Fergus County argus., 1902-07-16
Department Will Endeavor to Prove
by Early Experiments the Feast.
bility of Great Projects.
THE ST. MARYs CANAL scEHME
Charges That the Work is In the In.
terest OF Certain Railroads
Pronounced Unwarranted.

the western states is that the secre.
tary Of the interior shall carry out
the provisions of the new irrigation
law with only such haste as is safe
and in such way as to place the
great area of reclaimed lands in the
hands of settlers in the shortest con-
sistent time. Ii seems to be the prev
alent belief that the best results will
be obtained If the government first
undertakes the construction of me-
dium sized irrigation projects, at a
moderate cost. each in itself reclaim
ing a modest area of land capable,
under irrigation, of producing crops of
the first order. Suggestions of this
sort were made to the department by
many senators and representatives
just before they lett Washington for
the summer.
Plans Work of Season.
For the past week or two Secretary
Hitchcock has been comforting with
his bureau officers, planning the work
of the present season. Secretary
Hitchcock is not personally familiar
with irrigation matters, or with land
matters generally. He is therefore
Obliged to depend largely upon the
recommendations of his subordinates.
The suggestions of Superintendent
Wolcott OF the geological survey, and
OF Chief photographer Newell are
given every consideration, and 1t
seems probable that the work of ex-
animation will be made almost, IL not
entirely, by the survey.
There is much data of a general
character now available but there are
no reports of sufficient detail to war
rant the secretary in adopting or re-
jecting the sites heretofore examined.
Trust Secretary's Judgment.
II is a rather remarkable thing that
in spite of the overwhelming demand
of the west for irrigation, the west.
ern congressman are not insisting
that the first work shall be nndertak.
en- in any one state. They have so far
deferred entirely to the judgment OF
Secretary Hitchcock. merely urging
him not to undertake large and ex-
pensive projects at the outset.
They say that the eyes of the east
are now on the states to be benefited
by the irrigation law, and the initial
works begun and put in operation un-
der that act will be watched through
out their course of construction.
There is yet doubt in the minds of
many that general irrigation by lhe
congressman are anxious that the
first projects shall be all that is
claimed for them. For this reason,
primarily, they have asked that works
giving most promise. on a modest
scale. shall be first undertaken.
Distribute the improvements.
But there are other reasons why
medium projects are advocated. II
works whose construction will cost
in the neighborhood of 100000 or
100000 are begun, it will mean that
ten or twelve projects may be under
taken simultaneously. This will make
II possible to begin one system each
in a majority of the arid land states,
and to distribute the improvements in
all sections of the west. II will en-
able the secreatry to demonstrate that
irrigation is a success alike in Ari-
zona and In Oregon in Montana and
in Nevada; in states where private
irrigation is now being carried on
with success. and in states where 1t
is almost unknown.
II is thought, too, that II the coun-
try once demonstrates the feasibility
of irrigation in sections heretofore
avoided, that private interest will
awaken to the advantages In store.
and that larger areas will be put under
water than would naturally be improv-
ed without this encouragement.
Reason for Protest.
The fact that Secretary Hitchcock
in his last annual report made favor
able mention of two projects In Ari-
zona, and OF the st. Mary canal pro-
ject in Montana has given rise to a
protest from any that to begin opera
tions on these three schemes would
require the expenditure not only OF
the funds now on hand, but Of all
other funds derived from the sale OF
public lands for ten years to come,
to the exclusion OF all other irrigation
work. This, II is argued. would give
rise to adverse sentiment, and would
make the new law practically inopera-
tive for ten years or more, SO far as
the settler himself was concerned.
What is wanted by those congress-
men who have spoken is the early rec
lamation of lands, so that settlement
may not be unnecessarily delayed.
This will not only early demonstrate
the practicability Of the law, but.
through the disposal OF the water
rights to these settlers. will very ma
terially add to the reclamation fund,
as the money arising from the pur-
chase of water rights goes immediate
ly back to the water fund, and Is at
once available for use second time.
ST. Mary Project
What course Secretary Hitchcock
will pursue remains to be seen. He
will certainly begin no work until a
| full report is had from the investiga.
tions that are to be made this sum-
mer. The fact that he ordered the
withdrawal OF large tract adjacent
to the proposed ST. Mary project in
Montana is believed to be indicative
that this project will ultimately be
authorized. 1t is probable. based on
J examinations to be made In that vicin'