Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1904-11-03

cultivate it before a clear title to the
water can be had from the government
Thus, collision or evasion of the purpot
of the law is to 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 that 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 experience has shown cannot be
put to beneficial usage by private en-
terprise, and which, IL properly utiliz-
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
10 be, at 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
hands of people who become self-support-
| ing and who can and win 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.
| All Business Will Be Benefited.
The transcontinental railroads recog-
nize that they will be first benefciaries
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 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 as n
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 n home, and the opportunities
for making one.
Private Capital Inadequate.
Private enterprise is still active in the
arid region, and there are many locali'
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 to
sterility unless the government takes
charge of such projects through the
operations OF the new reclamation law
If this law is successfully administered
which it will 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.
Big Projects Under Way.
Among the important projects approx
ed and now being constructed by the
government, may be mentioned works a
Sweetwater Dam, Wyoming; GunnisoI
Tunnel, Col; Truckee and Carson Rivers
New; Milk River and st. Mary's Lake
Mont, and Tonic Greek, Ariz. Roughly
estimated, these will make possible tn,
irrigation OF something over one million
acres of land at cost of seven and
half million dollars, or an average O.
$3.50 an acre. As a matter OF fact, mucl
, OF this area is unsuitable or unfavora bl,
J FOR cultivation. Probably only about g
per cent. of the total will be foun,
worthy of a retaining; this will increast
, the average cost to something like S12 81
an acre.
; Sweetwater Dam is on Sweetwate
River, at Devils Gate, forty miles ives
OF Casper and forty miles north of Raw
5 Inns, Wyo, This project will reclaim
, about 10000 acres, 4he Gunnison Tun
! mel scheme will reclaim about 10000
l acres and is located near Montrose, i
4 Central Colorado. In Nevada il is pro
: posed Co divert water from Lake Tahoe
! Cal. and Its outlet-ths TruckSs rive