The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-09-12
ROOSEVELT ON IRRIGATION.

the irrigation congress in session at
Boise, President Roosevelt gives q
brief review OF the work of govern.
ment reclamation 10 the west, and in.
cidentally expresses disapproval Of
any attempt to secure a large loan
from the federal treasury for irriga.
ton purposes. His message to the
Irrigation congress reads in part as
follows:
Operations under the reclaim alton
act, which | signed on June II. 1902,
have been carried on energetically
during the four years since that date.
The reclamation service, consisting
of over 400 skilled engineers and ex-
perts in various lines, has been or
gained, and it is now handling the
work with rapidity and effectiveness.
Construction i, already we'll advanced
on tweuty-three great enterprises in
the arid states aud territories. Over
1000, 900 acres of land have been laid
out for irrigation, and OF this 2OO, 900
NNASS ! ~ NbuSA "
of canals and bitches and 1900 feet
of tunnel have been completed: and
Is, 600, 600 cubic yards of earth and
5000, 600 cubic yards of rock have
been removed. Detailed topographic
surveys have been extended over lO,-
600 square miles of country within
which the reclamation work Is located,
and 10000 miles of level lines have
been run. Three hundred buildings.
including offices and sleeping quar-.
tiers for workmen, have been erected
by the reel amation service, and about
an equal number by the contractors.
Over 10000 men and about 5000
horses are ut present employed.
The period Of general surveys aud
examin ations for projects is past.
Effort is now concentrated in getting
the water upon a sufficient area Of
irrigable land in each project to put
it on q revenue.producing basis. TO
bring all the projects to this point
will require upwards OF $4,000, 900,
which amount, it il estimated, will be
available from the receipts from the
disposal Of public lands for the years
l9Ol-l9OS.
We may we'll congratula ate ourselves
upon the rapid progress already made,
and rejoice that the infancy Of the work
has been safely passed. But We must
not forget that there are dangers aud
difficulties still ahead, and that only
unbroken vigilance, efficiency, integ-
rity, and good sense will suffice to
prevent disaster. There i, now no
question as to where the work shall
be done. how it shall be done. or the
precise way in which the expenditures
shall be made. All that is settled
There remains, however, the critica,
question of how best to utilize the re
claimed lands by putting them int,
the hands Of actual cultivators an.
hOme-makers, who will return tn,
original outlay 10 annual installment
paid back into the reclamation fund
the question Of seeing that the land
are used for homes. and not for pur
poses of speculation OF for the build
ing up of large fortunes.
This question is by no means sim
pie. 1t is easy to make plans an,
spend money. During the time whei
the government is making Il great in
vestment like this, the men in charg,
are praised and the rapid progress i
commended. But when the time come
for the government to demand the re
fund Of the investment under the term
of the law, then the law itself will b
put to the test, and the quality of it
administration will appear.
Speculation in lands reclaimed b
the government must be checked a
whatever cost. The object OF the rec
lamation act is not to make money
but to make homes. Therefore. III
requirement Of the reclamation &C