In June 1902, Congress created the Reclamation Service, which was tasked with making the arid lands of the west productive through irrigation projects. Nevada, California, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, North and South Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon and Washington all were involved. Public land was to be sold to individuals to pay for irrigation projects that would make farmsteads viable. The 317-page report provides an in-depth examination of these lands and includes 15 folding maps at the rear of the volume highlighting vacant public lands, private grants, and Indian reservations. Numerous other maps, sketches, profiles and black & white photographic images of the terrain are interspersed throughout the text. While speculators were able to take control of the best lands that would benefit from irrigation, the implementation of the irrigation projects overall contributed to significant growth in the western states during the 20th century. Hardbound in contemporary quarter leather with tips over marbled boards with gilt title on the spine.

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Condition: B

The maps are good to very good with many creases, some binding tears, and occasional short fold separations. A couple of the maps have rough edges (in the margins). Text has some occasional foxing. Covers have moderate shelf wear.