Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-10-05
Arid Land in Sixteen States and Territories to
be Reclaimed by Government
Enactment.
ANOTHER FLING AT THE SPECTATORS
Uncle Sam Called Upon to Preserve the Land That is Left
The Private Developers Plan

Some of the oponents of national ir-
rfgation, who would like to see all the
resources Of the west reserved for
speculation, are asserting that the
work which the government has I'M
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
place where important irrigation work
may be done without acquiring GER
tain amount ofspriyate property as the
foundation. Rights of way, reservoir
sites and, sometimes, prior appropria-
tions in the water supply, must be pur-
chased in order to clear the way for
a comprehensive undertaking.
1t often happens that such proper
ties have been held for years with a
view of selling at high prices when
the time for development shall arrive.
The private promoter who has select
ed his field of operations is easily sub
jeet to hold up He is dealing
with but single proposition. He
must have there privileges, or abandon
his enterprise.
The government is in very diff
ferent situation. The irrigation law
charges the secretary of the interior
with the duty of investigating oppor-
tunities for reclamation in sixteen
states and territories. in each of which
there are many chances for the prof
table expenditure Of funds at his dis
posal. When his experts have deter
mined what Is a reasonable price for
the property needed in a given local.
ty. he is in position to say, Take It,
or leave it." and everybody under
stands that he means business.
The declination of his proposition
means simply that his field Of opera
tions will be instantly transferred
elsewhere. He has nothing at stake
In the matter. Ii one locality does
not want the help Of Uncle Sam, then
there are fifty others that do. He can,
of course, proceed by condemnation
to acquire the property and have the
case tried in community which is
quite. certain to treat him fairly, but
his strong card is the fact that the
demand for government aid far ex-
ceeds the supply and that he may,
therefore. always make far better
terms than private parties could hope
to do, thus effecting considerable
saving in the initial cost of the work.
But this advantage is far less i'm
portant than the one which the gov
ernment enjoys on the financial side.
II Is notoriously difficult to finance
private irrigation enterprises nova
days. II is never done except upon
the promise OF enormous profits. Ex-
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 land will instantly
be worth from s25 to $50 per acre
nnimproved, or twice as much after
Improvement II will cost only IS to
$40 per acre TO bring land and water
together. The government price Of the
land Is $1.25 per acre. The difference
between the cost Of land and water
and the value Of these elements when
they have been united is profit And
the prospectus usually figures that
this will range all the way from 1OC
to 500 per cent Usually these allur
ing figures are still further inflated by
the suggestion that the company can
obtain plenty Of dry land itself at gov
ernment figures and hold i for specu
latlon.
But the glittering prospectus Is moi
yet done with the home seeker who
forms the basis of all these cheerful
expectations It will be noted that he
is to practically but the system al
several times what II cost, but Is hs
III own II afterwards? Decidedly not
The company still owns II and collects