The state herald., 1904-11-04
How Uncle Sam Is Retaining Millions Of Acres
of Mon-Pro1ucye and Arid Lands.
ROOSEvELTS FRIENDSHIP FOR THE WEST
Manner of Determining Reservoir Sites and How
Organized Effort Secures the Highest Eff.
cency-Gmpses Of the Future
of "Arid America"

The general public has not had time
70 become familiar with the workings
OF the reclamation service under the
National Irrigation law, which passed
Congress, June nth, 1902, through the
direct personal influence of President
Roosevelt
As previously stated in these columns,
TINS is one of the most important meas
ures that has ever been enacted by
Congress. Perhaps no one now living
can fully appreciate its far-reaching
benefcent effect upon the domestic. So
cal and political lives of future general
tons of American citizens. Active opera
tons began as soon as the measure be
came law: an organized body of gov
er1iment engineers was already in the
Western field connected with the geo
logical and typographical surveys. 1t
will be of interest to voters to know,
before election day, something of the
modus operandi of this National lrriga-
don Act for which President Roosevelt
Is personally and directly responsible.
National Irrigation Explained.
- previously stated, the funds for
tlps great work are derived from the
1pls or disposal OF public lands located
y the thirteen States and three terri
Dries affected, and the work Is con.
nsequently confined to this area. There
now In the reclamation fund, some
Ling over $27 100000. This fund is in
0Dasing rapidly every month. When
Is stated that the proportion Of gov
i. lament land IN many of these arid
ntes is from 20 to % per cent. of the
o1>Ire area, some vague idea may be had
rqkyhe enormous amount that is destined
~to accumulate in this irrigation fund as
the result of the sale of these govern
ineht lands during the next fifty years.
Al! OF this money goes into the reclaim
alton fund. Whenever any portion OF
Il ia expended for the construction OF
reservoirs. dams or bitches. it is return
ed TO the government within a period OF
ten years, in the form OF ten equal an
nual installments. from the actual oc-
cuphnts of the land, so reclaimed by
Irrigation.
over 800 Engineers Mt Work.
To carry out the purpose of this law,
an efficient engineering corps has been
gained. under civil service rules, and
from the men already in the field. Over
three hundred such engineers, together
with large number of helpers, are al
ready in the field. From time TO time.
Lther men are being added, especially
rom the graduates OF professional
rhoois throughout the country. II Is
V policy of the government to retain
rn for this work who are known to
Dsess high principles and undoubtcd IN.
eity, for 1t il believed that the great
sNulic work can he planned and built
u4D4y only by men OF the highest
A0 0lsctiou Of Reservoir Sites.
rh OF the States and territories n
kcS ~ study Is being made OF natural
A -itetions which offer opportunities for
clokmins large bodies of land. After
due preliminnry work. few Of such
prujects. say two or three. which are
che most promising, are selected for
more careful survey aud investigation,
From comparison Of results 50 oh.
tained. one OF these is chosen by the
dintrct engineer. when he u ready Ia
report upon the work. with recommend.
etions. the facts and figures are sub
saitted u the board of engineers. who
pan upon them. Sometimes additional
tncormation Is sought or the conclusions
ere moiiiirl.
"a, When agreement Is reached. the re-
cults are transmitted to the Secretary
Of the Interior with definite recommend.
ati0ns for immediate action nnd with full
fscts as 20 cost aud benefits Final
action IL thus taken only after the most
critical examination of existing conil'
tions and comparison Of these with Other
projects. In some of these arid States
Z general reconnaissance IL still being
carried On. in others plans and estimates
have been completed. aud In numbcr
Of instances work has actually begun on
large scale along the line Of construct
'gE daus aud reservoirs Contracts ar,
likely e. be let within the next few
months Tor several more. mammoth en-
trrpris-s which will reclaim few mil
bon acrys OF land.
orrany,iag communItie. for irrIgs'
tIoo.
Sicr the terms of The law. the work.
wicHl built. ar. TO he paid for In tri
.ennnk Al lnstHllments and are ultimately
-'A, owned aud operated by the pco
pi. uslng the water, The problems be
fore the reclamation service, therefore
.sv nat merely engineering In character
10 are largely legal and pertain to ,h'
o< o<aniEnilen of the lrrigntots into asso
r,stions. ~ that the mana cement snd
failure control OF the works mhy be plnc
81 Ia their hnnj-. Tins !. th. mosl
ainieuli part Of the work. II IL hard i'
ming together the discordnnt element,
af a community. torn by conflicts o,ei
water. aud weld them Into n compact
organization. sufficiently strong 20 main
tain the work. built by the government
snd distribute the water clultably.
Ho~ w.,.r is Conserved for Tee.
i.e,ond nll question. mos, N the wHtr'
so be conserved for irrigation purpose
will come from the storage Of hoot
waters by means of dams aud reservoirs
wb.r,,rr suitable basins along thrs'
s,rr,m. can hr found. they will b. uti
i,s,d h, elosins tho outlets aud cntrlin,
sb. ws,srs which otherwise would no~
dawn the steep slopes. devastating thu
tvwlbnjs
Nan, Of these artificial reservoirs cni
h. Supplied by gravity canal. 80 ns ''
rover large bodies Of bench lahi ndja
A Nav sunshine Recorder
rho nav naWHoni.huder sunshine
Iordor consists Of a drum on which
er ebloddo paper ID fastened I'M
tt..g.iI An 0titgr puNH