Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-11-05

Mss DESOCRACY-'J ean'f
| cultivate IL before q clear title 20 she
water can be had from the government
Thus, colla~iou 90 evasion of the purpasr
of the law - TO large extent pr~veuiei.
In rapidly growing country II IA hari.
ly credible that any coilnsion TO obtain
water can bold thr"uehou, a hong period.
especially with danger OF forfeiture at
the end OF that time.
The main feature OF the law u 10
eare the development Of the ard regisn
and the utilization Of the great resources
which experience has shown cannot bs
put 30 beneficial usage by private en-
terprize. and which. IL property utiiiH-
ed. may become the creates; SQUIRE Of
strength 10 the comu,onwe ealth through
the creation Of homes. II matters little
whether the land thus utilized happ-Hs-d
TO be. at the time OF construction. Of pub
4 ise or private ownership. The main tAius
Il to secure ultimately the building of
| homes and the placing OF the-e in the
hands of people who become self support
| ins and who can and will refund 10
the government the cost of reeianatlon.
This is an object in which not only the
government. but all classes Of citizens
and most industries are dinccily inter
| esied.
All business VIII he Benefited.
The trsnsconiinentai RAILROADS recog-
nize that they will be first beneaeiaries
and the perpetual gamers by ;hls home
huildin< movement and they are wisely
contributing largely to the success of
the movement. |; is true some o, them
have iaud to sell. but the profit fram the
sale Of such land is As nothing compar-i
to the annual tranic resulting frsfh the
establishment OF inuumerahle homes.
The railroads could sell the lands to cat
tlemen. but as a matter of business they
know il = much better 20 even donate
them TO settlers who will live on the
farms and make homes Of the newly irri-
gated heritage. The manufacturing and
tlhbing interests of the East nave also
contributed to this work to 10 small
degree. as they believe that in tie West
is the greatest home market for manu-
faeurei products OF all kinds.
IL has sometimes been held up as
reflection against the advocates OF Ma
tlonai Irrigation that the great raiIroads
and manufacturers Of the East are in
terested and have contributed time and
influence TO the cause. but in this direr-
tion the interest OF the people OF the
country and that OF the railroads and
Industrial organizations are henticai--
namely: 10 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 rcgioa, and there are many locali-
ties where irrigation works are being
built by individuals and corporations.
-.
beommerciaiiy successful and vast tracts
OF fertile land will he condemned TO
sierility unless the government takes
charge of such projects through the
operations OF the new reclamation law
If this law Is successfully administered,
which II win be under Republican admin
istration. millions of prosperous homes
will be built In localities now waste
and desolate and the republic Strengthen
ed by myriads of conservative, prosper
Gus. high-minded citizens.
Mig Projscss Under Way.
Among the important projects approv-
ed and now being constructed by the
government, may be mentioned works at
Sweetwater Dam, Wyoming; Gunuison
Tunnel. Col: Truckee and Carson Rivers.
Ney.: Milk River and St. Mary,s Lake,
Mont. and Tonto Greek, 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
$50 an acre As a matter of fact. much |
OF this area is unsuita bic or unfa yora bic
for cultivation. Probably only about 60 |
per cent OF the total will be found
worthy Of a reciaiming: this will increase
the average cost to something like $3.50 |
an acre.
Sweetwater Dam Is on sweexvater
River. at Devils Gate. forty miIes west
of Casper and forty miles north Of Raw
Inns. Wyo. This project will reclaim
about 100000 acres. Ahe Gunnison TIM
mel scheme will reclaim about IOQQO0
acres and i located near Montroee. in
Central Colorado. In Nevada Il Il prO-
posed 70 divert water from Lake Tahoe,
Cal. and il outiet-the Truckee fivsr