The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-02-28
AFFECTS RECLAMATION FUND.
Proposed Changes In Land Laws Reduce
Funds o. Irrigation Projects.

proposed Changes In Land Laws Reduce
Funds For Irrigation Projects.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Grave APP
%prehension exists among western cen.
ators and representatives and friends
of irrigation couversant with the stu.
alton, that unless immediate and
vigorous preventive steps are taken
the financial sources of the reclama-
ton fund will BE- SO seriously crippled
tina: it will be impossible to under.
take, for a long time at least, many
Of the irrig alton projects which have
been recommended for immediate con-
struction. The rapidly growing de-
mands upon the reclamation service
to undertake new irrigation works in
the West have made the question of
increasing the revenues of the reclaim
alton fund one of paramount import
ance. Should no remedy be found
for the present serious condition OF
{ fairs, Montana will be one of the
principal sufferers from the lack of
funds and the development OF the
states vast agricultural resources
will be greatly delayed.
The present peril to the financial re.
sources of the reclamation fund arises
from the withdrawal OF millions of
acres of land by the forest service for
forest reservations, cutting off the
principal our of income to the fund,
as under the timber aud stone act most
of the land reserved or Withdrawn
was rapidly passing from the govern.
ment at $3.50 an acre, the proceeds of
the sales being devoted under the law
to irrigation projects. No provision
is made in the law that the sale of
stumpage which the forest service is
empowered to make shall return to the
reclamation fund, so that this valu-
able source Of evenu is lost to irri.
cation work forever.
In addition to this, vexatious delay
on the part of the government in com.
pleting its work on final proof in all
kinds of land locations and entries is
crippling the reclamation fund by tie
ing up several millions Of dollars
which otherwise would be available
for pushing irrigation work in Mon.
tana and other western states. In
Montana alone, entries which would
give the reclamation fund almost $l,-
DOC, 900 r held up pending inspection
required by law. The land Office de-
clares that 1t has not at its disposal q
sufficient force of e to do the work
required of it in passing upon these
claims which have piled up within the
past few years, and the officials assert
that the remedy lies with congress in
authorizing the employment of more
inspectors and land agents, If the work
Is to be expedited. Despite this urgent
necessity, however, there is a senti-
ment in congress that 10 demanding in
the interests of economy and for other
reasons not SO apparent upon the
face of it the reduction of the land
Office force by the removal of all OF
its special agents and its detective
force.
1t is also commended that the pro.
posed repeal of the timber and stone
act, which is now being fought out in
congress, would also inAict a serious
blow to the resources of the reclaim
alton fund, and the opponents of the
repeal r vigorously opposing the
measure upon this ground. at the same
time urging such safeguards to the
present law as will prevent a re.
currence of the scanda ais of it's admin.
istration and application in the past.