The Teton peak. [volume] (St. Anthony, Idaho) 1899-1904, 1904-11-03
Huw Uncle Sam is Retaining Millions Of Acres Of Non
Productive and Arid Lands.
R0OSEvELT'S FRIENDSHIP FOR The west
Manner OF Determining Reservoir Sites and How
Organized Effort Secures the Highest Eff
ciency-GIimpses Of the Future
Of "Arid America"

cent to the streams. There will be much
good ia,rd, however. which lies too high !
to be thus reached, and these lands, If ir-
rigated at all. must be supplied by some
form of pumping device or from arteSan
source. As the water flows down the
steep river channels it can occasionally
be diverted and power developed. the
water being used for irrigation later.
This power, carried by the electrical
transmission mentioned in our last issue,
can be used to pump water to the lands
somewhat above the ordinary canals.
As previously stated. it is one OF the
engineering problems of the
service to develop all power possible and
utilize this in irrigating the higher lands
by means Of pumping. Another problem
is that of discovering the quantity and
quality of the underground waters and
deyising means by which these may be
brought to the surface. il not too saline
for agricultural purposes. Thus the
work Of the reclamation engineers is not
merely hydraulic in character; it involves
mechanical and electrical construction
and a knowledge of geological principles
which govern the occurrence Of water
underground.
Some Tedious Work for Uncle Gam.
The easily available waters Of the
arid region have in many instances been
appropriated and put to use by private
enterprises. leaving for the government
only the large, difficult or involved pro-
jects. 1t is not possible anywhere to
find ideal conditions, and although far
reaching results are to be accomplished.
these will be achieved only after great
attn caI t,nt bova haop hrotoht RI
bear.
Criticism will be launched against the
government by the UNIFORMED. because
of the apparently slow progress in the
development of great irrigation projects.
!, In all cases it should be remembered
that nearly all of such undertakings in
volve the application or trial of new
methods and devices and the dealing with
considerable numbers of persons who are
private owners Of land under such pro-
; posed irrigation projects. 1t will be seen
that the work requires not merely skill,
but time.
In the execution of the work, it is nee
II essary to utilize lands. rights Of way or
II privileges owned by individuals. Many
of these can be acquired by purchase
Il others must be condemned by process OF
law. It is not desirable to begin con.
delnnatiou proceedings until all possible
y efforts have been exhausted to bring
about A fair and business-like sale, as il
is essential to secure and maintain the
II good will of the community. 1t is a
- better policy not to force matters, but
! even to risk some delay, rather thar
by main strength to bring about reforms
which will be appreciated only aftel
many years.
National Irrigation for Private Lands.
AS stated, Uncle Sam still owns from
one-half to nine-tenths of the area Of
ar each of the Western States and terri
ar tories affected by President Roosevelt!
il National Irrigation Act. He is the biz
re land owner and will always remain thu
,r proprietor of the great mountain area.
covered mainly with trees. and from
h which come the waters essential to thu
he life of agriculture. Much of the bes
to land in the valleys has already passe,
into private ownership and along almos
h every stream is a continuous successiol
bo of claims taken up under the Homestea,
"a, or Desert Land law.
M The public land, as a rule, is the benc
land adjacent to the valley. Nearly ever,
%. scheme for the reclamation of govern
rv ment land must OF necessity involve tn
NJ hiibatioh vi Lauu NOW III private OWL
Mi ership. The provisions OF the law ar
,oI such that the land owned by individual
,st can be irrigated in small tracts not t
ii. exceed 100 acres, that being the amour
,er allowed for each individual. The la,
los has been 50 framed as to require cor
no ~tinuous residence on and cultivation o
los the land; whether originally in privat
,er or public ownership, the chief purpos
ON being, of course, to bring about immt
ot diately a dense settlement in small. sell
ire sustaining farms.
ew The projects already agreed upon en-
en- brace all extremes from those wher
nil nearly all of the land is n public owl
ershlp, to those where most of the Ian
is at present owned by ildividnals. |
the latter case the lands are now for I'll
most part yasapt. cultivation having bee
attempted with an inadequate supp
teh of water. and failure was the result.
the land III private ownership were a
80 ready irrigated. there would, of cours
ne be no need of governmental interference
but IN a majority of instances settle
have come in with good faith and tri,
the to make homes. In any event. wheth
$50 they have or not, they can now obtal
ana water under the law only by residen,
iac- and cultivation in small tracts. thu
loSt bringing about the intent of the Nation
70 Irrigation Act.
Jndiv dual Home Buiiders.
Whenever a project for reclamation
government land is declared to be fea,
bile, public lands under il are immedia
'e"' j. taken up under the terms of 4
homestead w, and by the time t
:. works are completed the land is near
lter always in private ownership. Thu
So urha favAr tho Initial .o,l.4:l.
.ood whether the arid land was owned at Fl,
ny the government or by individuals, t
hest results ara the same-the ESTABLISHING
nti- of homes pom small farms.
ling Where the land holdings in the han
Oh an individual or corporation are lar,
the water for these cannot be obtained un
they are subdivided and disposed of
can small tracts to actual settlers. Su
: to occupants must reside continuously 4
ia i've years. at least. upoo the land a