Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-07-07
Conquest q u: Great
American Desert


ton gives President Roosevelt more
thorough satisfaction than what is
termed '"The Reclamation Law" He
esteems It one Of the wisest and most
beneficial pieces Of legislation Of recent
years and Is confident that it will pro-
mote the public welfare quite as much
as the Morrill, act, which dedicated a
great part of the public lands to the
education of the people, OF the Home
stead Law, which did more than any
other measure to build up the great
West. The Reclamation Law is in
tended, without expense to the tax pay
ers, to make the arid regions Of the
West capable of cultivation. 1t applies
the proceeds from the sale Of public
lands to the construction of irrigation
systems and reservoirs to supply them;
which are to be sold at cost price on
ten years time to the people who en-
joy the benefits created by them. The
money thus refunded is to be used
again and again and still again, in ex-
tending the irrigation system, until ev-
cry acre Of the arid regions is watered
and flt for human habitation.
The reclamation fund has grown
very rapidly; much more rapidly than
any advocate OF the law expected. Dur
ing the first year about four million
dollars was turned into the treasury.
On the 30th of June, 1904, it amounted
to $11, ,276, ,2S9S7 and by the end Of the
current fiscal year 1t will reach, If it
does not exceed, fifteen millions.
Surveys have been completed for
thirteen great irrigation projects in as
many different States, contemplating
the reclamation of 1,131 600 acres of
desert land at cost of $31 1896, 900, or
an average Of $27.26 per acre. The
| land thus improved will be sold to the
public at that price in ten annual In
stallments and thus the entire amount
of money expended will be refunded
to the government.
The President Ia also greatly grati-
fed at the rapid progress that is being
made by the irrigation bureau. Six Of
the projects in the above list have been
/ begun; contracts have been let, and
thousands Of laborers are already en-
ployed In Arizona, Colorado, Idaho
Nebraska, Nevada and New Mexico.
The other propositions will be under
taken as rapidly as possible.
In Nevada work commenced as ear.
Ily as September, 1903, in building 8
dam In Truckee River to take the
flood waters from the mountains and
the overflow of Lake Tahoe and dump
i them into Carson River. Another dan
i will be built in Carson River to store
these waters until they are needed In
the dry season, when they will be dis
tributed by means Of canals and ditch
es over an area of about 100000 acres
mostly desert land belonging to the
government The cost of this improve
ment will be s., SOC, 900, or $26 an acre
and the land improved is now subjec
to homestead entry In tracts Of forty
, eighty, 120 or 100 acres, according Il
!, its situation.
J The law allows enough land to eacl
} settler to support a family. No casl
: payments are required; no commuta
: lions, but the settler must actual,
: live on it and cultivate it for Eve year
! and pay $3.50 an acre each year 70
ten years, when he will receive It'll
to the land and own the water right
without additional payments. Privat
Q land which receives the benefit Of th
9 water must pay at the same rate
!. $3.50 per acre for ten years. After te
q payments the owner of the land wi
e have the water rights free Of cost fc
t all eternity. The land il good for a
q falfa, sugar beets, potatoes and all th
s root crop and fruits Of the temperai
L zone. It n only twelve hours fro,
San Francisoo by rail. nfty miles fro'