The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1904-08-13
MANY FAKE IRRIGATION SCHEMES
ON FOOT.
Such Is the Declaration of Secre-
tary Newell. Who Has just Re-
turned From a Long Tour OF
the West--Prospective Investors
should BE Careful.

Washington, Aug. disappointment
ent Newell, of the irrigation service,
has returned to Washington from a
long tour of inspection in the West
There are now 800 engineers, surveyors
and helpers in the federal reclamation
service, out in the field, planning to
carry out various irrigation projects.
Mr.. Newell says he found the keenest
interest in irrigation prevailing among
the people of the states which he Wis
tied, and this has caused him to issue
a general warning.
Irrigation is like mining in one re.
spect, Mr.. Newell says 1t inspires all
sorts of schemes, honest and disreputa-
BILE, and he thinks the interest Of the
people in reclamation work may cause
them to be imposed upon by unscrupu-
Ions persons.
There are many instances" he
said, "of honest, effective and legiti-
mate irrigation works, where the set
tiers themselves, or their capital to
some extent, have gone in and built
the works, owning or controlling them
along with the reclaimed land; but l
do not know of any of the big private
schemes which are what might be
called legitimate development enter
prises.. They are exploited probably
more for selling stocks and bonds than
for watering land.
Irrigation Development may be
compared to mining development. The
two are quite similar in their methods
of finance. The gold or the copper
mine, or the oil we'll which is already
proven good thing, is taken up and
operated by its owners. 1t is made
into close corporation proposition in
every case. If, on the other hand, the
supply of metal or oil is problematical,
then it is made an attractive stock and
bond scheme, and other peoples money
in large quantities is solicited. At
tempt is being made to float very quos-
tionabe irrigation schemes all over the
West"
Trustful and Confading.
Mr.. Newell remarks that it is singu-
lar how many men Of good sense will
go into wildcat irrigation schemes.
"A successful grocer, for instance"
be continued, "who if he were invest
ing his money in the grocery business
would find out every detail and every
in and out of the new business, and
would make close and advantageous
deal, will draw his check for some ir-
rigation stocks or bonds in the most
.rustful and confiding manner, paying
for an investment regarding which hc
knows absolutely nothing, can find out
nothing, and which is as problematic-
al in its returns as the veriest wildcat
mine. Other people make personal in
vestigation. They go over the land to
be reclaimed; they see splendid crops
growing on other lands which have
been reclaimed, and having "investi.
gated" they confidently invest, even
though tract of so, ZOO acres is TO be
reclaimed with a water supply INSULT
cient for 5000 acres. am mention
ing these figures advisedly. There are
instances today where irrigation shares
are being sold for land containing alb.
solutsly no water supply at all, and
whichc an never be irrigated, but will
always remain desert.
1.-THE meanest and most contempt
BILE of sales are where the promoters
hold out the alluring picture to the
poor man Of family that he is, by his
small regular contributions, buying
home for himself-a little home to
which he can go in his older age, and
by reason of bountiful crops due to ir-
rgation support himself and his family.
Thousands of people in the United
States are making such contributions,
which they might as we'll throw into
a rat hole"