The Delta independent., 1904-11-04

| cultivate il before a clear title to the
water can be had from the government
Thus. collusinn or evasion OF the purpose
of the law is to a large extent prevented.
In a rapidly growing country II Is hard
Is credible that any collusion to obtain
water can bold throughout a hong period.
especially with danger of forfeiture at
the end OF that time.
The main feature Of the law is to Sc
cure the development 81 the arid region
and the utilization Of III. great resources
which experience has shown cannot he
put to beneficial usage by private en-
terpri>e. and which. IL properly utilir-
ed: may hecome the greatest source Of
strength to the common onweakh through
the creation OF homes. II matters little
whether the land thus utilized happened
to he, nt the time Of construction. OF pub
lie or private ownership. The main thing
is to secure ultimately the building of
homes and the placing Of these in the
han Of people who become -eif-supr.ort-
ing and who can and will rcfunh 10
the government the cost Of rccla ton.
This is an object In which not only the
government. In; all classes Of citizen.
and most industries are directly inter
ested.
All Busissss wtr BE Bens6tsd.
Tho transoontineutal railroads r~cog-
mir. that they will lie hrs, henchciarics
. nj the perpetual gamers by this home
building movement and they are wisely
contributing largely TO the success of
the movement Ii is true some OF them
have land 10 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
tlsmen. but as a matter OF business they
know IL l. much better 80 even donate
them to settlers who will live on the
farms and make homes OF the newly irri-
gated heritage, Tn" manufacturing and
jobbinS Interests Of the East have also
contributed TO this work to no small
degree. as they believe that in the Wes;
Is the greatest home market for manu-
facturc.i products OF all kinds
II has sometimes been held up As a
reflection against the advocates Of Ma
tional Irrigation that the great railroads
and manufacturers Of the Eas; are in
tere>,e ed and have contributed time and
influence TO the cause. hut in this dire
ton the interest OF the people Of the
country and that OF the railroads and
industrial organizations arc identical-
namely: TO bring together the man who
is seeking a home. and the opportunities
for making one.
Private Capital Inadequate.
Private enterprise is still active in the
arid rrEion. and there are many locali-
ties where irrigation works are being
huilt by individuals and corporations,
hut the great problem can never he made
commercially successful and vast tracts
OF fertile land will be condemned to
Stcrilry unless the government takes
charge Of such projects through the
operations OF the new reclamation law.
II this Law il successfully administered.
which Il will he under Republican admin
istration. millions Of prosperous homes
will he built in localities now waste
and dcsolat~ and the republic strengthen.
GUS. high minded citizens.
Mig Pr"j j,cts Under Way.
Among the Important projects appruv-
ed and now hcing constructed by the
may bc mentioned works at
Dam. Wyoming; GunniSon
Col; Truckee and Carson Rivers, |
New; Milk River and st. Mary's Lake, |
Mont. and Tonto Creek. Ariz. Roughly |
estimated. these will make possible the |
irrigation Of something over one million |
acres OF land at cost of seven and !
half million dollars. or an average of |
s. so an acre. As a matter of fact, much |
OF this area is unsuita bic or unfsyors hlc |
.or cultivation. Probably only abou, GO |
per cent ot the total will he found |
worthy of a rerlaiming; this will increase |
the average cost TO something like So 80 |
an acrc.
SwreSwater Dam is on Swcctvater
River. at Devils Gate, forty miles west
,f Casper and forty miles north OF Raw
ins. Wyo. This project will reclaim
,hout 100000 acres. ihe Gunnisop Tun-
mel scheme will reclaim about lO0,osO
acres and is located near Montrosc, in
Central Colorado. In Nevada II is pro
posed to divert water from Lake Tahoe.
Cal. and its outiet-;hc Trickce river