Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-03-13
Aa,o LAND mAos RICH.
Boon to Settlers in irrigation Work
Now in Progress In the West.
civilian E Curtis, in Chics go Rec
ord -HeraId)

WASHINGTON, Marcn 4.-The
government OF the United States, as
recently told you, under what is
known as the Reclamation Act" IL
expending the proceeds OF the sale
OF public lands In the construction
and maintenance Of irrigation works
and is then giving them away to the
people whose property has been made
by the improvements. In the arid
regions land which cannot be reach
ed by water Is practically worthless.
Some OF 1t will support few cattle
or sheep during certain months OF
the year, and IL is nominslly worth
10. IL and 20 cents an acre
The average assessment value OF
irrigated hand Throughout III. cn'ir-'
country last year was Si2.53 an acre
for taxation purposes. and the aver
age value OF crops produced upon IT
was siS per acre.
In 1902 the irrigated area In the
United States was 9.4S7 or acres.
There were 59.243 miles Of canals
and ditcnss that year. not including
The Texas rice plantations. and the
combiued irrigation plants OF the en-
tire United States represented an ac
mai cash investment OF s9s 500. .452
Some OF the plants are outside the
limits OF what are usually described
ss Inc 'arid regions" but the cost
OF those within now in operation was
81. .&30.212. The estimated value of
the crops harvested from irrigated
lands Within the arid distric, In 1902
was $9s. .SSs.0l1, or S2I .O37 ,7s9 more
than the cost of the entire works
This was about an average crop,
Irrigation has added $357 900 900 to
the taxable value of farm lands In
The arid states and territories. and
mas increased the taxable wealth OF
The country TO that amount
There are now under construction
by tn. government Of the United
States thirteen irrigation projects in
yolving an expense Of $31 1896. 000.
which will redeem j .l3I 900 acres OF
an acre. When tn. improvements
are completed that land will be wortn
more than double the cost Of the ir-
risation plants. and more than $50. :
100000 dollars will be added to tho
taxable wealth of the states and ter
ritories and TO the wealth OF private
citizens who are so fortunate as to
own tne property. In other words.
the government makes a present. out.
right. OF more than $50. .OO0. 900 worth
of land with permanent water sup
ply to It's homesteaders.
The reclamation law SAYS that the
secretary of the interior shall give
public notice of the lands irrigsble. s.
for the benefit OF people who would
lika to settle upon them. and the
limit OF area per entry"-that is. the
acreage, which. in the opinion OF the
auired for tho support Of family
upon the lands in question" He
must also give notice "of III. charge
which shall be made per acre upon
The said entry" the average thus far
is t2760 per acre; and upon lands
in private ownership which may he
tad hN IA tar .,f ii
lion project'-which is also $27.6o
per acre; and the number OF annual
installments," which Is ten in every
ease thus far: and tho time when
such PAYMENTS shall commence" that
is, wnen the water is ready to be
turned on.
This is the greatest scheme of
benevolence ever undertaken by n
government. Uncle Sam provides all
OF the capital. performs all OF the
work, and invites Tom. Dick and
Harry to come up and enjoy the ben.
ehts Of each enterprise, only on the
condition that they agree to refund
the actual cos, WITH no interest with.
In ten years.
The usual allotment is about
eighty acres per family. although in
some places only forty acres is al
lowed, and in others as many as t60
Acres. Dividing l,lSo 900 acres the
total area TO be improved. by eighty
acres. the average allotment, We And
that this blessing is 10 be conferred
upon about i4,l2S families. WAC prsc.
tisaily receive irrigated farm. as a
free gift from the government
The government of India is doing u
great deal in the same direction r.
preventive OF famine. II has in
vested about Sl25. 600. 900 in resec-
voirs, canals. dams and ditches for
the purpose Of securing regular crops
for farmers who are habituaily eN.
posed to drought. II has moi only ac-
complished That purpose in several
important localities. but. after the
payment of 3ie per cent interest up,
Oh the bonds issued to meet the con.