 1905. The opening to settlement of these town sites has, however, been delayed pending the passage by Congress of a measure providing for the withdrawal of land for town-site purposes under irrigation projects. A general measure for this purpose was approved April 16, 1906, but was later amended by a bill which provided a method for the disposal of lots in the town sites of Rupert and Heyburn on which improvements had been placed by the settlers. It is expected that a board of appraisers will soon be appointed and dates set for the sale of lots in these town sites. JACKSON LAKE RESERVOIR. Investigations preparatory to building regulating works at the outlet of Jackson Lake, Wyoming, were begun during the latter part of June, 1906. This lake is situated on the South Fork of Snake River, and it is proposed to utilize it for storage purposes. It is proposed to build a temporary dam near the outlet of the lake and raise the surface of the water 10 or 15 feet. This dam will consist of cribs constructed of logs and filled with gravel. The reservoir will have a capacity of from 250,000 to 350,000 acre-feet, enough to supply the demand for the next six or seven years. The most feasible location for a permanent dam seems to be just below the mouth of Pacific Creek, about 4 miles below the outlet of the lake. A 40-foot dam at this point would raise the lake surface 30 feet and would provide a reservoir having a capacity of from 800,000 to 1,000,000 acre-feet. By locating the controlling works at this point the dişcharge of Pacific Creek could be stored. Timber suitable for the construction of the temporary dam was selected and bids received for cutting and delivering the same-about 370,000 feet B. M.—at the outlet of the lake. An examination was made of the damages which would likely be done to property in the vicinity by building the temporary as well as the permanent works, and arrangement made for appraising the same. It has been decided to do this work by force account, since the character of the work itself, the shortness of the season, and the remoteness of the site from railroad points would not tend to make it inviting to contractors. RIGHT OF WAY. Negotiations for the purchase of lands that will be submerged by the backwater of the Minidoka dam have progressed favorably and arrangements have been concluded with practically all of the landowners. The following purchases have been made and agreements entered into: Agreements for purchase of right of way above Minidoka dam. The distribution of the irrigable lands under the Minidoka project is shown by the following table: a The nonirrigable lands consist of sand dunes and knolls varying from less than an acre to several acres in area and from 1 to 10 feet above the gravity canal. Many of these will be leveled off and cultivated. In Cassia County (south of Snake River) all of the land in the given area lies below the gravity canal and is irrigable. EXPENDITURES. The expenditures on the Minidoka project are summarized in the following tables: Expenditures, according to physical features, on Minidoka project to June 30, 1906. Expenditures, according to purpose and nature, on Minidoka project to June 30, 1906. A general summary of the main features of the Payette-Boise project is given below: Summary of principal data relating to Payette-Boise project. Counties: Ada, Canyon, and Owyhee. Latitude: 43°, 44°. Longitude: 116°. Townships: 1 to 10 north; Ranges: 1 to 5 west, 1 to 2 east. Irrigable area: 372,000 acres. Watershed area: 6,000 square miles. Average rainfall: 14.5 inches. Estimated run-off: 1.2 second-feet per square mile. Depth of run-off in inches per square mile: 16.1. Range of temperature: Maximum, 104°; minimum, 9°; mean, 56.6°. |