New-York tribune., 1900-12-27
ARID LAND IRRIGATION.
GOVERNMENT PREPARED TO MEET THE
PHYSICAL PROBLEMS.
FULL INFORMATION READY FOR HOME
sEEKERs-THE QUESTION TREATED
FROM A BROAD POINT OF VIEW.
rErr-rrcn.rH TO TIE rRrsuxE.l

tsr rz1renarH TO THE TRrsUSEl
Washington. Dec. 26.-If Congress accepts the
principle involved in the Federal reclamation of
arid public lands, the Government is fully pre-
pared TO meet the physical problems which viii
Immediately arise. The rapid irrigation devel-
opnent Of the West in the last ten years is to
a remarkable degree due to the thorough and
valuable work undertaken by the Photographic
Department OF the Geological Survey. With
limited appropriations the experts of this d.
vision have made a systematic study Of condi-
tions in the arid regions. giving the results In
timely bulletins or in annual reports They
have acted as a bureau of information and ad-
visory board 10 the irrigation farmers. Field
parties have penetrated the most remote sec
tons in the search for the fountain heads OF
streams and the starting points of watershed
divides. There is no section Of the United States
where the intending settler need remain without
the geological and photographed data neces-
sary fully 10 acquaint him with all local posi-
bilities. The work done has not been TO aid the
capitalist seeking investment, but the head
Of a family seeking a home. He has only to
ask, and he Will be told at once all about his
land and water, how TO build his reservoir, dam,
ditch windmill in the cheapest, most prac-
tical and safest way. Incidental TO this de-
tailed work, however, the Government has
handled the question from far broader point of
view The present check in the reclamation OF
public land by private enterprise has long been
foreseen. It was inevitable that, with public
land passing to private and corporate owner
ship at the rate Of over thirteen million acres
year as was the case in the last twelve months,
II would be only short time until all the water
easily available would be appropriated and con-
servation upon a large and expensive scale be
demanded.
WHY BIG ENTERPRISES HAVE FAILED.
The progress Of irrigation work has been care
fully watched The small irrigator has been
assisted in every way. To the great enterprise
the necessary data and advice have been fur
nished, its usual failure has been noted. and
the causes have been ascertained. These have
been found TO rest on several general reasons.
the principal ones being the greediness Of capi-
tai. lack OF good engineering and management.
inability TO absolute control Of the water
supply and land, and a failure the part Of
home seekers 20 take advantage Of the oppor-
tunities offered 10 acquire farms. The original
expense Of nearly all extensive irrigation plants
is generally much larger than the first estimate
upon which the capital is secured. The returns
are much smaller and slower in coming in than
expected The companies are generally
loaded UP with a lot Of high salaried officials,
who are merely dead weight The distance Of
the plant from the home Office and the distance
Of the home Office from the stockholders are
conducive TO careless and expensive adnninistra-
ton. This combination of circumstances has
generally proved sufficient TO wreck the most
promising scheme. No relief is possible by in
creasing the charge for water, for in nearly all
the arid States the local authorities reserve the
right in granting charters TO fix the price at
which the companies shall sell water to the
settlers. For political reasons these water
charges are kept down 10 the minimum, often
below the actual cost Of operation, and this ele-
ment in the situation has done as much as any
thing else TO discourage large investments in ir-
rigation works. These conditions have long been
understood by the Government irrigation ex-
neTts, and they have anticipated the time when
demand would be made upon the Nation to
take the matter in hand
The rapid extension Of forest reserves has held
IN escrow many desirable sites for irrigation
exploitation. anG upon the recommendation of
The photographic engineers many available sites
for large storage reservoirs have also been re-
served from settlement. so as TO reduce The cost
OF the enterprises when they should be finally
undertaken public expense-an outcome re-
gsroeo as inevitable. In all the surveys made
especial attention has been paid to the future
Of the work Whenever it was apparent that
by the proper regulation of its water supply,
plan for such regulation has been worked out
the effect upon already established communities
estimated and the amount Of Government land
which would be made salabe determined. Hence
II IL is decided 10 spend money in decreasing
The public arid land area, the manner Of pro-
oedure is already mapped out in ietan
CONSTRUCTION OF STORAGE RESERVOIRS
Iae legislation and accompanying appropra-
tion asked from Congress propose 10 take ad-
vantage Of the work done by the Government
engineers by the construction Of one or more
Of the storage reservoirs which have been Sc
lected as promising the greatest results for the
investment. The reservoirs ere to be built in
regions where the rainfall is entirely inadequate
for crop growing. but their purpose will not
he solely 10 furnish water 10 farming land In
al such places there is a vast amount OF flood
water in the winter early spring when crops
are not ready TO be served with moisture This
water passes away in very short time with
almost torreatal force. Immediately following
these foods comes the dry season. No rain
falls. The SHOWS have all melted. Streams dry