La Junta tribune., 1904-11-05


National Irrigation law. which passed
Congress, June 18th. 1902. through the
direct personal influence of President
Roosevelt
As previously stated In these columns.
ehis is one of the mo~ important meas
ures that has ever been enacted by
Cougr~ss. Perhaps no one now living
can fully appreciate its fsr-reschinx
b~nehcebt effect upon the domestic.
~iat and political lives of future genera
esuns of American citizens. Active opera
tions began as soou as tn. measure be-
came . law: an organized body Of gov
eriment engineers was already in the
Western field connected with the geo
logical and topoxraph surveys. II
will be OF interest TO voters 10 know.
before election day. something OF the
uyodus operanth of this National 1rriga-
don Act for which President Roosevelt
= personally and directly responsible.
Nstio.ai Irrisassea Explained.
Al previously stated. the funds for
ehis great work are derived from the
sale or disposal OF public lands located
in the thirteen States and three terri
tories affected. and the work IL con-
consequently confined to this area. There
- uDw In the reclamation fund. some
ching over SGT 100000. This fund is in.
ereasinE rapidly every month. When
Il IL stated that the proportion of GOV
srnment land in many of these arid
States is from 20 to % per cent of the
entire area, some vague idea may be had
ofthe enormous amount that il destined
eo accumulate in this irrigation fund as
the result of the sale of these govern
snent lands during the next fifty years.
All of this money goes into the reclaim.
alton fund. Whenever any portion OF
1t is expended for the construction of
reservoirs, dams or bitches. ii is return
Cd to the government within q period of
ten years in the form OF ten equal an
aual installmeats, from the actual oc-
eupants Of the land, 20 reclaimed By
Irrigation.
Over 900 E,sinsers at work.
To carry out the purpose of this law.
an efficient engineering corps has been
organized. under civil service rules, and
from the men already in the field. Over
three hnn|>ed such engineers, together
with q large number OF helpers, are al
ready In the field. From time to time,
other men are being added. especially
from the graduates of profes sional
schools throughout the country. II Il
che policy of the government to retain
uen for this work who are known to
psiAscss high principles and undoubted IN
tegrity. for II IL believed that the great
hydraulic work can be planned and built
PROPERTY only by men OF the highest
type.
Selection Of Reservoir Sites.
In each of the States and territories n
general study is being made of natural
situations which offer opportunities for
reclaiming large bodies OF land. After
due preliminary work. few OF such
projects, say two or three. which are
che most promising. are selected for
more careful survey and investigation.
From comparison of results 90 OBJ
Gained. one OF these Is chosen by the
district engineer. When he j. ready to
report upon the work. with recommend
stions. the facts and figures are sub
mitted IL the board OF engineers. who
pass upon them. Some,imes additional
Information is sought or the conclusions
are modified.
When agreement is reached the re-
suits are transmitted to the Secretary
of the Interior with definite recommend
ations for immediate action and with full
Facts a. to cost and benefits. Final
action Is thus taken only after the most
critical examination of existing condi-
lions and comparison of these with other
projects. In some of these arid States
carried on. in Others plans md estimates
have been completed, and in a numoer
Of Instances work has actually begun on
. large scale. along the line of construct
dnI dams and reservoirs. Contracts are
likely TO be let within the next few
months for several more. mammoth en-
eeprises which will reclaim Q few mil.
lion acres of land.
Oreaai.iax couuuuisIss for lyrixs.
sicn.
Under the terms Of Tie law. the works
when built. are to be paid for In ten
annual installments and are ultimately
60 be owned and operated by the peo-
pie using the water. The problems be-
tore the reclamation service. therefore.
arr not merely engineering in character,
but ere largely legal and pertain to the
organization OF the irri1ators into $3.50
stations. 20 that the management and
future control of the works may BE- piac-
ID In their hands. THIS II the most
Aificuit part OF the work. II II hard to
Aring together the discordant elements
Sf q community. torn BY conflicts over
Waef. and weld them Into Q compact
4nfsa anisa<ion, sufllcieatiy strong to 0ain-
CHS the works buile b. the eovsrnnsnt
ard liaribsts Tie wstss eouitably.
1sw Wasss H cssssvvsA fse Zee.
Dsysod all question. nost of tAs water
- - coassfssd for irrigatios purposes
on coos from shs sesrass ef 1ood
Wssses b osass ef aans aAA reservoir.
Whsssssr ssitabls bastns aIoeg thsss
aareaas 80 ~ 1s1s1, thsy Win ~ ID
~ ~ e1aafng ~ est3soe anA eneeAiae
- u11sD whieA ethervtGs Wea1A le~
4oswa - - asun. dsvaseasaas -
sGUana1A
l6aag - 49, Aeslaaasa sssoevsaus -
- 60os1 ~ ogav1nv eaaals - - =
SBsus - 49, = - lnn1 49,