The San Francisco call., 1904-06-07
ALMOST LIKE MAGIC WILL
BE GROWTH OF THE WEST
Millions Appropriated
to Reclaim Our
Arid Lands.
BY S. w. WALL.

WASHINGTON, June 6.-The twenty
seven million dollars to be sown through
the arid regions OF the West by the
Government in irrigation work will, it
is estimated, cause a hundred million
acres Of the desert to turn bountiful,
to give prosperous place to four mil-
lion people, to warrant the building OF
cities Of a population double that num-
Der. And the works upon which this
money is TO be expended are expected
to be completed within four years as
the outer limit. Some OF them will be
completed within two years. It Is a
very moving picture, therefore. that is
presented TO the mind with this ener-
getic work in progress in the west.
The value OF this vast area of land
is now nil With the work completed
and the water turned on, value viii
have been created averaging S43 an
acre, or $4,000, ,000, ,O00 AS for the cost
of the vast Improvements making all
this possible, experts say that the value
Of the first crop taken from the land
will match IL.
But the four millions placed upon
profitable farming lands and the other
millions in the towns or cities created
as a result only form part OF the
picture. There is in the first place the
immense impulse given to manufac-
lures in supplying tools and equip
ment; there is the impulse to railroad
building in the development OF the
country and in the distribution Of the
product of these fruitful fields. With
the extension of railroads a thousand
mining enterprises that wait upon
them will come into being.
Every one of the irrigation projects
Of the Government contemplates the
generation of electric power far beyond
its own needs or the needs of the farm-
ers. This will aid the miner and the
manufacturer. So it will be seen that
the Reclamation Service" which came
into being only two years ago, Is en-
gagged in big and beneficent work
The $27 ,0O0, ,000-the first cost of the
work now under ways the govern
mental loan to prosecute the work as
planned in twelve States and Terrific
ries. This money. so il is arranged by
law, will be paid back TO the Govern
ment by those who take up the land
under the provisions of the law and
then the Government viii straightway
spend It again on other reclamation
undertakings. for which reconnaissance
is already being made. And when
these other works are completed and
the money they cost returned IL will be
spent again on still other works. And
so the reclamation service will con-
tinue widening the area of bloom in the
desert until there is no desert. or at
least no further waters with which TO
reclaim it.
A PLEASING VIEW.
So the more you look at this enter
prise of the Government the more
pleasing and inspiring it is. Moved by
it, the question at once occurs. How
are lands to be secured under the law
that is 10 work this charm?" The an
swer is simply the homestead law
the homestead law modified. The num-
Der Of acres that may be taken UP by
individuals varies according TO eli
mate. soil and other conditions. The
Secretary of the Interior fixes the unit
under each project upon reports made
TO him as to these conditions They
run from 160 acres to forty acres. For
it will be seen that forty acres of irri-
gated land in California, for instance,
is more attractive TO a settler than 160
acres would be in some remote part of
Arizona. The settler must agree TO pay
the cost of the improvement. The
Government agents assess this proper
tionately over all the land benefited 1t
is 10 be paid in ten annual payments
This assessment represents the exact
cost and with no interest. OF course,
the Cost Is not Ine same IN any TWO
cases, nor is the area benefited the
same. all Of which raises interesting
questions that must be met by the in
dividual and that make no part of this
story. This story is Of the magnificent
enterprise and much more magnificent
results in bulk. Seeing that the Gov
ernment is put to it to reclaim the des-
ert for the reason that there is need OF
il, there will be little disposition to
80 Al l. Il
truth the anxiety is on the other hand
1t no sooner becomes known that an
irrigation district is TO be formed than
settlers rush in and file upon the land.
thereby taking every chance of throw
ing away their rights. For the law
requires that water must be put upon
the land within one year from the date
Of filing and in no instance can the
Government do this Government
agents are continually warning settlers
Of the conditions and of the risk they
take in making filings or settling upon
lands prematurely. The Secretary of
the Interior will give due notice when
entries may be made with safety The
works now determined upon are as fol-
lows:
Arizona - Salt River project. where
So. 100000 is to be expended.
California - So-called Yuma project.
Colorado - Uncompahgre project, to
cost $2.OOO.OO0
Idaho - Minidoka project, for which
81. 800 900 is allotted
Montana-Alilk River project, to cost
81 800. 900.
Nevada - Truckee Carson project.
now under construction, to cost about
81. 900 0O0
New Mexico-Hondo project, to cost
$3.50. 900.
North Dakota-Fort Bedford project.
taking water from Yellowstone River
in Montana, cost 81, 200, ,000
Oregon - Malheur project, costing
g. 900 900.
Utah--Conservation of water in Utah
Lake at cost of about - 0O0, 0O0
Washington - Reclamation Of land
near Posco. cost about 81. .0000 900.
Wy ming = Storage and diversion of
Shoshone River near Cody, for which
s., ,250, 900 is allotted
The law creating the reclamation
service providing for these great irri-
cation enterprises, which are designed
To cover the entire arid regions so far
as that is possible, was passed June II,
1902, and is due to President Roosevelt
and his interest and knowledge of the
situation more than to any other man
or instrumentality. The whole Western