The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1904-11-03

cultivate it before a clear title to the
water can be had from the government.
Thus, COLLISION or evasion OF the purpose
of the law is to a large extent prevented.
In a rapidly growing country it is hard
ly credible that any COLLISION to OBTAIN
water can hold throughout a long period,
especially with danger of forfeiture at
the end Of hat time.
The main feature Of the law is to Sc
| cure the development OF the arid region
and the utilization Of the great resources
which ex experience has shown cannot De
put to beneficial usage by private en-
terprise, and which, if properly utlliz-
ed, may become the greatest source OF
strength to the commonwealth through
the creation of homes. 1t matters little
whether the land thus utilized happened
to be, at the time of construction, OF pup
lrc or private ownership. The main thing
is to secure ultimately the building OF
homes and the placing of these in the
hands of people who become ~self-support-
ing and who can and will refund to
the government the cost of reclamation.
This is an object in which not only the
government, but all classes of citizens
and most industries are directly inter
ested.
Ali Business Will Be Benefited.
The tr~anscontinental railroads recog-
nize that they will be first beneticiaries
and the perpetual gamers by this home
building movement and they are wisely
contributing largely to the success of
the movement. 1t is true some of them
have land to sell. but the profit from the
sale of such land is as nothing compared
to the annual traffic resulting from the
establishment of innumerable homes.
The railroads could sell the lands to cat
tlemen, but as a matter of business they
know it is much better to even donate
them to settlers who will live on the
farms and make homes of the newly irri-
gated heritage. The manufacturing and
jobbing interests OF the East have also
contributed to this work to no small
degree, as they believe that in the West
is the greatest home market for manu-
featured products of all kinds.
1t has sometimes been held up "a a
reflection against the advocates OF Ma
tional Irrigation that the great railroads
and manufacturers of the East are in
terested and have contributed time and
influence to the cause. but in this direc-
ton the interest of the people OF the
country and that Of the railroads and
industrial organizations are Identical
namely: to bring together the man who
is seeking a home, and the opportunities
for making one.
Private Ca pita1 Inadequate.
Private enterprise is still active in thu
arid region, and there are many local.
ties where irrigation works are being
built by individuals and corporations
but the great problem can never be made
commercially successful and vast tract.
= of fertile land will be condemned t,
sterility unless the government take
charge Of such projects through thu
4 operations of the new reclamation law
If this law is successfully administered
c which it will be under Republican admin
istration, millions of prosperous home
will be built in localities now vast,
f and desolate and the republic strengthen
/ ed by myriads of conservative, prosper
Gus, high-minded citizens.
Zig Projects Under Way.
) Among the important projects approv
d ed and now being constructed by tn
II government. may be mentioned works a
n Sweetwater Dam, Wyoming; Gunniso
e Tunnel. Col; Truckee and Carson Rivers
= New: Milk River and st. Mary's Lake
Mont, and Tonic Creek. Ariz. Rough
estimated, these will make possible tn
irrigation of something over one millio
acres of land at a cost of seven and
l. half million dollars. or an average @
E. 81 80 an acre. AS a matter of fact, muc
lie of this area is unsuita BILE or unfavora bl
lie for cultivation. Probably only about 6
" per cent. OF the total will be foun
$, worthy of a reclaiming; this will increas
e, the average cost to something like $12.5
st an acre.
lie Sweetwater Dam is ON weetw ate
River, at Devils Gate. forty miles ives
of Casper and forty miles north of RAY
Is Inns, Wyo. This project will reclai,
e, about 100000 acres. Ihe Gunnisou TuI
I'll mel scheme will reclaim about 100. 90
IN acres and is located near Montrose. j
-h Central Colorado. In Nevada it is DR.,
or posed to divert water from Lake Taho.
Id Cal. and its outlet-the Truckee rive