Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-12-20
HITCHCOCK ON
RECLAMATION
Administration of Projects
Now the Big Problem for
the Government to
Solve.

In his eighth annual report Score
tary Hitchcock pays special atten-
ton to the work done in the Recla-
nation Bureau. He calls attention
to the advancement of the work |
during the past two years and says
that it has reached point where |
the problems of general location
and character of the construction
may be regarded as settled. Mr..
Hitchcock at the same time declares
that the problems now in hand
are more serious but because they
embrace the management and oper-
alton of great systems OF water
supply upon which depend the
property and even lives of thousands
of citizens.
Touching on this important part
of the work, the Secretary says: .
The works must not be merely
safe, they must be SO managed that
the cost will be returned to the rec
larnation fund. Each year millions
of dollars must be collected from
men who wiring it from the once
barren soil. Experience, wisdom,
and foresight must be exercised by
those in charge of the canals, and
the daily exigencies of flood,
drought or changing temperature
must be met by vigilance and
prompt action.
This investment in reclamation
works, whether considered in the
aggregate or as so much per acre or
per farm, is so great that the gov
eminent cannot take a merely pas
sive interest in the matter. For
each 40 acre farm the government
has made a cash outlay of from
get back this sum in ten or fcwcl
annual payments. There is thus,
of necessity, an immediate and al
most personal interest felt in the
operation and ultimate success oil
each individual farmer of thu
thousand, located under the irriga
ton system. The first step il
dealing with these individuals is t.
form them into watcr-uscrs' associ
atoms, through whose officers
elected by the majority, it is pos
siblc to do business with the com
munity.
One of the important point
which have already developed
that greater protection must b
thrown by law about the work
when finished. There is no Fec
cral statute which can be invoke
to protect these works, and tn
local statutes vary in the differcr
states and territories. In SON
cases there is adequate protectio
under the local law, but in sewers
states there are no provisions
law relating to important and essei
tia1 features of the subject. tt
works are of such magnitude tn
malicious or ignorant interferen
may result seriously to property
even to life.
There is feeling, not only tn
public works are the property of Il
public, but that any individual m;
exercise his right as a citizen
opening flood gates or manipulate
controlling devices. Massive stru
lures built for quick operation al
located far apart cannot always
guarded by few men, and there
strong temptation to the lawless
see how they work, and to bre
locks or loosen the sateguar
against danger. 1t is absolutely
sential to throw around the COVER
ment reservoirs and canals me
effectual protection of law, and tn
to invest the guardians of the wor
with authority to arrest and bri
to punishment persons found int
fering with the proper operation
the irrigating system, and reco
mend that this matter be brous
to the attention of congress.
The funds constituting the p
ceeds from disposal of public la
in 10 states and three territori
and from June 80, 1901, to j.
80, 1906, are shown by the
lowing table;
1901 SIS, 144, 81
1902 1855, $40
1908 6,715, 9eo
1904 o.S2o, 255
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