The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-09-04
V|CE-PRES|DENT
PRESENTS VIEWS
Discusses Far-Reaching Effect
of Movement in Which He
Has Interest.
IRRIGATION MEANS MUCH
FOR PUBLIC WELFARE
Result Is Multiplication of
Farms and Homes in the
Great West.

ably do SO, The larger and more diiDcult
propositions awaited the action Of the
National Government
The existing irrigation law was put
upon the statute books In 1902, The law
tx founded upon an entirely rational and
defensible theory, II is entirely just and
equitable. None better has been enacted
by the Congress OF the United States in
recent years, II provides substantially
that the money arising from the sale OF
public lands shall be set apart in spe-
cial fund. 10 be used exclusively for ir-
| risation purposes The money so de-
rived is to be expended In the establish
ment and construction of irrigation works
and is to become n charge upon the land
benefited, and Is 10 be repaid 10 the
Government by the landowner in not
more than ten annual payments. II is
returned 10 the reclamation fund and
is to be again used in the inauguration
and development OF new lrrigatin pro-
jects. In short, the fund becomes an
endless chain extending It's blessings 10
future years, Not dollar comes out OF
the pockets of the taxpayers Of the coun-
try TO promote this great work II Is
estimated that the amount TO the credit
OF the reclamation service at the close OF
the fiscal year 1903 will be SAL. AL, ,572.95.
Plans Only Just Begun.
Irrigation by the National Government
beneficient results have not yet been felt,
The Secretary of the Interior has author
lied the construction of many projects
In the States OF California. Idaho, Colo
rado, Kansas. Montana. Nebraska, Ne
vada, North Dakota, oregon, South Da-
kota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming
and In the Territories OF Arizona, New
Mexico and Oklahoma
THE first allotment for such construc-
is he
expenditure is made, it will bring under
irrigation nearly 100000 acres. II will
be observed that the cost OF the work
now authorized is equivalent 10 the esti-
mated amount OF the reclamation fund
in 1908. This will not. however, complete
the work. IT will require some $50
100000, in addition, to finish the pro-
jecJs now undertaken, and when they are
completed the total amount Of land ir-
rigated will be 1900 900 acres.
THE Secretary OF the Interior has
under consideration additional projects in
Arizona. California. Colorado. Idaho.
Montana. New Mexico. Nevada, Okla
Wyoming, which will cost about s109-
100000, and which, when completed, will
bring under irrigation 500 900 acres. IL
will thus be seen that when the Govern
ment completes the work now undertaken
and in contemplation, 1t will render
GraDle nearly O,3OU,UUU acres at a cost OF
a little more than $200,0 600.
ITO prosecute the work which IL has
undertaken and which lies before it, the
Government will have In hand, as hereto
fore observed nearly forty-one and a
half million dollars in 1908, an amount
sufficient TO cover the first unit Of cost
Of project authorized. and for thereafter
prosecuting the work il will have the
proceeds derived from the future sales
OF the public domain and the return from
the land heretofore irrigated.
'It was the purpose of the authors Of
tho reclamation act that irrigation under
taken by the National Government should
not be entered upon for the benefit OF
mere spectators, 1t was their purpose
that the public domain and the proceeds
arising from its sale, should be appro-
priated absolutely and entirely for the
benefit OF meseekers. The law wisely
provides that the limit Of area per entry
upon the lands irrisable shall be re-
stricted to what would be reasonably re-
quired for the support OF family. In
order that the entry man may enjoy the
benefit of the law. actual and continued
residence on the land is required.
1T Is obviously the purpose OF the
great measure. and 1t is one of its most
commendable features. 10 insure homes
to the greatest number OF persons, and
to bring soil now sterile under a high
SLdte Oh CULTIVATION ana pIOQuctlNeneSS,
for their benefit and for the benefit Of
the entire country.
Much Yet to Be Done
Il believe that irrigation is only in
the preliminary stages Of its develop
ment In the United States. Much has
been done, It is true. There is how
ever. q vast deal more to be accom-
plished. There are many millions OF
acres still lying within the arid and semi
arid regions, which are non productive,
and which may. in due time, be irri-
gated This area is OF indefinite extent.
II Is variously estimated at from fity
TO one hundred millions OF acres. or
course the acreage which may be Irri-
gated Will depend in a large degree upon
the quantity OF water which can be stored
In the great reservoir systems to be es-
IA olished. The best opinion would seem
to indicate that It Is reasonably certain
that sufficient water may be obtained
for irrisating at least nifty millions OF
acres. Twenty millions Of acres of this
tremendous area is yet part Of the pub
lie domain. When the whole Is brought
under cultivation by means OF irrigation.
the wealth Of the Nation will be in
cres sed five billions OF dollars
This work cannot be accomplished In
a day. and It will probably not be done
without some mistakes II viii require
time, SApeIleuCes ShlIl, anu a
large expenditure OF money to do 1t. The
field Is. indeed. a vast one, and II in
yites our best endeavor.
while we are concerned particularly
with the extension OF the irrigation SER
vice into the arid and semi arid regions,
believe In time ~ Will be largely in
creased in many other portions OF the
country. The waters in many OF our
rivers and streams, outside of the arid
and semi-arid areas, will be raised and
spread over many sections where the
rainfall is uncertain and where crops are
occasionally destroyed or reduced In
yield in consequence. We can see the
limit OF our arabic areas. but we cannot
see the limit OF the demand OF our in
creasipg population. nor the extent of
the demand OF millions In foreign coun-
tries for American food supplies.
"One of the great practical questions
in the future will be how to increase
and conserve the productive power OF
our agricultural regions Scientific ir-
rigation on broad lines will be factor
of increasing future Importance in most