New-York tribune., 1900-12-25
ARID LAND IRRIGATION.
POSSIBILITY OF DEVELOPING VAST
AREAS IN THE WEST
HALT IN SETTLEMENT DUE TO THE IN
cREAsTNG DIFFICULTY OF SECURING
wATER-A PROSPECT OF GOV
EMINENT AID.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.I

/
where large capital is required for the recIanla-
tion of most of these lands and where the domain
| Of public policy is invaded in the further appro-
J priation and con fervation of water by private
interest The situation be briefly expressed IN
figures. The United States still owns 6oooooOoo
acres Of public land geographically possible or
settlement One hundred and sxty-six million
acres are forest of more or less commercial
value Sixty million acres are desert of no value
under present circumstances. Three hundred
and seventy-four million acres of these lands are
suitable for grazing, though Of such aridity that
they are not -vailable for farming purposes
The ceasus of 1890 showed three million acres
of irrigated land in the United States, and the
census of 1900 will show seven million acres.
Irrigated land is intensely cultivated and sup
ports population averaging one person to each
acre. 1t is estimated that by the year 1925
the population of the United States will be
150, 900. The photographic department OF
the Government states that if the present sup
ply Of water be properly conserved and regulated
100 100000 acres now suitable only for grazing
be used as farming lard and thus support
an additional population of 100,000.000 people.
GREAT ENTERPRISES USUALLY FAILURES
The history OF irrigation in the United States
demonstrates that. whereas Irrigation enter
prises on a small scale have been uniformly sue
almost without exception disastrous failures.
Wherever it has been possible to secure water
at small cost or by associated labor, settlers
have crowded in, appropriated the available
moisture, built their bitches and reclaimed their
land with great profit to themselves. Govern
ment land bringing from 81 25 to 81 30 an acre
has by these efforts been increased in a single
year TO a salable value OF from $50 to 500 an
acre. depending on transportation, market facili-
%3a and fnA oh star off fna
The opportunity for development of this land
has practically disappeared with the exception
Of well digging which is still possible in places
like Western Kansas where there is an enor-
nous underfiow Of water close TO the surface of
the ground. AS soon as it realized that the
opportunity for individual effort on small
scale had passed capital was attracted by the
enormous returns promised in the putting Of
water on large areas of cheap land. Opportuni-
ties apparently abundant. Great rivers
wended their way through fertile plains. the
waters of the rivers being free to all, and the
land to be secured from the State or Federal
Government at minimum prices. On this basis
1t was easy to prepare prospectus which would
show returns Of several hundred per cent on the
money invested in the construction Of dams and
canals. Promoters and spectators were not
long in entering this field. and not only were
large amounts of American capital sent into the
arid waste for this purpose, but European in
vestors eagerly grasped the apparently golden
opportunity.
The history of these investments is one of dis
appointment and disaster. few Of the great
canals which were constructed in this way have
been the means of retaining a large amount
Of land, and very few have returned some
profit to the men who furnished the capital
The latter cases are exceptionally rare, the rule
being profit, and in most cases direct loss
of money expended. and the impossibility of
curing the return of any of the original capital
English investors have been particularly
fortunate in this matter, and the wrecks of
promising enterprises are now scattered from
Eastern Washington to the Rio Grande until
it is almost an impossibility to secure from
capital a moments consideration of an irri-
cation enterprise. For this reason apparent
limit has been reached in the immediate rec
iamation of more arid land in the West.
STATE AND GOVERNMENT AID.
For many years Congress has been asked to
cede TO the various States the arid lands within
their borders. The purpose of this was TO allow
State enterprises TO undertake their reclamation
by the placing of bonds or some other encour-
agenent 10 capital based on a guarantee Of ade-
quate returns. Direct Government aid has also
been favored by many for an equal length of
time, but the opposition Of the humid States,
with their preponderance of representation, has
heretofore rendered this a hopeless contention.
The idea of ceding the arid lands to the indi-
vidual States apparently made considerable
headway at one time. Congress received many
memorials in its favor. and numerous commit
tees have journeyed to the capital from distant
points to lend the weight of their personal in
huence TO the movement. The experience OF
recent years. however has been such as to make
the transfer 10 the States of Federal property or
authority unpopular. Where States have owned
large bodies of land the trust has been shame
fully abused. Leases OF this land in large tracts
have been secured by political influence and
bribery and 1t has been given away to individ-
uals or corporations without adequate return to
the people. The State Governments have shown
little conception of the Importance of reserving
to the homesteader the virgin lands of the coun-
try or Of encouraging the small highly culti-
! waited holding which increases the population
and community wealth at tremendous ratio.
| The advocates Of the cession idea fought long
and hard before acknowledging defeat but
within the last year they have given up all
| hope CT the success of their scheme and have
/ turned their attention TO securing Federal aid
| in the reclamation of land within the arid
States. Ten years ago such a proposition as
this met with scanty attention from Congress.
Less than three years ago the Assistant Secre-
| tary OF Agriculture made the statement at one
| OF the irrigation congresses that the farmers Of
| the East would never consent TO the enlarge
| ment through Government aid Of the competi-
tive agricultural area Of the country
CONGRESS LIKELY TO GIVE AID.
change has come over the spirit of the
Nation in the treatment of such matters. and
there seems to be no longer any hesitation in
giving serious consideration TO anything which
may improve the commercial facilities OF the
! country or increase the habitabe area TO make
room for a rapidly growing population. En-
couraged by this attitude the movement for
Federal Improvement of arid lands is taking
shape and has become a tangible influence in