Omaha daily bee., 1906-01-30
PROGRESS IN IRRIGATION.
What Has Beeu Accomplished and the
Future Prospects.

In recent address before the National
Geographic society Mr.. c. j. Blanchard OF
the United States Geographical Survey
gave the following summary of the re-
suits of irrigation enterprises in the
United States
During the last quarter of a century a
crop-producing area of 100000 acres, or
another state of Massachusetts, has been
restored from the desert. Irrigation canals
long enough to span the earth twice and
representing an outlay OF 100000 have
been built. Every year this area returns
p harvest valued at more than s15O,OOoOOO,
and 100000 people dwell in prosperity and
content where only a short time ago the
wilderness rcigned.'
A considerable part OF the work here
ferred to has been done by private enter
prise. The far more extensive operations
of the government are of only recent be-
ginning. The reclamation act became
law on June II. 1902. Yet since that time
surveys and estimates for twenty-four
projects have been completed, and actual
construction work is now in progress on
eleven of them. One, the Truckee Carson
system In Nevada, has been completed and
| Is In operation.
The total cost of the work projected by
| the reclamation service is estimated at
| ABOUT A,puOhbb, OF several llllltS inc
| cost of the Panama canal Yet no call is
made for congressional appropriations, no
items appear in deficiency bills and not
single cent is added to our taxes. The
| original working capital was obtained
! from the sale Of public land, and that
| sum, with later additions from the same
| source constitutes a revolving fund. The
/ cost per acre, on the large scale of the
government enterprises. is about $50. At
| that price the reclaimed land finds a quick
sale. There is even good deal of trouble
in keeping the land out Of the hands of
! spectators. The intention is TO sell il di-
| rectly TO those who will settle on II and
! cultivate it. Homestead filings within the
| irrigated areas are limited to leo acres.
In his annual report the secretary of the
! interior notes that homesteaders relin-
quishments on these tracts are already
selling at from SEQ to $500 each, or from
6 to 10 per cent advance on government
prices.
| Secretary Hitchcock says that I'm some
localities traffic in ACCOMPLISHMENTS is
brisk, and IT is apparent that two, three
! or more changes will take place before
given parcel OF land passes into the con-
troll of the man who is able and willing TO
live upon II. cultivate il and make II a
home" In view of the fact that the gov
eminent is not running a scheme for the
benefit of spectators. Mr.. Hitchcock be-
ieves that a system should be devised by
which the profit now reaped by spectators
would either be diverted TO the reclama-
tion fund where IT could be used In
building other systems, or be saved 10 the
| actual settler.
This is a very sound proposition. Land
irrigated by private enterprise I'm the Sa-
cramento valley is actually selling at nearly
500 per acre, and the average value of ir-
rigated land throughout the country is A1
per acre. There is no good reason for al
lowing this margin to fall into the NAV
| Of the spectators. II should go either 10
the settler or to the government.
From time to time We shall hear OF the
completion Of some Of the enterprises now
under way and of the Inauguration of new
construction work While IL will be posi-
BILE to reclaim only part OF our arid re-
gions, the area which will be brought IN
der cultivation by the work Of the reclama-
ton service will make homes for millions
OF people II will help good deal in the
settlement OF the immigration problem.
Not many immigrants have $500 with
witch TO buy leo acres. but the owner OF
such farm needs lshoIers TO help Guilt
watts -