Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1905-04-05
LOAN TO AID
IRRIGATION
PLAN THAT IS ADVOCATED BY
COMMISSIONER JUDsON A.
FERGUSON, OF HELENA.

Helena, April 3.-Commissioner JUDI
son A. Ferguson, of the state bureau
Of agriculture, labor and industry is
an earnest advocate of a government
loan in aid of the work for the rec
lamation Of the arid lands of the west,
and believes that favorable action can
be secured at the next session of con-
gress, If the people of the arid states
will unite in their advocacy Of the pro-
ject. In an interview Mr.. Ferguson
says.
THE people Of Montana are, with
out exception, enthusiastically COM
mitted to. the plan of government aid
to irrigation, and are anxiously wait
ing the actual work OF reclamation.
while the preliminary surveys are
perhaps progressing as rapidly as is
consistent with the requirement Of
definite knowledge concerning the SER
ious projects, there is danger in over
looking the fact that under the pres
ent law it. will be many years before
sufficient money will be available for
the actual reclamation of land, for
the reason that the $30,OOO,OO0 now in
hand must be distributed among 16
states and territories.
1T is true that the ratio of increase
in this fund will be greatly advanced
by payments from the settlers after
the land is occupied, but some action
tc oSco tn M HnVN 20 nj
this part of the law at as early date
as possible.
in this connection it is suggested
that the people of the western states
agitate the proposition Of govern.
ment loan for reclamation purposes
The United States can easily float q
loan of $75,000,00O to- $1,000, 100000 al
per cent. which in turn could be
loaned upon their irrigation enterprise
at per cent, to- be repaid in the
same manner and upon the same
terms as provided in the present law
the 2 per cent advance to be placed
in sinking fund for the redemption
of the bonds.
Under this plan there would b.
sufficient money Immediately avail
able for construction work and thu
settlement and development of thu
arid and semi-arid states would be be
! gun at once.
ITO secure such actfuu at the mex
session of congress, it is necessar!
that energetic and systematic effOrt'
in all the states directly intereste,
be begun at once. and every state
county and city official, as well a
the labor unions, boar DIS of trade
farmers and stockmen's associations
and all public spirited citizens, mus
enlist themselves in the good work
Regardless of any statements to tn
contrary, Montana has about reache
the limit of agricultural development
without enormous public or privat
investment in large irrigation entel
prises; and as the government Is noN
irrevocably committed to the plan G
aiding in reclamation work. 1t Is bu
reasonable to suppose that congress
can be induced to 60 a step furthe
, and provide the means for the imln'
date prosecution Of the work, thu
obviating both the necessity of III
, seemly quarreling among the ives
ern states over the division of tn
, rid'c"'ous'v small sum now available
:. ana the unnecessary delay Of years
SECURING to the whole people the bel
, "f1ts which must accrue from til
. transformation of arid wastes into pr,
. ductiye Agricultural areas"