Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-06-23
Conquest q ID. Great
American Desert
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ton gives President Roosevelt more
thorough satisfaction than what is
termed 1.-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
great part Of the public lands to the
education Of the people, or the Home
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. HThe
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 fit 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 3Oth Of June, 1904, it amounted
to 1926, 28987 and by the end of the
current fiscal year it 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 1,131,00O acres Of
desert land at cost of $31, 1885, 900, or
an average of 1926 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 is also greatly graft
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
~ as September, 1908, in building a
dam In Truckee River to take the
flood waters from the mountains and
the overflow of Lake Tahoe and dump
lhem into Carson River. Another dam
will be built in Carson River to store
these waters until they are needed "a
the dry season, when they will De 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 100000, or $26 an acre,
and the land improved is now subject
to homestead entry in tracts of forty,
eighty, 100 or 100 acres, according to
its situation.
settler to support family No lce'sn
payments are required; no comruuta-
lions, but the settler must actually
live on it and cultivate it for five years
-e-.<- 1855 - s acre each year for
80 pay 20 - rill receive a title
ten years, wheas> ra+or rigbts
to the lard andStsS go Do =
without additional payf1sssaee.s5.e = 80
land which receives the benegst4 = a''e
water must pay at the same sssse>
$3.50 per acre for ten years. AfterN r
payments the owner of the land "
nase the water rights free Of cost tori
all eternity. The land is .aed for !. /,
faIfa, sugar bees potatoes ana oil th :
root crop and fruits If i ! tllLa-t,ar,a,aarat Z
zone. 1t is r,i-'' nfty niles frrgGs
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