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.''T:^^- .y . ^ '.-r^^r-' .o 57th Congress, ) HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. J Documk.nt 1st Session. ) \ No. 671. ^"7 3 SURVEYS AND EXAMINATION OF UINTA INDIAN RESER- VATION. LET TEE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR, TRANSMITTING, IN RESPONSE TO AN INaUIRY BY THE HOUSE, A REPORT OF SUR- VEYS AND EXAMINATION OF UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. June 19, 1902, — Eeferred to the Committee on Indian Affairs and ordered to be printed. Department of the Interior, Washington , Jime 18, 190^. Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a resolution of the House of Representatives, dated June 12, 1902, directing the Secretary of the Interior to transmit to the House the results of the recent surveys and examinations of the agricultural lands and water resources of the Uinta Indian Reservation in Utah. In response to said resolution, I have the honor to transmit herewith a detailed report on the subject by Mr. Cyrus C. Babb, of the United States Geological Survey, together with a letter from Mr. F. H. Newell, chief hydrographer, dated April 16, 1902, and a report from the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, dated the 12th instant. Very respectfully, E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary. The Speaker of the House of Representatives. Department of the Interior, United States Geological Survey, Washington, D. C, April '21, 1902. Sir: I have the nonor to transmit herewith a report from Mr. F. H. Newell, h^^drographerin charge of hydrographic surveys, forwarding a detailed report by Mr. Cyrus C. Babb upon the Uinta Indian Reservation. This report is accompanied by a map, partly colored in accordance 2 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. with tho description oivoii in the manuscript by Mr. Babb; and also by two base maps, additional copies of w^hich can be had if desired. Yours, with respect, CiiAS. D. Walcott, Director. The Skcuetauv of tuk In'teriok, Washington, I). C. Departmext of the Interior, Office of Indian Affairs. Washington, June 12, 1002. Sir: On April 24, 1902, the Acting Secretary of the Interior referred to this office, for its information and consideration, a letter from the Director of the United States Geological Survey, transmitting- a report from Mr. F. H. Newell, hydrographer in charge of hydrographic sur- ve^^s, forwarding a detailed report b}' Mr. Cyrus C. Babb upon matters of irrigation within the Uinta Reservation. The report of Mr. Babb is accompanied b}^ a map parth^ colored in accordance with the description given in the manuscript by him, and also by two base maps. The hydrographer states that this work was undertaken in accord- ance with the instructions from the Department dated June 14, 1899, to determine the extent of agricultural lands within the said reserva- tion, as well as the quantity of water in each of the several streams, and to ascertain whether the water supply is more than sufficient for the irrigation of the agricultural lantls. In this connection it may be proper to refer to the irrigating clause contained in the Indian appropriation act approved jNIarch 1, 1SS9 (30 Stat., 941), which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior in his discre- tion to grant rights of way for the construction and maintenance of dams, ditches, and canals on or through the Uinta Indian Reservation in Utah for the purpose of diverting the waters of the streams in said reservation for useful purposes, with the proviso, however, that all such grants shall be subject at all times to the paramount rights of the Indians on said reservation to so much of said waters as ma}' have been appropriated or may hereafter be appropriated or needed by them for agricultural and domestic purposes. It is further provided that the Sec- retary shall prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem nec- essary to secure to the Indians the quantity of water needed for their present and prospective wants, and to otherwise protect the rights and interests of the Indians and the Indian service. The hydrographer also states that the area of the said reservation is arid; that the decision of what may be considered as agricultural land rests upon the questions of water supply; that the determination of the water supply is not a simple matter, since the quantity varies from month to month in different streams and fluctuates from year to year; that meas- urements have been carried on through two years, of which 1900 was the drier, and therefore the figures for water supply have been reduced from those taken for that year; that from a study of adjoining basins it is believed that the water supply was [then] especially low: that it was found to be not sufficient to know merely the character of the land and the water supply, but that it was also necessary to ascertain the elevation UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 6 of the land with respect to the suppl}-; that for this purpose the first step was to make a topographic map of the region under consideration showing the altitude of the land and of the water; that the next step after knowing the character of the land, the amount of water, and the relative elevation was to determine in a general way the feasibilit}' of bringing the water to such of the good land as lies at an elevation low enough to be reached b}' gravity canals; that to ascertain this fact it was necessary to run out a number of canal lines and make an estimate of the cost of construction; that at many localities where the conditions were apparently favorable for agriculture the cost of construction of canals along sidehills or across deep depressions would in the aggre- gate amount to a sum so large that the projects could not be considered as feasible: that for such localities, although there was good land and plent}^ of water, ^^et the possibility of utilizing the land was destroyed by the expense of construction. It became necessary to make certain arbitrary assumptions as to the duty of water according to the h3^drographic report; that is to sa}', as to the amount of flowing water needed to irrigate a given area. For this purpose Mr. Babb set a somewhat liberal limit, taking the July flow of the streams without storage and allowing 100 acres of irriga- ble land for every cubic foot per second flowing in the rivers during this month. It is stated in the report of the hydrographer that this amount of water flowing for an irrigation season of one hundred days will cover 100 acres to a depth of fully 2 feet; that in the earl}- devel- opment of the country more water will probablj^ be needed, but at that time, as the irrigated acreage will be small, more water will be available. Making these assumptions he reached the conclusion that there is enough water in the rivers on the reservation to supply in 3'ears of low water, 80,500 acres without recourse to storage, and stated that there is sufficient land to utilize all of the available water; that not all of this land, however, will be needed hj the Indians if all of them are settled, allotting 40 acres to each individual, or to a family of 5 persons 200 acres. He refers to the provision of the law that all grants to the water shall be subject to the rights of the Indians and states that it is highly important that the grants of water be of such character that the rights of the Indians can be at all times easily enforced; that is to say, if canals belonging to Indians and white persons both take water from the same stream the experience of the past has shown that while the rights of the Indians may be theoretically superior, practical enforce- ment through white officials is extremely difificult. For this and other reasons he states that it is important to separate as widely as possible the interests which mav conflict. He is of the opinion that a separa- tion of the waters of the reservation can probabh" be most effectively made by allotting the waters of certain streams to the Indians and allowing the whites to use the other streams; that if this proposition is tenable, it is suggested that the waters of Whiterocks River be granted or disposed of and that the waters of the other streams be held for the irrigation of the Indian lands. He notes in this connection that the assumptions made in Mr. Babb's report as to agricultural lands are dependent upon the construction of canals; that is, certain areas have been noted as agricultural on the assumption that ditches would be built to bring water to the lands. He regards these agricultural 4 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. areas as practically valueless, and states that they can not be allotted to the Indians for their support until the irrif^ation works are built. Mr. Bubh's report relates almost entirely to the eastern or inhabited end of the reservation where water is in excess of the needs of the agricultural lands. In the extreme northwestern part of the reserva- tion, among- tlie high mountains, are known to be several small ditches built, the hydroorapher states, by the whites diverting Avater from the headwaters of the Duchesne and its tributaries and carrying small portions over the divide westerly to the headwaters of the streams flowing nito Utah Lake and Great Salt Lake. Such diversion, he thinks, is probably without authority from the Indian agent or the Department, but he states that at the present time it is not injurious to any rights of the Indians; that the enlargement or further construction of such ditches might in the future result injuriously to agricultural develop- ment along Duchesne River, but this question is now too problematical to be seriously considered. Mr. BaT)b describes in his report the three ditches above referred to diverting the water from the I'eservation as follows: Strawberry ditch, Willow Creek ditch, and Hobble Creek ditch. The first is 3 miles long, with an estimated capacity of 200 miners' inches. It cost about $12,000 and is now in fairly good condition. The second is 7 miles long and cost less than $15,000. It carries about 60 miners' inches and has a tunnel 1,000 feet long. It is con- siderably out of repair at the present time, and will cost about 13,000 to put it in good condition. The third, a good cheap ditch now in good repair, is about 2 miles in length and has an estimated capacity of 50 miners' inches. As these ditches were constructed by white settlers for diversion of the waters from the reservation without the consent or authority of the Indian agent or this Department, this office has by letter of the 11th instant called upon the United States Indian agent of the Uinta and Ouray Agency for a full report in regard thereto and for sugges- tions as to what action should be taken. Upon receipt of the informa- tion called for it will be laid before the Department for consideration and such action as may be deemed proper. In conclusion, the hydrographer recommends that, after the irrigation system for the Indians has been perfected to the extent necessary to cover the agricultural lands described in Mr. Babb's report, the waters of Whiterocks River be granted or disposed of as not being needed by the Indians. At present, however, he states that some of the waters of this river are used by the Indian ditches; that considerable con- struction will be required to completely separate the source of water for the Indian ditches from that for white men's ditches. At present and for many years in the future the supply of water on the reservation, it is stated, is enormously in excess of the uses by the Indians; but looking to the future needs of the lands which may be allotted to the Indians, there is not, in the opinion of the hydrographer, much water which can be appropriated without injury to these pros- pective wants. I have caused to be read very carefully the report of Mr. Babb upon this matter (consisting of 112 pages), also the letter of the hydrog- rapher, Mr. Newell, and have reached the conclusion that no action should be taken })v the Department looking to the granting of rights of way for the construction and maintenance of dams, ditches, and UINTA INDIAN EESERVATION. 5 canals on or through the Uinta Indian Reservation of Utah, for the purpose of diverting and appropriating the waters of the streams in said reservation for useful purposes by the whites, until the irrigation system for the Indians has l^een perfected to the extent necessar}" to cover the agricultural lands described in Mr. Babb's report, or until allotments shall have been made to all the Indians entitled thereto and the same placed under a perfect sj'stem of irrigation. Special atten- tion is invited to the concluding statement made by Mr. Newell, the hydrographer, in his said letter, as follows: Looking to the future needs of the lands which may be allotted to the Indians, there is not much water which can be appropriated without injury to these prospec- tive wants. In this connection it may be proper to invite j'our attention to the clause contained in the Indian appropriation act approved May 27, 1902 {Public No. 125, pp. 21 and 22). By this clause the Secretary of the Interior, with the consent of the majority of the adult male Indians of the Uinta and White River tribes of Ute Indians to be ascertained as soon as practicable by an inspector, shall cause to be allotted to each head of a famih' 80 acres of agricultural land which can be irrigated, and 40 acres of such land to each member of said tribes, said allotments to be made prior to October 1, 1903, on which date all the unallotted lands within the said reservation shall be restored to the public domain. The clause last mentioned provides as to the disposition of the lands so restored to the public domain and as to mining claims, etc. The proceeds of the sale of the lands so restored to the public domain shall be applied, tirst, to the reimbursement to the United States for any moneys advanced to the Indians to carry into effect the provisions mentioned, and the remainder, under the direction of the Secretary, shall be used for the benefit of said Indians. The sum of $70,064.1:8 is ay3propriated, out of any moneys in the Treasmy not otherwise appro- priated, to be paid to the Uinta and White River tribes of Ute Indians, under the direction of the Secretary, whenever a majority of the adult male Indians shall have consented to the allotment of lands and the restoration of the unallotted lands within the gaid reservation as pro- vided in said act. If an effort is to be made to allot these lands to the Indians prior to October 1, 1903. and obtain their consent thereto, and also to the resto- ration of the unallotted lands within the said reservation as provided, it will be necessar}' to instruct an inspector as soon after July 1, next, as practicable, to take this matter up. It is not believed by this office that the Indians will give their consent to the legislation enacted. The compensation for their unallotted lands appears to be inadequate. The lands suitable for allotment have not been brought under a system of irrigation. Should the unallotted lands be restored to the public domain Ijefore the proposed allotments are covered by irrigation ditches and canals, the whites would appropriate the water to their uses and thus deprive the Indians of what righth' and justh^ belongs to them. It appears that these allotments can not be made without the con- sent of the majority of the adult male Indians of the Uinta and White River tribes of tJte Indians, ascertained by an inspector. The quantity of land to be allotted is to each head of a family 80 acres of their agricultural laud which can be irrioated and 40 acres of such C UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. land to each other nieniber of such tribe. Whenever a majority of the adult male Indians of said tribes consent to the allotments and the restoration of the unallotted lands to the public domain, the sum of ^7() miles fi'oni the agency, under the leadership of Tabhy, who is also the o'eneral chief of the Uintas, the greater jiropor- tion are located on the west side of Uinta River, between Fort Duch(\>^ne an(^ the aoencv at Whiterocks. The White River Indians arc the so-(^alled ))ad Indians of the reser- A ation, ))eing located on the east side of Uinta River, in the vicinity of ^^'hiterocks, the Indian ag'ency. They have a few small ditches lead- ing from the Uinta and cultivate a limited area. The following will show the difference between the Uintas and the White Rivers: The former are re(|uesting that they l)e permanently located on certain agricultural lands and that water be furnished them; the latter, in a recent petition to the Government, in which they set forth certain grievances, stated that one of the conditions for a peaceful settlement was that all ditches and wire fences should ])e destroyed — they wanted nothing to do with such things. The Uncompahgre Indians, who have Ijeen located on this reserva- tion for the last two years, are principally on the Lower Duchesne River, their allotments covering nearly all of the agricultural lands from the mouth of the river to Lake Creek. The remainder of these Indians, about 200, are now scattered along l)ottom lands of White and Green rivers. PRESENT CANAL SYSTEMS WITHIN THE KESERYATION. The GovernuT^nt has constructed a number of canals on this reserva- tion for the use of the Indians. Canal No. 1, as it is kno^m, heads li miles southwest of the Indian agency, and takes water from L^inta River to the-west. Considerable fall to this ditch was given through- out its entire length — the fall for the first mile being about IS feet. The first 5 miles of the canal are along the mesa, which has a veiy stony soil, in certain sections partially cemented. On account of this characteristic this portion of the canal will permit a high velocity of the water without erosion. Unfortunately, however, while practicallj" the same grade was given to the lower part of the canal, owing to the different quality of soil the erosion has been very great, and in places the canal is severely cut. At the 5-niile post the w^ater of the canal tumbles over a cliff' into a natural channel. From that point to the 8-mile post the fall is 480 feet. At the 9-mile post are diversion works which again take the water into an artiffcial channel. Owing to the great descent just mentioned the erosion has been extensive, and a large amount of sediment has been deposited in the stretches of the canal immediately below. On account of these difficulties — deposition in some places and erosion in others — this canal is now practically worthless, and the ^2i».000 which were used in its construction are virtually wasted. At the present time only about 100 acres are irrigated from this canal, including small areas on the mesa and at the Government farm, which at present is run by an employee of the Indian service. The object of this farm which was to ))e operated b}" an experienced farmer, was to instruct the, Indians in the best ways of agriculture. The capacity of Canal No. 1 at its head is about 30 second-feet. Another section of country at present under cultivation is located UINTA INDIAN RESP:RVATI()N. 23 west of the Indian ao-ency, and is settled principally by the White River Indians. The land is served b}' a number of small ditches from the Whiterocks River, and only a small acreag'e is under cultivation. Bench ditch takes water from Uinta River, about 5 miles south of Whiterocks, and irrigates the mesa lietween the military post and the agency. On October 14, when this canal was first measured, it was carr3^ing 49 second-feet. Its maximum capacity is about 75 second- feet. The ranches which it serves form the most attractive feature of the reservation; the different fields are wire fenced, and one imagines Avhen passing through it that he is in a countrj' cultivated b}" white men. Prosperous looking fields of alfalfa and oats are seen on either side of the road; also a num])er of well-built log houses, which have been erected by the Government. A number of these ranches are run by white men, who do not own the land, but rent it from the Indians. The houses are not all occu- pied, as one from a distance would suppose, the Indians in a number of cases living in their wickiups erected close by. The estiuiated area under cultivation on the bench country is 1,000 acres. The main ditch extends in a southerly direction down the center of the mesa, the last three miles being directh^ along a section line. At the southern extremity of Bench ditch the water tumbles over a cliff al)out 2(>0 feet high, and thence finds its w^ay into Dry Gulch Creek, which empties into Uinta River a short distance above the Ouray school. The erosion from this falling water is extensive, and an immense amount of sediment is being transported to Dry Gulch Creek and gradualh' filling it. In fact this channel has so filled within the last few years that at the bridge crossing it at the Price road the water is up to the stringers, and a heavy flood in Dry Gulch Creek would certainly carry off the structure. The next ditch, 100 feet below the bridge and extending toward the Ouray school. 4 miles distant, was designed to divert this heavily sur- charged water from Dry Gulch Creek, but it is now so filled with sedi- ment that it is simply a line of sand on a level with the surrounding- banks extending across the country. It is taken out from the right- hand side of Dry Gulch. A small ditch diverts water from the left bank of Uinta Ri^•er, head- ing aljout 1 mile below the military post, and extends to-svard the Ouray school. There is a fine tract of agricultural land in the vicinity of Oura}^ school , comprising the country l^etween Uinta and Duchesne rivers. Its eastern and western length is about 5 miles. The ditch which irrigates it diverts water from Duchesne River, about 8 miles above the school, and owing to the clearness of the water the ditch has not l)een filled with sediment. Its capacity is hardly sufficient for the entire area, but it could easily be enlarged. A fifth canal heads on the upper Duchesne immediately above Ante- lope Creek and about 11 miles above the Price road bridge over the main river. It is 15 feet wide, and will furnish a good supply of water for the bottom lands of the Duchesne. Two or three small canals divert water from Duchesne River below the Ouray School and serve land between that point and the lower agency at Ouray. The water is used by the Uncompahgre Indians. Tabby's band of Uintas, on the upper "Duchesne above Strawberry 24 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. Creek, also cultivates small areas by means of a few ditches. The area cultivated during 1899 was approximately as follows: Acres. White Rivers 200 I'iiitas in the vicinity of Whiterocks 500 Under Beneh ditch 1, 000 Canal No. 1 100 Onray School country 800 Upper Duche>wne -iOO Total 3,000 The following- statistics are given by the Indian agent in his annual report for 1898: The Indians had under fence 1 2,(540 acres. The princii^al crops raised were hay, oats, wheat, and V)arley. The product of the first mentioned was 2,500 tons. The total for the cereals was 10,600 bushels. At the last round-up of horses and cattle it was estimated that the Indians owned 6,020 horses, and 2,000 head of cattle. The Uncompahgres have cjuite a bunch of sheep, approximatinj; 3,500 in number. PRESENT DIVERSIONS OF W^ATER FROM THE RESERVATION. For a number of years watei* has been diverted from certain trilju- taries on upper Strawberry Creek Avithin the Indian reservation, car- ried across the divide, and turned into Daniels Creek, whence it finds its W'a\' downward, and is again diverted and used on land in the vicin- ity of Heber. These diversions were made by white settlers in the latter valley without the consent or authorization of the Indian agent or of the Department of the Interior. There are three ditches thus diverting water — Strawberry ditch, Willow Creek ditch, and Hobble Creek ditch. ♦ Straw berr}^ ditch is 3 miles long, with an estimated capacity of 200 miners' inches. Its probable cost was $12,000. It is in fairly good condition. AVillow Creek ditch will carry about 60 miners' inches. It is 7 miles long, and cost not less than ^15,000. It has a tunnel 1,000 feet long. It is considerably out of repair at the present time, and it will cost about $3,00i) to put it in good condition. The Hobble Creek is a good cheap ditch and is in good, repair. It is about 2 miles in length, with an estimated capacity of 50 miners' inches. WATER SUPPLY. Discharge measurements have lieen made at six regular gauging stations on rivers on the reservation. UINTA RIVER NEAR WHITEROCKS, UTAH. Uinta River emerges from its canyon about 1<> miles northwest of the Indian agency at Whiterocks, and at this point a gauging station was established September 16, 1899. The gauge rod is a 2 ))v 4 inch timber, 12 feet long, bolted to two trees on the left bank of the" stream. The bench mark is a nail in an aspen tree 125 feet north of the rod and its elevation is 8.03 feet above gauge datum. Diseharge measure- ments are made by car and cable. The bed of the stream is very rocky and strewn with large bowlders, and the station is not altogether satisfactory on account of the roughness of the channel. During high water the velocity is great, owing to the rapid fall of the water." UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 25 A few hundred yards al)()ve the station an important tributaiy comes in from the east. At the present location a second channel has to be measured, but it will never carry a large volume of water. Farther down the stream a number of larg-e channels are formed so that it is difficult to obtain a satisfactory station. Dail}' records of gauge heights were not maintained at this point, but frequent measurements of discharge are made. WHITEROCKS RIVER NEAR WHITEROCKS, UTAH. A gauging station was established in the canj^on of this river about 10 miles above the United States Indian agency at Whiterocks, on September 15, 1899, by Cyrus C. Babb. The gauge rod consists of a 2 by 4 inch by 12-foot timber bolted to the triple trunk of a tree on the left bank of the stream. The bench mark is a nail in a burnt tree 50 feet east of the rod, and is at an elevation of 10.12 feet above gauge datum. Discharge measurements are made from a car and cable 200 feet above the gauge rod. The bed of this river is very rocky, is strewn with large bowlders, and although permanent in character, is not altogether satisfactory, because of the fact that it is impossible to obtain accurate soundings. Daih" gauge heights are not read at this point, owing to its distance from any reliable o])server. UINTA RIVER AT FORT DUCHESNE, UTAH. This station was established September 14, 1899, and is located at the highwax" bridge at the military post. The permanent rod was placed November 8, 1899, and is nailed to the southern end of the east crib of the bridge. The bench mark is a nail in the southeast crib in the first header above the bottom, and is at an elevation of 4,910.13 feet. The elevation of the zero of the rod is 4,907.20 feet. Daily gauge readings are kept at this station, and after a comparison of the results here W'ith those of the two canyon stations just described, the data at the two latter points have been verified, and it is consid- ered that the figures as given represent to a fair degree of approxima- tion the average flow. A comparison of the flow at Fort Duchesne w'ith the combined discharge of the Uinta and Whiterocks rivers shows a considerable loss between the points — greater than the amount diverted by the cliflerent ditches. This is undoubtedly lost through percolation and evaporation from the mau}^ channels which form a net-work through the river bottom. UINTA RIVER AT OURAY SCHOOL. This station was established November 8, 1899, and is located at the highway bridge over the river near the Ouray school. The rod is nailed to the east end of the south crib of the wagon bridge. Bench mark No. 1 is the head of a nail in the extreme northeast corner of the bridge floor, and is at ah elevation of 4,745.97 feet above sea level. Bench mark No, 2 is a nail in the flagstafl' of the school, with an eleva- tion of 4.7G0 feet. The elevation of the zero of the rod is 4,737.36 feet. During low water, measurements are made by wading at a section 2!>0 feet below the bridge, and at high stages they are made from the bridge itself. The section is a good one, although the center pier of the bridge interferes somewdiat with the accuracy of the results 26 UINTA INDIAN RKSEKVATION. when inea.surenients are taken there. The increase in flow between this point and Fort Duchesne is from the waste waters of Canal No. 1, and Hench ditcii, which enters throuo-h Dry Gulch Creek. nrCIlKSNE RIVKK AT I'ltlCK HOAI) KRID(;E, UTAH. This station was establishcKl Octob(n- 2f), 1S90, and is located 3 miles b('h)\v tlie mouth of Lake Creek, at the highway ])rido-e on the stage load from Price to Fort Duchesne. The permanent gauge rod was placed November 16, 181)9, and is nailed to the east side of the center pier. Bench mark No. 1 is a wire nail in a log close to the rod, and is opposite the 7-foot mark. Bench mark No. 2 is a wire nail in the northwest corner of Clark's store, and is at an elevation of 6,011.81 feet. The elevation of the zero of the rod is 4. 996. 09 feet. The section at this point is a ver}" good one, with a moderate velocity of water. The one pier in the center of the stream does not materially affect the accuracy of results. Daily gauge readings are taken at this station. LAKE CREEK NEAR MOUTH, UTAH. This station was established July 3, 1900, by C. T. Prall, and is located at the highwa}' bridge near the mouth of the creek. The gauge rod is a vertical ))oard nailed to the west aliutment on the lower side of the bridge. Bench mark No. 1 is a nail in the abutment opposite the 4. 50-foot mark on the rod. Bench mark No. 2 is directly over the gauge rod, and is the head of a wire nail in the southwest corner of the ])ridge upright. Its elevation is 5,066.58 feet. The elevation of the zero of the rod is 5,055.99 feet above sea level, according to the hydro- graphic survey datum. The elevation of bench mark No. 2 is 5.129 feet, referred to the topographic survey datum. The elevation of a regulation iron post bench mark, 150 feet east of thQ bridge, is 5,127.55 feet, referred to the latter datimi. The bed of the stream is composed of medium sized cobblestones, and forms a fair section. During flood stages measurements are made from the bridge, but at other periods they are made by wading at a point about 400 feet below. The monthly discharge of Lake Creek is estimated from a large number of actual discharge measurements, as daily gauge heights were not taken, owing to the distance of the location from a reliable observer. Edimated ino)ithly discharge at Whiterocks River near Wliiteroeks, Utah. [Drainage area, 114 square miles.] Month. 1899. September October November December 1900. January February March April Mav Mean dis- charge in second- feet. 47 4S 50 44 400 Total in aere-feet. 5,117 4,919 3, 927 3,874 2, 890 2, 666 3,074 2, 618 24, 595 Run-off. Second-feet per square mile. 0.76 .70 .58 .55 .41 .42 .44 .39 3.51 Depth in inches. 0.84 .81 .64 .63 .47 .44 .51 .44 4.0 iPMi|||' n ^^^'1, i '^^^^^^^K w WHPW' T^^^I^^^^^H, 1 '^' w ,,^mP ^^SH^^^^^^^^B^n \ »«f-: 1 "^^^^^^Bji ^ ; . tH^^ ^ 1 ^ "^ » u^-^ ' ' ^^^^^^^^^^^^^Bi ,''■. rU>'-- .. i** :S 1 - -'• , ■• ■ > .?>■ ^ , } ' H> ■ : M 1, iili^.''*^\. > -^ /'. 'i?l ^> ^ ' a^^\f|m ', .^^- H^a^^^,, f *- ^^^ ' "^ #> nitwliiiniiriiii ■mF^ > ' 'w<7, UINTA INDIAN REBP:RVATI0N. 27 Estimated monthli/ discJtarge at ]Y}iiterocks River near WhiterockH, Utah — Continued. Month. 1900. June July August September October November December The year 1901. January February March April May June July AugnPt September October November December The vear Mean dis- charge in I Total in second- ■ acre-feet, feet. t Run-off. 253 82 62 55 44 59 .55 100 50 50 .50 74 507 179 101 128 95 75 63 61 15,055 5,042 3,812 3,273 2,705 3, .514 3,382 pe^a're I^<^P'hin per^square j„^,,,,_ 2.22 .72 .54 .48 .39 .52 .48 72. 623 3,074 2,777 3,074 4,403 31, 174 10, 6.51 6, 210 7,870 5, 053 4, 612 3,749 3,751 86, 998 .44 .51 .44 .46 .44 .51 .65 .73 4.45 5.13 1.57 1.75 .89 1.03 1.12 1.29 .83 .93 .66 .76 ..55 .61 .54 .62 Estiiaated inonthhj discharr/e of Uinta River near Whiterocks, Utah. [Drainage area, 218 square miles.] Month. Mean dis- charge in second- feet. Total in acre-feet. Second-feetj) j^ J Run-off. 1899. September October November December 1900. January February March April May Juiie July August September October November December The year 1901. January February March April May June July August September October November December The year 165 162 130 120 9.818 9,961 7,736 7. 379 0.81 .83 .64 .61 112 6,887 ..51 .59 112 6,220 .51 .53 125 7, 686 .57 .66 138 8, 212 .63 .70 6.50 39, 967 2.98 3.44 597 35, 524 2.74 3.06 223 13, 712 1.02 1.18 184 11, 314 .84 .97 1.57 9,342 .72 .80 1.54 9,469 .71 .82 138 8,212 .63 .70 145 8,916 .67 .77 228 165, 461 1.04 14.22 14. .53 28 UINTA INDTAN RESERVATION. Estitiiated montlihj diKcharge of Uinta River, at Fort Duchesne, Utah. [Drainage area, 672 square miles.] Discharge in second-feet. Total in acre-feet. Run-off. Month. Maxinmm. Minimum. Mean. Second- feet per square mile. Depth in inches. 1899. 78 83 111 114 4,641 5,013 6, 605 7,010 0.11 .12 .16 .17 0.12 October . 14 .18 .20 The year 1900. a 125 ''125 123 99 924 431 67 36 62 98 105 90 7, fis6 6,942 7,563 5, 891 56, 814 25, 646 4, 120 2,214 3,689 6, 026 6,248 5,534 .19 .19 .18 .15 1.38 .64 .10 .05 .09 .15 .16 .13 .22 .20 193 128 2,343 1,270 140 62 125 lie 140 140 85 85 95 140 25 20 25 70 90 55 .21 April.. .17 Mav , 1..59 .71 Julv .12 August .06 Scjitember , .10 October .17 .18 December .15 The year 190 138, 373 .28 3. S8 1901. . «135 »135 132 117 1,188 261 140 168 121 116 117 »130 8,301 7,498 8, 116 6, 962 73,047 15, 531 8,608 10,330 7,200 7,133 6,962 7,993 .20 .20 .20 .17 1.77 .39 .21 .25 .18 .17 .17 .19 .23 February .21 295 168 3,470 485 201 485 184 168 137 77 87 218 184 97 87 97 97 109 .23 April .19 May 2 04 June .44 Julv .24 August 29 September .20 October 20 November .19 December .22 The vear 230 167, 681 ..34 4.68 ii Approximate. Estimated monthly discliarge of Uinta River, at Ouray School, Utah. [Drainage area, 967 square miles.] Dischar ge in second-feet. Total in acre-feet. Run -off. Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Second- feet per square mile. Depth in inches. 1899. November" 124 113 7,378 6,948 0.13 .12 14 December" 14 The year , 1900. Januarv 100 100 97 88 689 451 65 32 89 122 128 91 6,149 5, 554 5, 964 5,236 42, 365 26, 836 3,997 1,968 5, 296 7, 501 7,617 5, 595 .10 .10 .10 .09 .71 .47 .07 .03 .09 .13 .13 .09 1> Fel)ruarv" 10 March 179 232 1,497 1,123 156 40 242 156 200 56 64 92 179 28 19 37 113 64 .12 .10 .82 .52 .08 .03 .10 .15 .15 April Mav June Julv August September October November December" The year 171 124, 078 .IS o 39 'Approximate. UINTA INDIAN KESERVATION. 29 Estimated monthly discharge of Uinta River, at Ouray School, Utah — Continued. Month. Discharge in secohd-feet. Maximum January February . March April May June , uly August September . October November . December. . 1901. 151 3,065 598 192 953 192 181 142 The year. Minimum. 92 92 215 181 58 52 100 108 116 Mean. »r20 "120 116 116 1,137 309 114 164 121 123 126 »115 Total in acre-feet. 7,379 6, 664 7,133 6, 902 69, 911 18, 387 7,010 10, 084 7,200 7,563 7,498 7,071 223 162, 802 Second- feet per square mile. 0.12 .12 .12 .12 1.18 .32 .12 .17 .13 .13 .13 .12 Depth in inches. 0.14 .12 .14 .13 1.36 .36 .14 .20 .15 .15 .15 .U .23 3.18 » Approximate. Estimated mnnthhj discharge of Duchesne Biver at Price Bridge, Utah. [Drainage area, 2,746 square miles.] Discharge in secon i-feet. Total in acre-feet. Run-off. Month. Maximum. Minimum. Mean. Second- feet per square mile. Depth in inches. 1899. OctoVjer 403 398 347 24. 799 23, 683 21, 336 0.15 .14 .13 17 November 16 15 1900. Januarv » 340 340 394 467 2,327 1,702 377 271 296 313 305 a 342 20, 906 18,883 24, 226 27, 788 143, 082 101,276 23, 181 16,663 17,613 19, 246 18, 149 21,029 .12 .12 .14 .17 .85 .62 .14 .10 .11 .11 .11 .12 14 Februarv » 1'^ March 700 860 5,880 4,440 570 3.50 450 330 330 315 350 630 600 275 235 245 300 288 16 April 19 Mav 98 June 69 Julv 16 August 12 September 1'' October 13 November l'> December 14 The vear 623 452, 042 .23 3 07 1901. Januarv" 280 280 289 498 3,169 1,485 597 453 307 322 316 b300 17, 217 15, 5.50 17, 770 29, 633 194, 8.54 88,364 36, 708 27, 8.54 18, 268 19, 799 18, 803 18, 446 .10 .10 .11 .18 1.15 .54 .22 .16 .11 .12 .12 .11 1'' February i> 10 March 278 247 1,193 870 408 313 262 278 278 .13 April 1,193 6,675 2,862 870 910 408 439 355 ■^0 Mav 1.33 June 60 Julv 25 August IS September r' October .14 November 13 .13 The vear 091 503, 266 .25 3 43 ' Approximate. 30 FINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. KMiinatfd niontlili/ dhrlutrge of Luke (Jreek near montJi, T'lali. [Drainage area, 475 square miles.] Month. 1900. ■Inly » August " September » October » November ° December » 1901. January February March April May June July August September October November December The year Mean dis- charge in .second- feet. Total in acre-feet. 195 97 112 117 115 124 11,990 5, 904 6,604 7,194 6, 843 7, 024 a 95 a 95 '100 '132 ,272 '556 •250 '255 a44 '132 '112 '110 5,841 5, 276 6,149 7, .S.55 78, 212 33,084 15, 372 15, 679 8, 569 8,116 6,664 6,704 197, 581 Run-off. Second-feet per square mile. Depth in inches. 0.41 .20 .24 .25 .24 .26 0.47 .23 .27 .29 .27 .30 .20 .20 .21 .28 2.68 1.17 .53 .54 .30 .28 .24 .23 .57 .23 .21 .24 .31 3.09 1.31 .61 .62 .33 .32 .27 .27 7.81 » Approximate. The following table show.s the average discharge b}" months of the reservation streams for 1900 and 1901. during the irrigation period, from April to September, inclusive. For Whiterocksand Uinta rivers the records are for the canyon stations. For Lake Creek the station is near the mouth. The Duchesne River station is below the mouth of Lake Creek, so that the discharge of the latter stream, since the establishment of the station in July, 1900, has been deducted from the record of the former station. Discharge of Lake Creek for April, May, and June, 1900, is taken at -10 per cent of discharge of Duchesne River. The run-otf for 190(> was considerably less than for the following 3"ear: in fact, it is considered that the former season was an exception- ally dry one, and this opinion is borne out in two wa^^s: First, b}" the testimony of the residents of the vicinity, who state that the streams were lower in 1900 than had ever been known before; and second, by the study of adjacent drainage basins. Provo Basin adjoins Duchesne River Basin to the westward, and the topograph}^ of these basins is similar. The measurements on Provo River date back for several years, and this record shows that both 1900 and 1901 were exceptionally dry. In fact, the run-off for these years was less than for any previous year during the length of record, except in 1898, when it fell slightly below the 1900 record. UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 31 Average monthly discharge of rivers during Irrigation period. [In tiecond-feet.] Month. 1900. 1901. White- rocks River. Uinta River. Lake Creek. Du- chesne River. » Total. White- rocks River. Uinta River. Lake Creek. Du- chen.se River. " Total. April May June Jiilv 44 400 2.53 82 (52 55 138 650 597 223 184 157 "190 "930 "680 195 97 112 277 1,397 1,022 182 174 1S4 649 3,377 2, 552 682 617 508 74 507 179 101 12S 95 179 684 355 251 242 193 132 1,272 .556 250 255 144 366 1,897 929 347 198 163 751 4,360 2,019 949 August September Mean — 823 595 149 325 367 589 1,380 181 317 435 6.50 1,583 Total acre-feet. 54,087 117,975 133,221 195, 657 500,940 65,703 115,071 157, 905 235, 950 574, 629 » Discharge of Lake Creek deducted from recorded discharge of Duchesne River. " Forty per cent of discharge of Duchesne River. On August 5 and 6, 1901, a series of measurements were made by C. T. Prall to determine losses in Uinta River between canyon sta- tions and Fort Duchesne, a distance of about '25 miles. Tlie results are as follows: Second-feet. Uinta River in canyon 229 Farm Creek 1 Whiterocks River in canyon 128 Deep Creek 5 Combined flow of Uinta River and tributaries 363 Diversions from Uinta River: Canal No. 1 32 Bench ditch 40 Three small ditches northwest of Whiterocks 7 79 Diversions from Whiterocks River: Three small ditches, west side 5 Agency ditch - 10 Three small ditches, east side 8 Sundry ditches, east side 5 28 Fort Duchesne ditch J> Uinta River diversions "9 Total - 112 Uinta River at Fort Duchesne 100 212 Combined flow ''^*^3 Diversions and flow at Fort Duchesne 212 Loss. 151 32 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. The loss shown is practically 42 per cent of the amount found in the canyons. The conditions on both days were so nearl}- alike that the results were practicall}^ what would be obtained from simultaneous gauging's. Three previous series of measurements — two in November, 1899, and one in March. 1900, showed the same percentage of loss with a much larger flow in the streams. For this reason it is l)elieved that 40 per cent is ver}- nearly the correct amount. MISCKLLANEOUS DISCHARGE MEASUREMENTS ON THE RESERVATION. A number of measurements have also been made on two of the ditches of the reservation from time to time, as is shown in the follow- ing table, the gauge rods being attached to the head gates in each case: Discharge measurements of Uinta Rirer canals. Date. Canal No. 1. Bench ditch. Gauge height. » Dis- charge. Gauge height." • Dis- charge. October 14 1899. F^ct. ISec.-feet. 16 2 Feet. Sec.-feef. 49 26 8 7 6 S 39 6. 60 0.50 Jannarv 6 1900. January 12 January 26 1.10 31 1.10 July 26 . 16 9 7 32 Octobi^r 10 .80 .72 .70 1 22 April 16 1901. .80 1 13 August 6 40 « Gauge heights unreliable owing to proximity of head gates. July 26, 1900, a series of discharge measurements were made on Canal No. 1, in order to find what the loss would be by evaporation and percolation. In the first 5 miles of its course the canal passes through a very rocky soil, partially cemented, and measurements along this course would show approximately what the conditions would be in other parts of the reservation if canals were built there under the same conditions. The measurements show a slight gain between the head and first mile})ost, but considering the limit of error it is thought that in this distance there is neither gain nor loss. Between the first and second mileposts the loss is 2.3 second-feet; between the second and third mileposts the loss is 0.7 second-foot; between the third mile- post and the head of the main lateral, at about 4f miles, down which all the water in the canal was flowing, two small ditches diverted 2.7 second-feet. This would show a slight gain of 0.8 of a second-foot, which is considered doubtful, however, and prol^ably is due to lack of refinement in the measurement. The next measurement shows on the main lateral a distance of If miles, and. after a fall of 180 feet, a loss of 1.7 second-feet, or practi- cally 1 second-foot to the mile. Between this latter point, or where the farm road crosses the lateral and the 9-mile post, or after it has made its descent over the blufi', there is neither gain nor loss. It is considered that the average loss over rock}" bench lands, in canals of considerable fall, is about 1 second-foot per mile. UINTA INDIAN EESEEVATION. Measurements of canal No. 1, July 26, 1900. 33 Locality. Near head gate Ditch 26 feet below canal station 1-mile post 2-inile post 3-iaile post 2 small ditches near Indian farm Main lateral one-fourth mile below head Main lateral at bridge, Government farm road. 2 small ditches below bridge 9-mile post Total. In canal. Sec. feet. 16.3 13.4 12.7 10.8 9.1 6.6 Diver- sion. Sec. feet. b'.i 2.5 5.9 Farm Creek is a drainage entering the Uinta River between that stream and the Whiterocks River. Its collecting area is only 47 square miles at its canyon, and the water is all used on the lands in its basin cultivated by the Indians. On Ma}'^ 14, 1901, the discharge measured at the road crossing near its mouth was 34 second-feet. This was during its flood stage. The average June flow does not exceed 15 second-feet. Late in the summer and during the fall the discharge is only 2 second-feet. Lake Creek is formed by the junction of an east and a west fork about 25 miles above its mouth. During 1900 the following measure- ments were made of these forks and of the main stream a short distance below the junction: Miscellaneous discharge measurements of Lake Creek and its tributaries. Date. Stream. Locality. Gauge height. Dis- charge. 1900. West Fork Above mouth Feet. 1.40 2.10 2.67 1.22 1.94 2.49 Sec-feet. 93 Do East Fork do 112 Do One-half mile below junction of forks . 290 West Fork 69 Do Do East Fork do 87 Lake Creek One-half mile below J unction of forks . 192 Duchesne River was measured twice during the year 1900 by C. T. Prall at the ford immediately above the mouth of Strawberry Creek, or about 23 miles above the main station, with the following results: Gauge height. September 15. Octobers Discharge. Second-feet 216 232 Mr. Prall also made two measurements during the same 3^ear of the flow of Strawberry Creek a short distance from its mouth and one- fourth of a mile below the mouth of Indian Creek, with the following results: Date. September 15. Octobers Gauge height. Feet.. 1.20 Discharge. Second -f (it. 84 92 H. Doc. 671- 34 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. LAND ALLOTMENT AND DUTY OF WATER. It will he somewhat difficult to obtain the quantity of land that the Uinta and Whitorock Indians will require if, some time in the future, land be allotted to them in severalty and the remainder of the reserva- tion thrown open to settlement. Estimates can be made, however, based upon the statistics of the allotment on the Uncompahgre Reser- vation authorized l)y act of Congress of June 9, 1897. There were 45,440 acres allotted to 550 Indians, or about SO acres to each person. One-half of this was irrigable land, the balance was land suitable for grazing purposes. (See page 20.) This, then, gives 40 acres of irrigable land to each man, woman, and child on the reservation. This quantity will be used in the following- discussion, as it conforms to the practice in the allotment of Indian lands. One-eighth of that quantity, or 5 acres, would be more equitable. The last census showed a total population of 830 Uinta and Whiterock Indians. On the above basis of 40 acres to the individual. 33,200 acres of irrigable lands will ultimately be required by these Indians. The 550 Uncompahgres require 22,000 acres, making a total of 55,200 acres of irrigable land. The irrigation period in this section of the country is considered as extending from the 1st of April to the 1st of October — 6 months, or 183 da3's. The maximum discharge of the rivers occurs in the early part of this period, gradually decreasing later, or through July and August. The principal crops raised are forage plants and the cereals. Water will be needed for the former throughout the entire irrigation period, but the watering of grains ceases about August 1, and after that date a less quantity will be required. Estimates on the water supply will be based on the July flow of the rivers, when they are comparatively low, but when as much water is needed for irrigation as at an}' other time. The duty of water will be taken at 1 second-foot to 100 acres. This duty is for a minimum year, such as 1900, but which will not probably occur oftener than once in five or six years or longer. During ordinary seasons the sum- mer supply will be greater, so that a proportionall}'^ lower duty, or 1 second-foot to 70 acres, can be used. Data have recently become available from the Twelfth Census regarding the duty of water in the Vernal Valley, a neighboring area that has been quite extensively irrigated. The water supply' is from Ashley Creek. The measurements of this Bureau show that 48,355 acre-feet of water was used in 1900 to irrigate in that census year 17,471 acres of land. This is an average depth of 2.8 feet over each acre. The mean flow thi-oughout the irrigation season was 133 second- feet, or the duty of water expressed in these terms was 1 second-foot to 131 acres. It is then considered that the above-assumed duty, 1 second-foot to 100 acres, is sufficiently liberal. In the discussions of the water supply and the sections of agricul- tural lands dependent thereon, it has been found as a result of the investigation that a number of hydrographic divisions should be estab- lished, corresponding with the dift'erent river basins. Each river has a certain flow, and there is further a certain amount of agricultural land within its basin that should naturally be served from the tribu- tary stream. In every case the amount of land in each basin is greater than the river of that section can serve. There are three such hydro- UTNTA ITq^DIAN RESERVATION. ' 35 tj^niphic basins, as follows: Uinta River area, including Whiterocks Kiver section, Lake Creek area, and Duchesne River area. UINTA RIVER AGRICULTURAL AREA. The section of country that can be easily irrigated from Uinta River, both on and oft' the reservation, is shown on map 1. Within this area there is settled at the present time a large proportion of the Indians of the reservation, and there is to be found the greatest area of land at present under cultivation, lying principally in two tracts — namely, the bench land between Fort Duchesne and the Indian Agencj^ at Whiterocks, and the area west of the Ouray school. The principal canals on the reservation are found here, and include Canal No. 1, Bench ditch, the small ditches of the White River Indians, Dry Gulch ditch, and the small ditch from Uinta River 1 mile below the militar}^ post. The best land for irrigation in the Uinta area is the NE. ^ of T. 1 S. , R. 1 W. , and the bench country west of the Uinta River. A further area of good land is to be found east of the streams in what is known as " Deep Creek" country, A total area could be found in this latter section of 16,000 acres, but of the better quality of land there is only 7,000 acres. The fourth section is located west of the Ouray School, between the Uinta and Duchesne rivers, and comprises an area of 5,200 acres. This land should be served from Duchesne River, how- ever, and consideration will be given to it in the description of that basin. A considerable percentage of Uinta River lands are of inferior quality and not nearly as suitable for cultivation as in other sections on the reservation. This is especially true of that portion of T. IN., R. 1 W., which is located west of the Uinta River. The map shows it to be a fairh^ flat country, and one would judge from inspection that it would be adapted to cultivation. It is, however, of a very rocky nature, and is largel}" covered with a growth of cedar common to rocky soils. The bottom lands of the Uinta River are of a similar rocky nature and little adapted to irrigation. It appeals, however, to the Indians for settlement, as it is crossed in varying directions by difi'erent branches of the Uinta River, the banks of which are lined with a dense growth of brush and cottonwood. There is thus formed detached open areas protected by excellent wind guards. Nearly the entire area of T. 2 S., R, 1 W,, is also of an inferior quality of soil, it being of an alkali nature. It is easily eroded by running streams, and even small irrigation ditches do not stand for any length of time. Regarding the percentage of this land that can be irrigated, it has been previously stated that the July ftow of the rivers would be con- sidered as the' controlling tigure. Uinta River, during July, 1900, discharged 223 second-feet. With a duty of water of 1 second-foot to 100 acres there could be served 22,300 acres. Whiterocks River, for the same month, with a discharge of 82 second-feet, would serve 8,200 acres. The best method for the irrigation of these various tracts is by the enlargement of the present canal system. An increase in the carry- ing capacity of Canal No. 1 would fit it to supply sufficient water to 36 ■ UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. the mes.1 west of Uinta River. It should also be extended, commenc- ing- at about the fourth milepost, and carried westward around the head of the gulch, down which at present it is turned. This exten- sion would supply water for the entire mesa, 1,930 acres, extending southward immediately west of the Government farm valley. Bench ditch could also be enlarged. The Deep Creek country, if Whiterocks River is allowed to be diverted from the reservation, could also be supplied from Uinta River. The following table shows the amount of arable land tributary to Uinta and Whiterocks rivers: Acreage of irrigable land. On reservation: Acres. River bottom 8,900 Mesa west of Uinta River, northeast half T. 1 S. , R. 1 W 21 , 400 Bench country 7, 100 Miscellaneous areas north of military post 9, 600 Deep Creek locality 16,300 Total 63,300 Off reservation: The Strip 6,600 Green River area 21,200 Total 27,800 IRRIGABLE LANDS OUTSIDE OF THE RESERVATION. There is an area covering 6,600 acres just east of the reservation, in The Strip, which it is possible to irrigate. East of Ouray School IS a large tract of agricultural land bounded on the west b}^ the reser- vation boundary line and on the east by Green River. It is in the form of a rude triangle, and comprises approximately 21,200 acres. It would seem from a casual inspection of the ground that this tract of land might be irrigated by a canal diverting water from Uinta River below Fort Duchesne and bringing it around to the south of the bluffs overlooking Oura}^ School. This would be impracticable, how- ever, as shown by the little ditch of the Indians that skirts the foot of this cliff but can not attain the divide and reach Green River. This tract of land could be irrigated, though, by diverting water above the mouth of Deep Creek, bringing it aci'oss The Strip and over the divide immediately south of the Vernal road. As soon as this divide is reached the country slopes rapidly southward and drains into a wash. The 5.100-foot contour crosses the Vernal road divide a short distance east of the gilsonite claim. A canal at that grade and point could easily be continued and turned into the wash, the water being again diverted a short distance below. The 4,900-foot contour controls all of the agricultural land east of the Ouray School. The main features for a canal to irrigate this land would be as follows: It should head on Uinta River at such an elevation as to cross the little divide in sec. 35, T. 1 S., R. 1 E. It will therefore be considered as heading at the 5,180-foot contour. Within a mile and a half it would cross Deep Creek, continue eastward for a short distance and then southward. It would control most of The Strip country, and could be brought across the Vernal divide at the 5,100-foot contour at a distance of 11 miles from its head. The fall would be greater in its ^ t UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 37 3-mile course down the dry wash. The water could be diverted again at about the 4,900-foot contour. The general direction of the main canal would thence be southeasterly for 8 miles, then practically due south, in which direction it would continue until Green River and the lower end of the triangular tract of land are reached. The following are the approximate distances along this canal fi-om the head: Miles. Deep Creek 1.5 Reservation line 4. Vernal road divide 11.0 4,900-foot contour in wash 14. 5 At bend to the south 22. End of canal 29. It will thus be seen that a canal heading at about the 5,180-foot con- tour could furnish water for most of the agricultural land of The Strip, cross the divide near the lower extremity of the gilsonite claim, and irrigate lands to the south. There would be no difficult engineer- ing features to encounter along the route. The excavations for the greater portion of the way would be through cemented gravel common to the entire country. This formation is difficult, and hence expen- sive to work, and the cost would be somewhere in the vicinity of the price paid for rock cutting, or about $1 per cubic yard. The amount of irrigable land otf the reservation is approximately as follows: Acres. The Strip 6,600 Green River triangle 21 , 200 Total 27,800 On the basis of 1 second-foot of water to 100 acres, 278 second-feet would be required. LAKE CREEK AGRICULTURAL AREA. Lake Creek is an important tributary of Duchesne River, draining a section of country immediately adjoining the Uinta Basin on the west. It discharges into Duchesne River at a point about 3 miles above the bridge on the stage road to Price. There has been more or less dis- cussion regarding the feasibility of the diversion of Lake Creek to irrigate lands adjoining the Uinta River, especially those under Canal No. 1, and it was thought desirable to investigate the possibilities of this stream for irrigation. Lake Creek agricultural area, as mapped, can be naturalh' divided into four portions. The first comprises a strip of 18,000 acres of bench land extending from the junction of the two forks southward for about 14 miles, when it broadens out to the second division (the strip drain- ing into Dry Gulch Creek), of 12,600 acres. The third area is the mesa between this latter division and the Duchesne River, containing 5,300 acres. The fourth section, comprising an area of 16,100 acres, is situated west of the lower course of Lake Creek, in an approximately triangular strip immediately north of Duchesne River. The average flow of this stream in July, 1900, was 195 second-feet, or sufficient water for 19,500 acres. Measurements made during the next month, at the junction of the two main forks about 25 miles above the mouth, show a condition similar to that existing on the Uinta 38 UINTA INDIAN EESERVATiON. River — that is, a considerable loss after the river leaves its canyon. In the case of Lake Creek this loss was over 50 per cent in A ugust, as the average flow at the forks in August, 1900, was about 200 second- feet, while at the mouth it was 97 second-feet. If the loss was pro- portional during July there would have been water at the forks suflicient for 39,000 acres. It is probabl}^ safe to assume that there will be suflicient water in Lake Creek at the junction of the two forks for 30,000 acres during dr}^ seasons. If water for 10,000 acres be set aside in the fourth section above described, or that west of Lake Creek, the quantity required will be 100 second-feet at the usual duty. There will then remain to be provided water for 20,000 acres for the land east of the creek, or a discharge of 200 second-feet. Lake Creek flows in a gorge about 200 feet deep, and the most feasible point for its diversion to the east side is about one-fourth of a mile below the junction of the North and South forks. Here the clifl's on the east side are in a succession of terraces, and a canal taken out at the above-mentioned point can, in a distance of 1.5* miles, bring water to the top of the mesa. A map was made on a scale of 200 feet to the inch, and with a con- tour interval of 5 feet, extending from the junction of the two forks down 2i miles and including the top of the highest terraces. The construction of this map makes possible the location of the canal line, and it is on a scale sufiiciently large to permit of a computation of the amount of excavation, from which an estimate of the cost of this por- tion of the canal can be made. A canal on a grade of 0.0005, or 2.64 feet per mile, with a bottom width of 12 feet, side slopes 1 to 1, and depth 4 feet, will have a cross- section area of 64 square feet. Assuming the coefiicient of roughness, or value of w, in Kutter's formula, as 0.020, would give a discharge of 200 second-feet. The length of the canal from the head gate until it reaches the top of the mesa is 1.5 miles. It will be necessary to move, in the construc- tion of the canal in this length, 27,040 cubic 3^ards of earth, which will cost, at 25 cents per cubic yard, |6,760. After the canal has reached the top of the upper terrace, construction would be in a flat country, and the cost per mile would approximate 11,500. The mesa has a very steep slope, but has a subsoil of the same for- mation as that along which Canal No. 1 flows — a partially cemented gravel. It is considered that a canal can be built directly down the mesa, and that the amount of erosion will be very small. The main canal heading below the forks of the creek, after it has attained the top of the mesa, could be divided, one branch extending southward to serve the lands of the upper section. The other branch would continue in a general easterly direction for about 4 miles, when it could be turned into the gulch shown on the map in sec. 6, T. IS., R. 3 W. This wash has its outlet in sec. 21, T. 2 S., R. 3 W., and the water could here be diverted and used to irrigate the second division, known as the Dry Gulch country. It is not considered feasible to irrigate the third section, the mesa north of the Duchesne River, owing to the insufiicient water supply and the excessive cost to construct a canal to same. Water could be taken to it by carrying a lateral from the mouth of the gulch above UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 39 mentioned southeaster!}" across the fiat country for about 4 miles, when a sidehill would be encountered, along which the canal would run for a distance of about 3 miles before the top of the mesa could be reached. The following are the areas of the three sections east of Lake Creek: Sfciion. Acres. North section 18 000 Drv Gulch ci)untrv 12,ti00 5,300 Mesa north of Duchesne River Total 35,900 The fourth section of agricultural land tributary to Lake Creek, which could be irrigated from it, comprises an extent of 10,100 acres, and is located on the west side of Lake Creek and north of Duchesne River, in T. 3 S., R. 3 W. Of the better quality of land there is 10,000 acres. As previously shown, this area will require 100 second- feet. A canal to carry this amount on a grade of 3.7 feet to the mile, bottom width 8 feet, side slopes 1 to 1, and depth 3 feet, would have a cross-section area of 33 square feet. Assuming the coefficient of roughness, or value of n^ in Kutter's formula as 0.020, the necessary discharge would be 100 second-feet. Lake Creek continues in its gorge from the junction of the two forks down to a point about 13 miles below, where occurs the narrowest point, in sec. 20, T. 2 S., R. 3 W. Beyond this point the valley broadens out rapidly to the agricultural area on the west side of the creek. The width at the narrowing of the gorge is about 800 feet, with vertical cliffs on either side approximating 200 feet in elevation. This site has been mentioned as a possible location for a dam and the creation of a reservoir. This project is not feasible, however, as the gorge does not broaden out sufficiently above the narrows, and as the fall of the creek is about 80 feet to the mile a dam 160 feet high would only back the water in this case 2 miles up the river. A canal to cover the land west of Lake Creek would head 2.5 miles below the above-described narrows, in sec. 3, T. 3 S. , R. 3 W. It would continue in a general southerl}" direction and would cover all of the agricultural land of this section. At no place would the cost of excavation be excessive, as the canal would pass through the formation common to this section, a more or less cemented gravel, and through a relatively flat countr3\ If a canal were diverted from Lake Creek near the forks, and carried westward to the Uinta country, it would have to pass through a very rough section, besides crossing two deep gulches, including that of Dry Gulch, and would cost an excessive sum. On account of this prohibitive expense, and also oAving to the extent of agricultural land immediately tributary to Lake Creek for which there is not sufficient water supply, it is not considered best that an attempt be made to carry a canal from this stream to the Uinta area. DUCHESNE RIVER AGRICULTURAL AREA. Duchesne River, from it junction with Strawberry Creek, has a gen- eral easterly course, flowing through bottom lands averaging li miles 40 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. in width. Immediately southward a line of bluffs occur, of about 200 feet in elevation, from the top of which extends a series of mesas southward. This higher land west of Antelope Canyon is quite thoroughly dis- sected b}^ side canyons draining toward Duchesne River, and is not suitable for agricultural purposes. East of Antelope Canyon, how- ever, these mesas are but little cut up, and as a result there is a large tract of land which is eminently suited to irrigation if water could be brought to it. This area is naturally divided into two sections. The first extends eastward from Antelope Canyon to approximately Smith's well road, and has an area of 21,800 acres, 8,000 acres of which are bench coun- try, the remaining 13,800 acres being included within the Six-mile Draw, a name arising from the fact that the drainage line of this draw is 6 miles south of the Duchesne bridge, along the Price stage road. Continuing eastward, a rough, broken country, 5 to 7 miles wide, and about 22 square miles in area, separates the first division of Duchesne agricultural lands from the second division. This latter is the bench in the southeastern corner of the reservation immediatelj^ west of the lower Duchesne River after it has made the bend from its general easterly to its southeasterly course. The area is 21,900 acres. The third area susceptible of irrigation, for which water should be supplied, is the bottom land of Duchesne River, extending from the mouth of Antelope Canyon downstream, and embracing an extent of 14,300 acres. Of this area, the section from the mouth of Lake Creek eastward, 6,800 acres, has already been allotted to the Uncompahgre Indians. The balance westward, to Antelope Canyon, 7,600 acres is available for future allotment. Some Uinta Indians are at present irrigating lands in the latter section, receiving their water from the ditch heading li miles above Antelope Canyon. The fourth section of agricultural land which should receive water from Duchesne River is the section west of the Ouray School, between Uinta and Duchesne rivers. A portion of it is occupied by Indian farms, and irrigated from a ditch heading on the left bank of Duchesne River about 8 miles above the school. It comprises an area of 5,200 acres. The following table shows the amount of agricultural lands tributary to Duchesne River: Duchesne agricultural lands. Upper section: Acres. Mesa 8,000 Six-mile draw 13, 800 Lower bench: Irrigable under 4,968-foot contour 7,000 Nonirrigable 14, 900 Bottom lands: Upper 7,500 Lower 6, 800 Ouray School section 5, 200 Total 63,200 DUCHESNE CANAL LINES. During 1900 a number of lines for canal locations for the upper Duchesne area were run. The topographic work showed that the elevation of 5,600 feet should be attained on the mesa to reclaim the UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 41 greater portion of it. An eleviition somewhat above this altitude on Duchesne Kiver is at a point about 6 miles above the mouth of Straw- berr}^ Creek, and from here a line for a canal location was started with the idea of taking water from the right bank. The line ran for a distance of 20 miles, when it crossed Straw])errv Creek to the south side, and thence eastward another 20 miles before the agricultural ai-ea could be reached. On account of its length, and also because of the excessive cost of construction, the line was considered impracticable and was abandoned. A second line was therefore started, the initial point being a short distance below the mouth of Strawberry Creek on the right bank of Duchesne River. The canal would follow the river rather closely for a distance of 8 miles up to a point about 3 miles west of the Indian village near the mouth of Antelope Canyon. About opposite this settlement the line would recede perhaps li miles from the river. It shortly reaches Antelope Canyon, up which the line may run for a distance of about 2 miles, thence crossing and turning down again and keeping around in front of the hills, with the exception of a few cut-offs, until the top of the mesa is reached at an elevation of 5,340 feet. This point is about 6 miles southeast of the Duchesne bridge and some 4 or 5 miles east of Antelope Canyon. The following report on the Duchesne upper canal lines is made bj^ Mr. A. L. Fellows: UPPER CANAL LINES. The location of the initial point of the survey for the first canal line was on the right bank of Duchesne River, about 6 miles above the mouth of Strawberry Creek. From station to station 49, a distance of nearh" 1 mile, practically no difficulty was met, excepting that one flume, about 400 feet in length, across a deep wash would be neces- sary. At station 50 the line strikes a steep sidehill, with a slope of about one in three, which is overlain with gravel and bowlders, but a line is practicable, although quite expensive along this entire hillside, w hich extends to station No. 195, a distance of nearly 3 miles. From the top of the bench at station 195 to a point at station 225, about three- fifths of a mile, the line is across level country, and could be made perfectly straight. From this point (station 225), by crossing a ridge with a maximum cut of 17 feet, at station 238, the cut ending at sta- tion 240, a distance of about three-fourths of a mile might be saved, besides some very expensive sidehill work. Both lines were surveyed, but the one including the cut would be much the better. From this point (station 240), the line runs along a very steep sidehill, having a slope as high as 40 degrees from the hor- izontal in places, where at times deep cuts, at times sidehill flumes, and at times even tunnels would be necessar}', with practically no easy work until station 390 is reached. At this point two courses are open. First, to continue along the sidehill slope, which is of about the same nature as that traversed for a mile or more; or to flume for about 1,000 feet to a point upon the opposite side of a deep wash flowing into Strawberry Creek. As between 3 and 4 miles of canal would be necessary if the circuit were made to reach a point opposite station 390, and'^only 1,00.0 feet from it, it is clear that the best plan would be to cross by means of a flume, although this flume would probably be not less than 80 feet in height at the bottom of the draw. Another course seemed possible at this point. The line up to the 4:2 UINTA INDIAN RP:SERVATION. present time had been extremely crooked, and at this point — station 8*J0 — the line was almost directi}' toward station 0, and a reconnois- sance indicated that probably a tunnel from the starting point to the point at the head of the ravine, which is here crossed, would not be over three-fourths of a mile in length, and perhaps considerably less, saving approximately 8 miles of bad canal work and 20 feet in grade. For reasons to be given later, however, this line was not surveyed. Crossing this wash, therefore, at this point, and striking grade again at about station 400, the line proceeds by a fairly easy route to station 425, a distance of about one-half mile, with no serious difficulties, but still by no means an ideal line. At this point the sandstone bluffs along the north side of Stawberry Creek are reached, the first one being aljout 50 feet in height, along the face of which the line would run to station 460, approximately another three-fourths of a mile of very bad sidehill work, much of which would have to be fluming. From station 460 to station 481, the line traverses a country- in which it would be fairly easy to construct a canal, but at station 481 the main bluffs along the north side of Strawberry Creek are reached, and from this point the line would run for practically all of the way, excepting for about one-half mile, for some 10 or 12 miles farther along sand- stone bluffs which could only be flumed before the Strawberry Creek could be crossed. At station 805, however, it was decided that the line was absolutely impracticable, as the expense would be too great to justify any construction at this elevation. It was evident, moreover, that while it would take approximately 20 miles of this line, running through an extremely bad country to reach Strawberry Creek, it would further- more take as great a distance along equally impracticable, and perhaps even worse ground than that traversed in the first 20 miles before the line would come out on anything like open country. In all these 40 miles of line, which would cost probably not less than $10,000 per mile, there would have been not more than 1,000 acres of irrigable land lying below the canal, excepting such lands as can be watered by small ditches taken directly from Duchesne River and Strawberry Creek. The fall due to the grade would, moreover, have lowered the line to so great an extent that it would have been impossible for it to have reached as high an elevation upon the mesa lands below as was desired. A number of careful reconnoissance trips demonstrated bej^ond question that it was impracticable for a line to be taken out at a higher elevation than that attempted, as the bluffs along the Duchesne and Strawberry get steeper and more rocky the higher upstream one goes. Having determined that a line at so high an elevation as was at first deemed desirable was impracticable from the nature of the country, it was decided to investigate the possibility of taking a line out at the most suitable point below the mouth of the Strawberry Creek to see what elevation could be reached upon the mesa below. A trial line was first run for several miles along the bluffs on the south side of Duchesne Creek, to determine the feasibility of the upper part of the proposed canal which should avoid the bluffs near the mouth of Indian Canj^on, which empties into the Strawberry just above its junction with the Duchesne. The jr.ct having been determined that this line presented some desirable features, viz, that it wonld cover a consid- erable portion of the nearly level country south of the Duchesne, and nothing of an absolutel}^ impracticu;,le nature being seen in the way, the survey of the grade line was conunenced, the same fall being used \ ( X ^ ? <; ^ll i—i c^ -1 LD N-^ 1 z ^ o /Xa H N_ "■; < J .^ > ci \ w X CO J W C •MTa 9 1 1 /"^— ^^^ •M'2'H *^ ^ ^ ( ^V Jl ^^_^^- "■'" / 1 <^"/ li / ' c/ "w .£ d (^ UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 43 as in the first survey, viz, 2.56 feet per mile. The zero point of this survey was at an elevation of 5,434.81 feet, referred to the datum of the topographic survey. The grade assumed was 2.56 feet per mile. From station to station 35, about three-fourths of a mile, the country is favorable for a perfect line, but at this latter point a side- hill is reached, which, while not impracticable, still presents material difficulties of construction. From station 35 to station 103 the line runs along this sidehill, which presents, however, no very serious difficulties. There is more or less sidehill work of this same kind until station 175 is reached, after which no difficulties are met for about 2 miles, excepting short flumes. After this point is reached, however, the line strikes a deep hillside again in which there is but little if anj^ rock and it runs along nothing but hillside and through cuts, with an occasional short stretch of level country, for about 30 miles, when the top of the mesa is finally reached at station 1855. This line was continued to station 1895, at which point the elevation is about 5,340 feet. The survey can be considered but little more than a trial line. It could be very much improved by starting at a point some 20 feet higher on the Duchesne River, crossing the Strawberry Creek on grade, and running with a fall not to exceed 2 feet to the mile, or a little less would be better, saving all the distance possible by construct- ing flumes across all ravines encountered wherever it might be practica- ble, even at the expense of flumes 100 feet high and from 1,000 to 1,600 feet in length. By keeping the grade up as high as possible, a cut could be made through three different ridges, where a saving of probably 10 miles in distance could be effected. By these means it is believed that an elevation of approximately 5,380 feet could be reached. Although the higher canal line would require more expensive canal construction near the head, the difference would be more than com- pensated by the advantages gained farther down. Just below the mouth of Strawberry Creek there is a very narrow neck of land between two bends in the main river; in case the canal should be constructed heading below Strawberry Creek, there would be danger of the river cutting across this neck, making an extension of the canal line necessary to the mouth of the Strawberry, at least. In case the canal should be constructed 20 feet higher up, as sug- gested, the water would be taken during the greater portion of the year directly from Strawberry Creek, and only a small canal from the Duchesne would be needed, to be used in low water. This line would cost in the neighborhood of $300,000, and about 21,800 acres could be irrigated from the canal, although the land covered is not of the best quality, being well down toward points of the mesa and lying to a great extent in the sandy draw, through which the road between Price and Fort Duchesne runs. A third preliminary survey for a canal location was made in Octo- ber. The head would be located on the left bank of the river a short distance below the mouth of Strawberry Creek, and about one-half mile below the head of Canal No. 2, described above. It could be made to irrigate about 2,000 acres of land on the north side of Duchesne River. Mr. Fellows also made a reconnoissance from the Duchesne River above the mouth of the Strawberry to a point some distance above the mouth of Rock Creek, with a view of ascertaining whether or not it would be possible to cover a large tract of land lying upon the 44 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. mesa north of the Duchesne. The conclusion was reached, however, after a careful examination, that such a line would not be feasible, as a)>out 10 miles of canal would have to be constructed along a very rocky hillside. Such a canal would reach the level of the mesa at so low an elevation as to permit of little irrigation, and this project was therefore abandoned. It was suggested that this high land might possibly be covered by means of a ditch taken out of Rock Creek, which is an important trib- utary of the Duchesne, carrying a considerable body of water even at low stages, but time was not sufficient for the investigation of this proposition. From all further information obtainable, however, it is thought at the present time that this plan is not feasible, as the country is more rocky and broken the higher up it is explored. LOAVER CANAL LINE. Upon the completion of the surv^ey of the Lower Duchesne benches in 1901, attention was given to the location of a canal to those bench lands. The topographic map disclosed a low divide of about 5,000 feet elevation, in sec. 11, T. 4 S., R. 1 W., over which the canal could not be carried. The map also showed that a canal controlled by this divide, allowance being made for sufficient grade, should head li miles above Duchesne bridge, at an elevation of 5,021 feet. When it has attained the lower mesa it is at an elevation of 4,968 feet, and therefore only the land under this contour, or 7,000 acres, can be irrigated from it. With a duty of water of 1 second-foot to 100 acres a capacity of canal of 70 second-feet will be required. With a grade of four hun- dredths of 1 per cent, or a fall of 2.11 feet per mile, bottom width of 8 feet, depth of 3 feet, and side slopes of 1 to 1, the area will be 33 square feet. A coefficient of roughness of about 0.020 will give the necessary discharge of 70 second-feet. The initial point of the survey was on the right bank of Duchesne River, in sec. 23, T. 3 S., R. 2 W. The line extends in a general southeasterly direction across the Duchesne bottom land for a distance of 3.4 miles, when it encounters a steep sidehill, along which it con- tinues for 3.8 miles. At this point, in sec. 34, T. 3 S., R. 1 W., a tunnel is planned 1,400 feet in length, piercing the ridge. The line then takes a general southwesterly direction for 2.7 miles through a comparatively flat country, when it crosses what is known as the Smith's well road, in sec. 10, T. 4 S., R. 1 W. This point is 9.7 miles from the head. Beyond the road the canal soon strikes a rough, rocky country, in which construction work will be expensive, and will require a number of lengths of flumes, as follows: Flume number. No. of sta- tion where flume be- gins. Total length. 1 745 821 823 836 867 876 877 1024 103.5 1059 Feet. 1,600 2 139 3 145 4 1,281 5 200 6 80 7 ; 44 8 387 9 320 10 1,100 Total length 5,29S UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 45 The canal finally appears on th^ mesa at about station 1100, or 21 miles from the head. The line ends at station 1245. The elevation at this point is 4,968 feet, so that only the land under this contour, or about 7,000 acres, can be irrigated. The approximate cost of build- ing the 23.6 miles of canal to the head of the irrigable land will be ^105,000. RESUME OF DUCHESNE IRRIGABLE LANDS. In considering the amount of water available for irrigation from Duchesne River, it is necessary to deduct the discharge of Lake Creek from the record at the Price bridge on Duchesne River, as plans for the utilization of the flow of the former stream have already been made. Duchesne River was discharging 377 second-feet in July, 19u0; deducting 195 second-feet, the flow of Lake Creek, leaves a balance of 182 second-feet for Duchesne River, or sufficient water for 18,200 acres. In Jul}^ 1901, the net discharge of Duchesne River, after deducting the flow of Lake Creek, was 347 second-feet, or sufficient water for 31:, 700 acres. On September 15 and October 5, 1900, measurements were made on Duchesne River immediately above the mouth of Strawberrj^ Creek, and also on this latter stream on the same dates. The combined dis- charge, representing the flow of Duchesne River below the mouth of Strawberry Creek, was 300 second-feet and 324 second-feet on the respective dates. At the main gauging station on Duchesne River the discharge on the same dates was 275 and 315 second-feet, respectivel3^ By deducting from these two latter figures the discharge of Lake Creek, a balance of 155 second-feet and 185 second-feet, respectively, will remain. There- fore, on September 15, 1900, Duchesne River below the mouth of Strawberry Creek was carrying 300 second-feet, while 23 miles below, at the main gauging station, the discharge was only 155 second-feet. Similarly, on October 5 the discharge above was 324 second-feet, and below 185 second-feet. The loss is in the neighborhood of 50 per cent. This is a phenomenon similar to that noted on Uinta River and Lake Creek; that is, a loss of about 50 per cent after each stream has flowed for some distance through bottom lands. It has been shown that there was in July, 1900, sufficient water in Duchesne River for 18,200 acres. As some of the canals have been planned to take water from the upper stretches of the river, it is believed that the water supply is sufficient for 20,000 acres, exclusive of Lake Creek. The table on page 46 shows that 63,200 acres of irri- gable land are tributary to Duchesne River. As the water supply in 1900 was sufficient for only 20,000 acres, it therefore becomes neces- sary to make a selection of land to be irrigated. To serve the 21,800 acres of the upper section, the canal would head immediately below the mouth of Strawberry Creek and would be 36 miles long before the irrigable lands could be reached. The cost would be §300,000, according to the report of Mr. Fellows. This would make the cost of reclamation $13.70 an acre. The entire water supply of the Duchesne River is sufficient for only 20,000 acres, and the cost, if the water should be applied to the upper section, would be $15 an acre, not including the distributary canal system. In the second section of the lower bench only a portion of the 21,900 acres are irrigable, unless recourse is made to pumping. It 46 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. was shown in the description of the lower Duchesne canal line that owing to a controlling- divide the canal had to be taken from the river at an elevation of 5,021 feet. When it has attained the lower mesa, it is at an deviation of 4,968 feet, and therefore only the land under this contour, or 7,000 acres, can be irrigated. The cost of construction of this canal will approximate $105,000, or $15 per acre. The remain- ing 14,900 acres on this bench might be irrigated by a pumping plant, but at a considerable expense. The bottom land of the river, both above and below Lake Creek, comprising an area of 14,300 acres can be reclaimed, as also can the 5,200 acres in the vicinity of the Ouray School. The canals for these areas will be in the flat, sandy country of the bottom lands, and will be relatively cheap to build, with no difficult engineering problems. The fall of the country is greater, however, than a canal can have without erosion, so that occasional drops will have to be provided. SUMMARY OF LAND CLASSIFICATION AND WATER SUPPLY OF RESERVATION. The following table shows the amount of agricultural land of the reservation tributar}- to the various streams, and which should natu- rally be irrigated from them: Table of arable lands. Uinta River area: On reservation — Acres. A. Riverbottom 8,900 B. Mesa west of Uinta River 21, 400 C. Bench country 7, 100 D. North of military post 9, 600 E. Deep Creek basin 16, 300 63,300 Off reservation: F. Strip 6,600 G. Green River area 21,200 27,800 Lake Creek area: H. North section 18,000 I. Dry Gulch basin 12,600 J. Mesa north of Duchesne River 5, 300 K. West of creek 16,100 Duchesne River area: Upper section — L. Mesa 8,000 M. Six-mile draw 13,800 Lower bench — N. Nonirrigable 14,900 O. Irrigable under 4,968-foot contour 7,000 Bottom lands — P. Upper 7,500 Q. Lower 6,800 R. Ouray school section 5, 200 63, 000 Grand total of arable land tributary to the three rivers 206, 300 The following table shows the water suppl}' in .July for 1900 and 1901 for Whiterocks and Uinta rivers at the canj'on stations, and for Lake Creek and Duchesne River, together with the amount of land that could be irrigated during that month from each river, with a duty of water of 1 second-foot to 100 acres: CANAL SYSTEM OF VERNAL VaLLKY uT' VH. H Doc All-- 57 1 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 47 Juhj water supply. Jul.v,19U0. J July, 1901. Stream. Dis- charge. Area which could be irrigated. tn:,- Area which Whiteroeks Sec-feet. 82 223 195 182 Acres. 8,200 22,300 19, .500 18, 200 Sec-feet. 101 251 250 .^47 Acres. 10.100 2\ 100 Duchesne , 34 700 Total 682 94,900 I There was in Jul}', 1900, safEcient water from the four rivers for 68,200 acres. (See table above.) Lake Creek furnished water for ' 19,500 acres. It has been shown, however, that there is a considera- ble loss in the channel of this stream, and it is believed that there is sufficient water for 30,000 acres, or 10,500 acres more than in the above table. Similarly for Duchesne River, it is believed that there will be water for 20,000 acres during a drj^ season, or sufficient for 1,800 acres more than shown. This will make the total water sup- ply from the four rivers sufficient for 80,500 acres. During- ordinaiy I seasons the supply will be sufficient for 115,000 acres. I It was found that the 1,380 Indians on the reservation will require 55,200 acres of irrigable land. There was, therefore, a water supply for 25,300 acres above the requirements of the Indians. From all I reports, the 1900 flow of the streams was unusually low, and the aver- age summer discharge will be above the figures of that year. If the area which could be irrigated from Whiterocks River (8,200 acres) be deducted from the 80,500 acres, there will remain 72.300 acres, giving a surplus of 17,100 acres above the future needs of the I Indians. In the Indian Office bill for the fiscal j^ear ending June 30, 1903, there is a provision for allotting the lands of this reservation to the Indians, and throwing the balance open to settlement. The following is the clause of this bill relative to the amount of land which each Indian will receive: — shall cause to be allotted to each head of family 80 acres of agricultural land which can be irrigated; and 40 acres of such land to each other member of said tril>e, «iid allotment to be made prior to October 1, 1903. There are 830 Uinta and Whiterocks Indians on the reservation. On the basis of four individuals to the family, this will give 207 heads of families, with 623 remaining individuals. The 207 Indians, at 80 acres per head, will require 16,560 acres; the remaining 623 Indians, at 40 acres, will require 24,920 acres — or a total of 41,480 acres of irrigable land. It has been shown that the Uncompahgre Indians on the res- ervation have already been allotted 22,000 acres. This makes a grand total of 63,480 acres for which a water supply is necessary. Several ways are open regarding the future settlement of these Indians on irrigable lands. The results of the investigations show that there is a greater body of agricultural land, with a sufficient water supply, than the future needs of the Indians will require. The Department has its choice of location, and it also has its choice of whether the Indians shall be settled on large tracts or on detached areas, the whites being allowed to take up intermediate sections, so that the Indians and whites would be intermingled. Both policies have been advocated in the discussion of the Indian question, but it I 48 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. seems to the writer that the former method — that of having the Indians occupy large tracts of land by themselves — is preferable. If the Department should pursue the policy that water should only be used on lands that are tributarj' to the rivers, and if the irrigable areas off the reservation should have been included within the reser- vation, it would follow, on account of the location of the latter, that the}^ should receive some of the Uinta or Whiterocks water, as they are naturally tributary to it. In fact, this area off the reservation is much better for agricultural purposes than some of the Uinta area within the reservation. The Department has under consideration the advisability of allow- ing certain amounts of water to be diverted from Whiterocks or Uinta rivers to irrigate lands off the reservation. If the water is thus allowed to be diverted, or if the surplus agricultural lands beyond the needs of the Indians are some time placed upon the market, the rights of the Indians should be protected as fully as possible. It was recommended in the first progress report* that if a ditch was allowed to take water from Uinta River off of the reservation it should be located well down- stream, and it was there recommended that no diversion be allowed north of sections 26 and 27, T. 1 S., R. 1 E. A canal taken out within these limits could control all of the arable land off* the reservation. Further consideration of this matter, however, inclines one to the belief that if the Indian canals did head above other diversions, com- plications might still arise; and it is believed if the flow of some stream could be entirely disposed of- — that is, sold outright — for the benefit of the Indians, it would be much better for them than to have a joint con- trol with the white settlers. Whiterocks River is such a stream, and we have alread}^ seen that, not including its discharge, there will still oe sufficient water on the reservation, or, for 72,300 acres; or, water for 17,100 acres more than the Indians will eventually require. It therefore seems that the exclusive right to Whiterocks water might be sold, and that it would be right and just for the Department to sell it. There is only a small area of suitable land on the reserva- tion that is naturalh'^ tributar}^ to this stream — the 7,000 acres in Deep Creek country — and even this section could be served from the Uinta River. If the Department holds the view that the Indians are entitled only to that water which the}^ can economically use, this Whiterocks water could be practically given away. If it is held, however, that the Indians own the water of their reservation a v^alue could be placed upon it, and it could be offered for sale. The question next arises, What is the value of an irrigation stream? A fair estimate of the value of agricultural lands is considered at $25 an acre. With a duty of water of 1 second-foot to 100 acres, this would mean that 1 second- foot of water was worth $2,500, The value of the stream depends upon its low-water discharge. In the case of Whiterocks River the records show that the minimum Juh^ discharge is 82 second-feet. This amount of water, at the rate of $2,500 a second- foot, is worth $205,000. From this latter amount there should be deducted the cost of the canal system to bring the water to the land. VERNAL VALLEY. Ashley Creek. — This stream drains an area in northeastern Utah directly east of the Uinta River drainage. It flows southeasterly, » Twenty-first Annual Report, Fart IV, p. 328. UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 49 enterina: Green River about 25 miles below the place where the lat- ter stream crosses the State line between Colorado and Utah. About 7i miles above the town of Vernal the creek leaves its mountainous area and enters what is known as Vernal Valley. This valley is approximately '20 miles long- and 3 miles wide, its boundaries being sharply defined by the foothills. A large portion of the valley has been taken up b}' white settlers, and a considerable acreage is"^ now under cultivation through irrigation. There are three principal canals in use. Upper Ashley Canal on the west, built in 18S2, covers 11,200 acres. The stock of the company is divided into 1,120 shares, at a face value of ^25 per share, and each share is supposed to irrigate 10 acres. During the census year 1900 the area irrigated under this canal was 6,500 acres. Central Ashley Canal, on the west side, built in 1880, covers 8,400 acres, 7,000 acres of which were irrigated in 1900. Each share is sup- posed to carry water sufficient for 20 acres, and is worth $50, or |2.50 per acre. Rock Point Canal, on the east side, built in 1880, covers some 2,000 acres, 1,400 acres of which were irrigated in 1900. The stock of the company is divided into 250 shares, at a face value of ^10 per share, and each share is supposed to carry water sufficient for 7i acres. There are also a number of smaller canals lower down, the principal one being known as Island ditch. This ditch controls 900 acres, 400 acres x)i which were irrigated in tlie census year 1900. The stock in the various canal companies is private property. A farmer, if entitled to a certain amount of water, is not supposed to rent or otherwise dispose of an}^ portion of it, but it is often the case that he does. By a decree of the district court dated NDvember 17, 1897, the waters of Ashley Creek are divided as follows: Upper Irrigation Canal Company (Upper Ashlej^ canal), |f of one-third of discharge; Ash- ley Central Irrigation Canal Company, |4 of one-third of discharge; Rock Point and other canals (Union, Turner and Dodds, Island, Stein- aker, and Colton), ^f of one-third of discharge, and Green River interveners the remainder. In accordance with this bill the water commissioner ordered all canal companies to install weirs so con- structed as to bring the water to a quiet state 60 feet above the weirs. A weir 30 feet wide was placed in the river above the head of all canals, and weirs of the following dimensions were ordered to be placed in the canals, the sum of the width of the weirs being approximately the width of the river weir: Weirs on Ashley Creek canals. Upper Ashley Canal Central Ashley Canal, including Green River interveners (5.75 inches) and deducting Colton Canal (3.70 inches) Union Canal Turner & Dodds ditch Island ditch Steinaker ditch Rock Point Canal Colton ditch (decree of court 16-12252, deed from Central Ashley Canal 397) Feet. Inches. 10.4 .47 7.11 11.. 52 17.41 3. 52 8.79 12. 21 H. Doc. 671- 50 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION. The two Ashloy canals and the Rock Point Canal are the only ones luintaininti- weirs. They are of the rectangular tj'pe, so constructed hat each has two end contractions. No attempt is made to measure the quantity of water. When the creek is at its lowest stages and it becomes necessary to divide the water among the canals, the How into them is so regulated that exactU' the same height of water is allowed to pass over each weir, the regulation stake, which is level with the crest of the weir, being placed a short distance above. As the lengths of the weirs correspond with the court decrees, the amount of water is supposed to be in the required proportion. On account of the end contractions of the weirs of the two Ashley canals and the Rock Point Canal those ditches do not receive the same proportion of water for varying heights, as the reduction of length for end, contractions is a function of the height of the water. During the flood stages of the creek more water passes down it than the canals can carr}^ and therefore no attempt is then made to divide the water. It is only when lower stages of the creek are reached that the water is divided. No head gates are maintained in the canals, the flow being regulated by placing or removing rocks in the rough dam^an unsatisfactory method, of course. PI. XIV shows the drop in the Central Ashley Canal near Vernal, and B, the weir in the same canal. The principal canals of the valle}' were measured twice during 1900, once in May, when the creek was in flood and a considerable amount of water was passing all canals and wasting into the stream below. The measurements, therefore, show approximately the maximum capacity of the various ditches. A second series of measurements was made in August, when the creek was at a low stage and after the water had been divided. The following table contains the results of the measure- ments made: Discharge measurements in J'ernal Valley, Utah. Date. 1900- May 28 Mav29 "Do Do Do August 21.. Do Do Do Locality. Ashley Creek Gaging station Upper Ashley Canal Measuring weir Central Ashley Canal do Rock Point Canal ' Near head Steinaker Canal do Ashley Creek Gaging station Upper Ashley Canal Measuring weir Central Ashley Canal ' do Rock Point Canal | Near measuring weir. Discharge. Second-feel. 776 181 138 25 1.5 40 12 10 6.8 The population of Vernal Valley is 6,000. There are 38,000 acres of land on the valley tax rolls, only 25,000 acres of which are under ditch, according to the Twelfth Census. The following data are given on the same authority: The amount of land irrigated in 1900 was 17,471 acres. The average cost of a water right in the valley is |3 per acre, and the annual cost for maintenance is 15 cents per acre. An acre of land without water is valued at $1.25, but as soon as it is placed under ditch and provided with a good water supply the value increases to $30. The length of the irrigation season is six months, from April 1 to October 1. The records of the flow of Ashlej' Creek at the gaging station in the canj^on for the season of 1900 showed a total discharge of 56,225 acre- UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION 51 feet. The combined maximum capacity of the canals of the valley is 350 second-feet. May was the only month in 1900 in which there was more water than the canals would carry, as the average discharge for that month was 478 second-feet, or an excess of. 128 second-feet. The latter amount represents an excess of 7.870 acre-feet. Bv subtracting this amount from the total discharge of the river for the period we get 48,355 acre-feet, the amount of water which approximately Avas spread over the area irrigated— 18.471 acres— during 1900. This is an average depth of 2.8 feet over each acre. The discharge of 48.355 acre-feet for the six months represents a mean flow of 133 second-feet, or, expressed in other terms, the duty of water was 1 second-foot to 131 acres. Autumn is the season of low-water stages for the streams in this vicinity. The principal crops of the valley are alfalfa and oats. In the lower portion of the valley seepage water is now appearing in the river channels and is being used for irrigation purposes, thus increas- ing the duty of water in that section. There is a voluntary observer of the Weather Bureau at Vernal, who. has kept a continuous record for live years, the mean annual precip- itation for that period being 9.38 inches. The precipitation in 1899 was 8.41 inches and the mean temperature 46^. There is no well- defined rainy season, but the principal rainfalls occur in June or July. The snowfall is generally light, the air usually dry, and strong winds are infrequent. The soil is a sandy loam. The mineral resources are said to be excellent in the surrounding mountains, deposits of gold, silver, and copper being worked to some extent. Coal is also found near by, and some deposits of uintaite of the asphaltum series. Trans- portation facilities are poor; the railroad is reached at Price, 140 miles away, by way of Fort Duchesne. East of Ashley Creek are two peculiar streams of the "disappearing " type, known as Little Brush Creek and Big Brush Creek. The main Brush Creek enters Green River 3 miles above the mouth of Ashley Creek. The peculiarity of these two forks is that their waters dis- appear and then reappear at various points along their course. At one place Big Brush Creek enters a long, precipitous tunnel, which has been onl}^ partly explored, and in which icicles and banks of ice are said to exist the year round. As a result of a number of reports upon certain curious conditions said to exist in the basin of Dr}^ Fork, a tributary of Ashle}'- Creek, a reconnoissance of the basin was made in August, 1901, hy Mr. C. T. Prall, and from his report the following facts are taken. Dr}^ Fork has its source in a lake in the Uinta Mountains about 35 miles northwest of Vernal. Its length is about 28 miles, 23 miles of which is in a canyon varying from 600 feet to one-half mile in width, and 5 miles is through a valley li miles wide. Its general direction is southeast and its fall is heavy — at least 150 feet per mile. It enters Ashley Creek about 8 miles above the town of Vernal. About mid- way of the stream's length, or 10 miles northwest of Dry Fork post- office, a gauging was maHe on August 20, 1901, which gave a discharge of 96 second-feet. Some 1.200 feet below this point occurs a pool, or sink, l\'ing in a circular basin whose banks, except on the upstream side, are from 75 to 100 feet high. The stream enters this pool through several inlets. It is apparently bottomless, and the water in the hirger end has a slow, circular motion, but whether this is caused by the 52 UINTA INDIAN RESERVATION incoming streams or by suction from below could not be determined. The only visible outlet from the pool is a narrow, rocky channel, which has been widened by blasting- in an effort to increase its flow. It was carrying about 10 second-feet, but this water sunk within a mile or therealwuts. Three miles below the pool the North Branch comes in. One mile al)ove its mouth 8 second-feet were flowing, but the water vanished almost immediately upon reaching the main channel. Seven miles below the pool are located several springs, the upper and largest one being a hole 25 feet in diameter. This pool was perfectly dry, but the lower ones were sending out 33 second-feet. A resident in Dry Fork settlement since 1879 stated that only once before, to his knowl- edge, had these springs furnished water after the subsidence of the usual spring freshet. It was also stated that owing to recent rains the stream above the pool was higher than usual. Two miles below the springs, at the canyon's mouth, two ditches are located, but they had carried no water for several weeks. The stream bed was dr^' from the heads of the ditches to its mouth, 5 miles farther. About 250 feet above the mouth of Dry Fork a gauging of Ashley Creek showed 132 second-feet. At another point 400 feet below the mouth the discharge was 128 second-feet. A closer check than this would probably be impossible in view of the rather rough character of the creek's bed. One mile below Drj^ Fork, at the regular gauging station, a discharge of 154 second-feet was found. The increase shown here is due to a ditch diverting water from the east side of Ashle}^ Creek, a short distance above the mouth of Dr}- Fork, and returning the water to the creek again above the gauging station. Two small ditches, car- rying a total of 3 second-feet, are taken out of Ashley Creek between Dry Fork and the gauging station. The Dry Fork Valley comprises about 1,000 acres of arable land, all of which is under cultivation. Good crops are raised through the use of spring flood waters, but much better results could be obtained by a more certain supply. However, a very small portion of the stream would suffice, leaving a large amount which could be used to excellent advantage in Ashley Valley. The visible supply in the two branches of Dry Fork on August 21 was 104 second-feet, of which amount 33 feet found its way into the ditches. A flume 7 miles in length would carry the water below all known sinks, where it could be turned back into the stream, and be subject to only the usual losses from seep- age, etc. Even if 30 per cent were lost in transmission, a stream capable of much good would still be available. A V-shaped flume was partly constructed some years ago, starting above the pool. It has fallen into disuse, however, but it is understood that plans are being made to rebuild it. A gauging station, described in AVater Supply Paper No. 50, page 368, was established in the canyon of Ashley Creek on March 15, 1900, by C. T. Prall, 7i miles above the town of Vernal, and a short distance above the head of the upper canal. The gauge is a vertical rod, painted white, fastened to the west side of the single pier of the wagon bridge. The bench mark is a twent3'-penny nail driven in the pier opposite the 4-foot mark. Results of measurements for 1900 and 1901 are given in the followino- table: UIlSrTA INDIAN RESERVATION. 53 Estimated monthly discharge of Ashley Creek, near Vernal, Utah. [Drainage area, 250 square miles.] Month. Discharge in second-feet. Maximum.! Minimum. January.. February :M«rch 15 to 31 April May Juiie July August September October November December 1900. The vear. January February .. JIarcli .". ... April May June July , August September . October November . December.. The vear . 49 859 534 102 49 64 55 49 40 859 36 39 43 384 1,119 444 141 476 131 72 63 55 1,119 37 37 43 112 55 40 37 43 40 37 36 36 34 34 354 141 72 72 72 55 Mean. Total in acre-feet. •35 «35 37 40 478 245 74 45 43 44 42 38 96 36 36 37 122 683 232 100 149 96 62 58 52 2.1.52 1,944 2, 275 2, 380 29, 391 14.. 578 4, .5.50 2, 767 2, ,5.59 2. 705 2, 499 2. 337 70, 137 Run-off. Seeond- feet per square mile. 2, 214 1.999 2. 275 7,260 41,996 13, 805 6,149 9.162 5, 712 3,812 3, 451 3,197 101,032 0.14 .14 .15 .16 1.91 .98 .30 .18 .17 .18 .17 .15 Depth in inches. .39 .14 .14 .15 .49 2.73 .93 .40 .60 .38 .25 .23 .21 .00 0.16 .15 .17 .18 2.20 1.09 .35 .21 .19 .21 .19 .17 .16 .15 .17 . 55 3.15 1.04 .46 .69 .42 .29 .26 .24 7. .58 •Approximate. o H32 75 Ski .0 » '^> •^^ ^^: ^0 "-^ '^-^nro ^. .^ »' > 0^ 40. -^^ .':^° .-Jv' ^^ X/^ ^»te %.^ 'M 0^ <'^ *'.. s* ,G /-V \v^i^tf.. ^O ,^\.-'. -^c .0' ?v^^^ > '^•v^^ ■9'^. to -4^ " " " .^ A ^' »<. ^. .^^ ,0^ .- • ^. ^> -^^-0^ : ■a? -<» o A^^ .^ ^ <>N'' ^ >^ v. o V ^^-n^. V* '^<.-.l ?^^ N. MANCHESTER. ^ ^^ ^ o* *"^^^^''. '^•^ <• ^ INDIANA ^-^ O V . ' •^- ■ *> V V, r % \^ o .0 V*. o