The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-12-13
PROGRESS IN IRRIGATION.

eSOe'~ AoEu MOut8ua auO QUE
localities 9 such undertakings ar
contemplated. Upon this subject Sec
rotary Hitchcock's report says in part
Great progress has been made il
the administration of the &C: of Jun
II. 1902. known as the reclamation act
Twelve projects are now under process
OF construction, and a number of 9th
ers have been approved with a vies
to future construction. On June II
1905, at Hazen, New, the water wa
turned through the canal of the frs
completed unit Of the Truckee. Carson
project In that state.
Construction work has proceeded
rapidly and satisfactorily. The build
ing OF large works has already beer
inaugurated Ia most of the western
states. particular attention having
been given to those localities where
the largest areas of public land were
available for reclamation, or where
the extreme aridity of the climate and
the character of the soil gave assur'
ance of the ultimate success of the
works. In the semi-arid parts of the
country, where irrigation is still in its
experimental stage and where the
farmers and landowners are yet to be
convinced of its benefits, greater eau.
ton and slower progress have been
necessary in order to avoid risking
investment of public funds where the
results would be of questionable
value.
Owing to the lavish disposal of the
public lands during recent years there
remains in the possession of the gov
eminent only a comparatively small
amount Of land which ultimately may
be irrigated, most OF the rcclaimable
land being in the hands of individuals
or corporations. One Of the wisest
provisions Of the reclamation act is
that which states that mo right to the
use of water for land in priv ate own
ership shall be sold for a tract ex.
ceeding 100 acres to any mt landown-
err. and no such sale shall be made to
any landowner unless he be an actual
bona 1de resident on such land, or an
occupant thereof residing in the neigh
borhood." II is believed that the iu-
dicious enforcement of this provision
will bring about the cultivation of the
land in small holdings; thus
indirectly many Of the errors of the
past in respect to prodigate disposal
Of irrigable land may be partly RENE
died. 1t 10 obviously not the intent of
reclamation act to irrigate at pub
lie expense large private holdings and
increase the wealth of q small number
Of men unless the public receives an
equivalent gain. The strongest ar
gument for the law is, not that 1t adds
o the wealth of the state, but that it
the greatest number of homes
and creates q community of owners of
The soil who live upon the land and
derive their substance from it.
The operations under the reclama-
lion act have formulated development
Of the west in many lines and have
aroused private enterprise to take up
work. Experience has shown
that there are many localities where,
to complication of vested rights
and partial development of the coun-
try, such private enterprise can con.
duct the work of reclamation to better
ad antage than can the government.
On the other hand, there are many To-
calities where, because of interstate
or the magnitude of the
work, only national agencies can
bring about the best development.
The work of the government ia being
In harmony with all such
enterprises, whether under private,
Dr. state control. There is,
however. . type of so.called private
enterprise which is not merely seeking
Legitimate investment, but is endeav.
Dring to fasten upon the country a
water and land monopoly with q view
Of building up u tenantry population
to that existing in the older
countries of the world. In such cases,
where these schemes tend to interfere
with the best development on the part
Of the government, there has been no
in asserting the rights and
of the government in the con.
struction of works which will make
small homes.
One Of the most difficult matters is
which arises from the statutory
requirement that the land shall be set.
tied by actual home seekers. The law
directs that the area of land entered by
an individual shall be that which, in
the opinion of the secretary, may be
reasonably required for the support
OF a family, and that, as above stated,
in the case of land in private owner