The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1904-08-19
The Reclam nation Law.
Explanation of Its Operation.
Settlers May Sec.re Homes.



efficiency, the association is required
to limit the lands represented by its
shares to that amount.
@. What will be the cost of the gov
eminent water right?
a. The smallest amount consistent
with permanent work. Steel and con-
crete will be used wherever required.
The heaviest part of the cost-that is,
the maintenance, which goes on for
eEer-will be reduced to a minimum.
@. What is the connection between
the association and the government?
y. Before beginning construction the
government will make a contract with
the association, in which the latter will
guarantee the payments and agree to
enforce the collections from its share
holders by means of the lien on their
land il necessary.
@. Does the shareholder derive any
advantage from this lien?
a. Yes. 1t protects him against the
possibility of being required to pay for
n Shiftless neighbours water right, for
without the lien the association would
be required to assess each member for
any deficiency.
Q. How soon must man dispose of
his excess land?
a. He will not be required TO do so
before the time that the government
is ready to furnish the water thus
gaining the advanced prices resulting
from the large expenditures of the
government and the sure prospect of
water. and having. without expense. a
good market for his land that he could
have had under no other conditions.
9. What is done to make it certain
that such excess lands are sold?
A. The owner must agree that if he
does not sell them to a properly quail
fed person by the time the government
water is ready, the association shall
have power to do so.
O. Will the lands be sacrificed by the
association?
A. No. Every officer and member Of
the association is land owner, and Il
depreciation of land values is against
his interest. The demand for land will
probably be so great as construction
approaches completion, that large
prices can be easily realized by the
owner himself.
@. How are former water rights af-
fected by joining the association?
A. The reclamation act expressly pro-
tects vested water rights. BY joining
the association the owner of such
rights puts them in the care of the as
ISOLATION and the water is to be de-
| iiNered to him as before. being includ
ed in the complete supply furnished
frCn the government system. His pri-
GRITTY of water remains intact. is pro-
| tected by the articles of the association
and may be reaSserted if ever there
| should be Il shortage of water in the
| future.
@. How are such rights to be pro-
| teCtcd If the need should arise fifty
| years hence?
A. These rights must be definitely as
| certained and made a matter OF record
| as soon as the association can take
| the matter up after the government
construction has begun. This ADJUST
mcnt can be made by mutual agree
ment, or in the courts.
! Q. If Il tract to be subscribed for
contains land which is not irrigable,
how many acres should be included?
| A. The subscription should include
| the entire tract. The secretary of the
interior will. by careful and expert OK
animation. determine The irrigable area
of each tract. The shares representing
non-irrigable lands will be cancelled,
and the government will make no
| charge against them.
Q. Can Il man subscribe Tor a part
of his land aud leave the rest out of
the irrigation system?
A. No. The association will accept
| subscriptions only when they cover the
| entire body of land owned by the sub
scriber. No subscription should exceed
lG0 shares. but any person may make
several such subscriptions if he agrees
to dispose of his excess land located
under the system.
~. what is the FORM OF OfSanlZa llOn
contemplated by section 6 OF the act,
to which the management and opera
ton Of the irrigation system is to be
turned over when the payments have
been made for the major portion of the
lands irrigated?
A. This cannot be decided until such
period approaches in the first project
to be contemplated. The form of water
users association already discussed can
be readily adapted to meet the ncces-
sary requirements. Organizations of
this form will require few if any
changes to meet the conditions con-
templated in section 6.
@. If 1 own tract of land to which
water may be brought by govern
rilht?
A. 1t will be necessary TO become a
member OF the local water users as
ISOLATION, and subscribe to all of the
requirements of membership in such
association.
@. For how much land can water be
had?
A. Section of the law states that nc
, right to the use of water for lands il
private ownership shall be sold for .
tract exceeding 100 acres to any one
landowner.
@. Ca.: l obtain water for q full
tract OF 1G0 acres?
a. This matter is left TO the dis
: erection of the secretary, and the acre.
age may be reduced to 40, eighty o.
forty acres. according to the surround
ing conditions.
Q. Can I. while residing in SOM
l other locality where l am earning
. living, obtain water for tract of land
} \. You cannot obtain water right 70
E your LAND unless you are an actua
/ bona fide resident on such land, or oc
: cupant thereof residing in the neigh
e borhoOd.
| @. What is meant by the neighbor
e hood?"
: A. 1t is probable that it will be he'll
e that Il person must live within reason
e able distance of the land, such that h
f can daily cultivate or care for it. Thi
j, provision relating to an occupant lie
: siding in the neighborhood was draw
originally with reference to the condi
T? tons in Utah, where the farmers liv
y in small communities. and cultivat
y farms surrounding the villages.
A this case the farms are all within a
: easy drive of the homes of the owners
V @. For how much land can obtai
II water?
: A. For an area of forty, eight, 40 {
: 1G0 acres, according to a rule to be es
tabiished in each locality by the secre
: tary of the interior. This amount is t
be determined by the quantity if irrie
o able land which may be reasonably re
e CURED for the support OF a family.
! 9. Why cannot water be had fl
l. larger acreage?
) A. Theobject of the law is not mere
: ~ to reclaim the land, but to furnis
o homes for the greatest number of pei
Is sons, and to bring about an eXtensiN
s. cultivation of the soil. 1t is necessal
y to cut down the land holdings to sue
lie point as will enable a large numb'
l. of families TO make comfortable Ii,
ir ing.
J. Q. II have a farm of over 100 acre
III for which l want water, what mu
I'd / do?
if A. You can. by joining the wat