The Lamar register., 1901-11-27
WATER SToRA'2E.
Report Of the Secretary sfthe Inter.
Iov on tho Subject.

lov on tho SupJSct.
The following extracts from the
report of Secretary OF the Interior
Hitchcock will be of interest to our
readers:
"In my report for last year stten-
ton was called to the Importance OF
providing, through wise administra-
ton, for the creation Of homes for
millions of people upon the arid but
fertile public lands. This matter is
being given increased attention by
the public press and by writer's upon
the subject and at the last session
OF congress hearings were held by
the committees on public lands and
on irrigation or arid lands OF the
house of representatives.
Briefly stated, the result of the
examinations of the extent to which
arid lands can be reclaimed by irri-
cation, made by the committees OF
congress, show that while one-third
of the United States is still vacant,
there are relatively few localities
where homes can be made. This
is not because the soil is barren or
infertile, but on account of the diff
Guilty Of securing an adequate water
supply. There is water to be had,
but this water is mainly in large
rivers, from which it can be taken
only by great structures, or the sup
ply comes in sudden floods and can
not be utilized until great reservoirs
have been built. 1t is impossible
for a laboring man or an association
of settlers to build these great works.
"The pioneer coming to the arid
region found many small streams
from which wster could be taken out
upon agricultural lands. He was
able through his own efforts to irri
gate small farm and make home.
These easily available waters have
been taken, and man can no longer
secure foothold, although there still
remain 800, 100000 acres of vacant
land. 1t is possible by water storage
and by building diversion works from
great rivers, to bring water to points
where such men can utilize it and
can enjoy opportunities similar to
those had by early settlers. Unless
this is done much OF the country
must remain barren, and thousands
Of men and women eager to become
independent scitizens must remain as
wanderers or tenants of others.
Enough work has been done by
private capital to demonstrate the
fact that water conservation and the
diversion of large rivers is practable,
bnt like many other works of great
public Importance, it can not be made
source of profit. The works of re.
clamation already constructed have,
Is rule, been Improbable, and cap
italists are no longer seeking oppor-
tunities for reclaiming desert land
when the probabilities are against
their receiving an adequate compen-
sation for the risk and labor involved.
'The argument has been present.
ed that if the government will not
make it possible to bring water to
these lands they should be turned
over to the states, but the majority
of citizens who have studied. the sub
ject are opposed to such action, on
the ground that the vacant public
land are the heritage of the people
of the United States and should be
held for the creation of homes, and
not made subject of speculation, as
has almost invariably been the case
with lands donated to the states.
The whole trend of enlightened pub.
lie sentiment is in favor of an expan.
sion of industries and commerce in
ternally through wise action by the
national government rather than at
tempting to get rid of the duties and
opportunities of ownership by giving
away this valuable property.
'It has been estimated that the