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


60 become familiar with the workings
OF the reclamation service under the
National Irrigation law, which passed
Congress, June nth, 1902 through the
direct personal influence of President
Roosevelt
AS previously stated in these columns,
this is one of the most important meas
Ures that has ever been enacted by
Congress. Perhaps no one now living
can fully appreciate its farreaching
benefcent effect upon the dopestic, So
cal aud political lives of future genera
tons Of American citizens. Active opera
lions began as soon as the measure be
came a law an organized body of gov
eminent engineers was already in the
Western field connected with the geo
logical and typographical surveys. 1t
will be of interest to voters to know,
before election day something of the
modus operandi OF this National Irriga-
ton Act for which President Roosevelt
Is personally and directly responsible.
National Irrigation Explained.
AS previously stated the funds for
this 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 is con-
consequently confined to this area. There
Is now in the reclamation fund, some
thing over S27, 900 900. This fund is in
creasing rapidly every month. When
1t is stated that the proportion of gov
ernment land in many of these arid
States is from IS to % per cent. of the
entire area, some vague idea may be had
OF the enormous amount that is destined
to accumulate in this irrigation fund as
the result of the sale of these govern
ment lands during the next fifty years.
AL of this money goes into the reclaim
alton fund. Whenever any portion of
1t is expended for the construction of
reservoirs, dams or bitches, it is return
ed to the government within a period of
ten years, in the form of ten equal an
nual installments, from the actual oc-
cupants of the land, so reclaimed by
irrigation.
Over 300 Engineers at Work.
To carry out the purpose of this law
al efficient engineering corps has been
organized, under civil service rules, and
from the men already in the field. Over
three hundred such engineers, together
with a large number OF helpers, are al
ready in the field. From time to time
other men are being added, especially
from the graduates of professional
schools throughout the country. 1t i,
the policy OF the governments to retain
men for this work who are known t
possess high principles and undoubted in
tegrity. for it is believed that the great
hydraulic work can be planned and bull
properly only by men of the highes
type.
Selection of Reservoir Sites.
In each of the States and territories
general study is being made of natura
situations which offer opportunities 70
reclaiming large bodies of land. AfteI
due preliminary work, few of sucl
projects, say two or three which arr
the most promising, are selected 70
more careful survey and investigation
From comparison of results so OBJ
tained, one of these is chosen by thu
district engineer When he Is ready I,
report upon the work. with recommend
ations, the facts and figures are sub
mitted to the board of engineers, whC
pass upon them. Sometimes additiona
Information is sought or the conclusion
are modified
When agreement Is reached the re
suits are transmitted to the Secretar,
atoms for immediate action and with full
facts as to cost and benefits. Fina
action is thus taken only after the mos
critical examination of existing condi
lions and comparison of these with othe
projects. In some of these arid State
general reconnaissance is still bein
carried on, in others plans and estimate
have been completed, and in a numDe
OF instances work has actually begun o.
large scale, along the line of construct
ing dams and reservoirs. Contracts ar
likely 4 be let within the next fey
months for several more mammoth Ell
terprises which will reclaim a few mi
lion acres of land.
Organizing Communities for Irrixa
tiou,
Under the terms OF The law the work
when built, are to be paid for in te
annual installments and are utimatel
20 be owned and operated by the pc,
pie using the water. The problems b,
fore the reclamation service, therefore
are not merely engineering in characte
but are largely legal and pertain to III
organization of the irrigstors into ass
Citations, 30 that the management an
future control of the works may be pla,
ed On their hands. This is the mo.
difhcult part of the work, 1t is hard
bring together the discordant element
of community, torn by conflicts ov,
water, and weld them into a compa,
organization, sufficiently strong to mail
tain the works built by the governmel
and distribute the water equitably.
How Water Is Conserved for Use.
Beyond all question, most of the wat
60 be conserved for irrigation purpos
will come from the storage of hoC
waters by means Of dams and reservoir
Wherever suitable basins along the
streams can be found, they will be nj
Liked by closing the outlets and catchiI
the waters which otherwise would 40
Down the steep slopes, devastating Il
lowlands.
Many of these artificial reservoirs ca
be supplied by gravity canSla 30 AZ
sever large bodies OF bench land adj