Idaho Springs siftings., 1904-11-05
ROOSEvELTS FRIENDSHIP FOR THE west
Manner of Determining Reservoir Sites and How
Organized Effort Secures the Highest Eff
ciency-Glimpses Of the Future
Of "Arid America"

riEatesi At all, must b. supplied by soIne
form II pumping device cr from ar;eesaH
suarce. ~ tile S ater hOws down the
steep river channels IL can occa sionally
b. diverted aud power developed, the
water being used for irTisstion later.
This power. carried by the electrical
Transmission mentioned Ia our last issue.
cau he u-ei 60 prifup water To the lands
somewhat above the ordinary canals
As previously stated. II IS one OF the
engineering problems ~ tie reclamation
service u develop all power possible and
utilize this tn irrisating the higher lands
by means ~ pumping. Another problem
is that of discovering the quantity aud
quality Of the underground waters and
devising means by which these may be
brought tp the surface. II not too saline
for agricultural purposes. Thus the
work NJ the reclamation engineers Is not
merely hydraulic In character: Il involves
mechanical and electrical construction
and knowledge Of geological principles
which govern the occurrence OF water
underground.
som. Tedious work for Uncle Fans
The easily available waters OF the
arid region have Ia many instances been
appropriated and put % use by private
enterprises, leaving for the government
only the large. difhcuit or involved pro-
jects. IL y mot possible anywhere To
hnd ideal conditions. and although far
reaching results are u be accomplished,
these will b. achieved only after great
skill and tact have been brought to
bear.
Criticism viii be launched against the
government by the uniformed. because
OF the apparently slow progress In the
Development OF great irrigation protests.
In all cases it should be remembered
that nearly all OF such undertakings in
yolVe the application or trial Of new
methods aud deyices aud 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.
hut time.
In the execution Of The work. IL Il nee
essary 10 ntiiize lands, rights of way or
privileges owned by individuals Many
OF these can be acquired by purchase:
others must be condemned by process OF
law. IL il not desirable 10 begin con
demnatipn proceedings until al possible
efforts have been exhausted 10 bring
about fair aud hnsiness-like sale. a. it
Is essential 70 secure and maintain the
good Will Of the community. IL j. a
better policy not 60 force matters. but
even Ia risk ~sme delay. rather than
by main strength To- bring about reforms
which viii be appreciated oaly after
many years.
National Irrigation for Private La nds.
As stated. Uncle Sam still owns from
one-half to nin--tcuths Of the area of
each OF the Western States and terri
tories affected by PreSidcnt RooseVelt's
National Irrigation Act. lie j. the big
land owner and will always remain the
proprietor OF the great mountain areas
covered mainly with tres-, and from
which come the waters essential 10 the
life OF agriculture. Much Of the best
land in the valleys has already passed
into private ownership and along almost
every stream is continuous succession
OF claims taken mp under the Homestead
or Desert Land law.
The public land. as 4 rule. il the bench
land adjacent to the valley. Nearly every
scheme for the reclamation Of govern
ment land mast OF necessity involve the
irrigation Of land now in private own
ership. The provisions Of the law are
such that the land owned by individuals
can be irrigated in small tracts not %
exceed leo acres. that being the amount
allowed for each individual The law
has been 80 framed as to require con
tinuouS residence on and cultivation of
the land. whether originally in private
or public ownership. the chief purpose
being. Of course. 10 bring about imme-
diately a dense settlement in small. self
sustaining FARMS
The projects already agreed upon en-
brace all extremes from those where
nearly all OF the land is in public own
ership. to those where most OF the land
is at presen, owned by individuals. In
the latter case the lands are now for the
most part vacant. cultivation having been
attempted with an inadequate supply
Of water. and failure was the result II
the land in private ownership were al
ready irrigated, there would. OF course.
be no need OF governmental interference.
but in a majority OF Instances settlers
have come in with good faith and tried
10 make hpmes- In any event. whether
they have or not. they can now obtain
water under the law only by residence
and cultivation In small tracts. thus
bringing about the intent of the National
Irrigation Act.
inuis uunt nome buiidera.
Whenever A project for rcclama ton of
government land is declared TO be feasi-
BILE. public lands under it are immediate
l. taken up under the terms OF the
homestead law. and by the time the
works are completed the land Is nearly
always in private ownership. Thus,
the initial condition may be.
whether the arid land was owned at first
BY the government or by individuals. the
results are the same-the establishment
o. homes upon small FARMS
Where the land holdings In the hands
Of an individual or corporation are large.
water for these cannot be obtained until
they are suhtlivided and disposed OF In
small tracts to actual settlers. Such
occupants must reside continuously for
6vs years. II s.ast. upon the land and