The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-10-06
GOVERNMENT IRRIGATION CHEAPEST
BY WILLIAM E. SMYTHE.

IL NV AAAA\AN
Is By WILLIAM
Some of the opponents of national
irrigation, who would like to see all
the resources of the west reserved for
speculation, are asserting that the
work which the government has un-
dertaken might be performed more
economically by private enterprise.
The claim is utterly untenable, and
for reasons which are obvious upon
the slightest consideration.
To begin with, there is scarcely a
place where important irrigation work
may be done without acquiring a
certain amount of private property as
the foundation. Rights of way, res
ervoir sites and, sometimes, prior ap-
preparations in the water supply, must
be purchased in order to clear the
way for a comprehensive undertaking.
If often happens that such proper
ties have been held for a with
a view of selling at high prices when
the time for development shall ar
rive. The private promoter who has
selected his field of operations is
easily subject to a "hold-up." He is
dealing with but a single proposition.
He must have these privileges, or
ohordop hic orfornr;co
The government is in a very differ
ent situation. The irrigation law
charges the secretary OF the interior
with the duty of investigating oppor-
tunities for reclamation in 16 states
and territories, in each of which there
are many. chances for the profitable
expenditure of funds at his disposal.
When his experts have determined
what is a reasonable price for the
property needed in a given locality,
he is in a position to say: "Take it or
leave it." And everybody understands
that he means business.
The declination of his proposition
means simply that his field of opera
lions will be instantly transferred
elsewhere. He has nothing at stake
in the matter. If one locality does
not want the nelp of Uncle Sam. then
there are fifty others that do. He
can, of course, proceed by condem-
nation to acquire the property and
have the case tried in a community
which is quite certain to treat him
fairly, but his strong card is the
fact that the demand for government
aid far exceeds the supply and that
he may, therefore, always make far
better terms than private parties
could hope to do, thus effecting a
considerable saving in the initial cost
of the work.
But this advantage is far less inn
portant than the n which the GOV
eminent enjoys on the financial side.
1t is VIGOROUSLY difficult to finance
private irrigation enterprises nova
days. 1t is eve done except upon
the promise of enormous profits. Elk
anime the average promoters pros
pectus, and you will find that the
proposition runs about like this:
The land is worthless without wa
ter. The company controls the only
possible source of supply. When this
is developed, the lond will instantly
be worth from $25 to $50 per acre,
unimproved, or twice as much after
Improvement. 1t will cost only SIS to
$40 per acre to bring land and water
together. The government price Of
the land is s1.25 per acre. The diff
ference between the cost of land and
water and tho value of these elements
when they have been united is pro
fit" And the prospectus usually fig
ures that this will range all the way
from 100 to 500 per cent. Usually
these alluring figures are still further
inflated by the suggestion that the
company can obtain plenty of dry
land itself at government figures and
hold it for speculation.
But the glittering prospectus is not
yet done with the homeseeker who
forms the basis of all these cheerful