The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-07-06
THIRTY MILLIONS FOREIRRIGATION.
Unexpected RapidsGrowth of Reclamation
Fund The President Plans Large Addi-
tional Appropriation.

WASHINGTON, d. c., July 5. Spec
iaN \ rare day in June, three years
ago. was the 18th of that month, the
anniversary Of the battle off Bunker
Hill and the birthday of the national
irrigation law. And the net result of
The latter at the beginning of the pres
ant fiscal year, is an irrigation appro-
priatiou of $4,000 600 with an auto
matte revolving law underssWhich the
fund is constantly increasing through
additions from the sales of western
public lands and the repayment to the
government by the settlers of all eX-
penditures for irrigation construction.
The anniversary this year of Bunker
Hill-Natlonal Irrigation Day was duly
celebrated in Nevada as in Boston: in
the former commonwealth at the
Truckee irrigation project in the pres
ence of party of distinguished United
States Senator's and Representatives
and government officials, who witness
ed the opening of the first complete
government irrigation works and the
turning of SOC, 600 gallons of water per
minute into a great government canal.
This ceremony meant great deal for
the idea Of American home-maklng
under national auspices. Fifty thou
sand acres received their first govern
meut irrigation the finished portion
If a vast project for the reclamation OF
}50.Wu acres at a cost OF nine million
dollars. under the guidance OF L. IL.
Taylor, federal reclamation engineer
tor Nevada Within ten years the cost
Of rugating this 80 600 acre tract-S1,-
$50. ooU-will all have been returned to
he government by the settlers paying
for tile water rights in ten annual in
stain erts, to be applied by the govern
mput II The continuation of the project.
The possibilities of this revolving irri-
galIon tund are indeed very great
Were there to be no additions to the
reclamation fund. its present thirty
million dollars would eventually re-
claim tie west. But with the large
yearly additions which have been com
ing il, it is destined before many years
70 reach the 100000, 600 mark and be
come d vast fund for the redemption CT
yncIe sans desert lands for settle
ment And could there be a greater
work than that of making homes for
lie people:
Almost half of the entire United
states is comprised in the area covered
by these great irrigation projects, riv-
ailing tie gigantic works of Egypt and
British India. The following amounts
have been apportioned by the Secretary
Of the Interior IN the different States
and territories:
ArlZulll... ................ S,,buU,uuu
Arizona and California, joint pro-
iectS...,............... 3,G0OO 900
Colorado. Observation-Disclosures. 100000
idaho, projects. 2,bOGO0O
Montana. Observation-Disclosures. 100000
Montana and North Dakota, joint
projects. ....................... 2,35O,OO0
Nebraska and Wyoming. joint pro-
iects. ..................... $500
Nevada. Observation-Disclosures. 2,740,00
New Mex CO.......... -............ $4,000
Oregon projects. .,250,000
South Dakota. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 100000
Should the recommendation of the
President be carried out by Congress
regarding the repeal Of the timber and
stone act and the enactment of a COM
preAensiye forestry law, the irrigation
fund would he greatly increased. The
government timber sales during the
.ast two years under the timber and
stone act have been about three mil
ion acles at & uniform price Of $3.50
all acre. much OF the land densely for
9sted with the finest Washington spruce
and Oregon and California fir and red
wood. worth according to official re-
ports rom s2o to $50 an acre
President hooseyelt's plan is to sell
only the stumpage at the market price,
allowing the land to grow up to new
forests ton future crops. Every honest
friend OF both irrigation and forestry
will heartily support this splendid idea
which seeks not only to prevent the
Wasteful forest destruction now going
on in tie west, but to provide an in
come from stumpage sales at least ten
sine the amount now received by the
government.
Had the timber lands which the gov
eminent has disposed of since the pas.
sage of the irrigation act-three years
been sold under President Roose
Velt's plan, they would have yielded up
wards Of $4,000 coo, which would have
irrigated 5,0o0,000 acres of desert and
at the saline time assured reforestation
Of 4,p0e.vr0 acres OF our best timber
Land. Instead, 90 per cent of this has
gone INTO the pockets of SPECTATORS.
GtY ELLIOTT MITCHELL.
- q - tn - RYA.