The Greeley tribune., 1906-11-22

these further and greater undertake
ings. There Is no field, as it seems
to me, In this state, upon which
larger legitimate returns for the in
vestment of private capital can be
secured or in which greater general
values and good to the common
wealth can be realized, and none,
therefore, to which the commercial
interests in the state can more prop
erly and disinterestedly give their
attention and encouragement.
Large Capital Needed.
To accomplish these great works,
as has been said, large capital, either
corporate. cooperative or public,
must be employed. OF the three
forms mentioned, these lager works
have been chiefly undertaken hitherto
by larger or smaller private corpora
tions. This method, in these days
of proper opposition to trust combi-
nations, has given rise to jealousies
and objections, both we'll founded
apSs III founded: and because OF
these objections and the embarrass-
ment arising therefrom, chiefly
grounded upon the fear and effect OF
corporate monopoly of both land and
water, these enterprises have gener-
ally ended in failure, so far as such
corporate Investments were con-
cerned. ITO meet and obviate these
difficulties, and at the same time as
sist and assure the development of
the water resources of the arid states.
plans have been devised both by state
ana federal legislation, whereby the
public purse could be drawn upon,
for the construction of these large
water works.
Reclamation Service.
Then, commencing with the year
1901, the United States government
set apart and provided for fund OF
many millions of dollars to be eS-
pended under the direction of the
reclamation service for surveys
and the location and construction
of reservoirs, bitches and other water
works: this plan involved also the
withdrawal from sale and private
entry millions of acres of the public
domain, adjacent to and to be bene-
fitted by such proposed irrigation
works. These lands were to be
aiterward sold to settlers, together
with water rights, to furnish homes
to the people and build communities:
and from the proceeds of such safes
TO restore the fund expended by the
United States government.
This is indeed very great con.
rcpr ion and has already accomplished
mucn for irrigation development,
The great mass of information col
lectnd by Typographical surveys ana
inycs stigations in relation to tlle
vater resources of the arid west. and
rally disseminated by the con-
stau5 publication Of maps, reports
and bulletins, is itself an Invaluable
treasury of knowledge, more thai
iustifying all expenditures hitherto
mais or proposed. The chiei value
OF his work is realized in giving 10
the public comprehension OF 'he
and resources OF 'he
west for agricultural industry ana !"
aiding private enterprise to explore
and locate to the best advantage. anu
nj minimum cost, reservoir SITES
tunnels and difficult diversions 10
save, control and utilize the "a's'
which nature has .proNiaeu'
rather than in the actual coiisV'"''
tiurt of such works by the govern
mcnt itself, which involves tile gov
ernmental ownership of great enter
priscs and which the country Is 'o'
ready to accept. Besides TINS 's
experience shows, private labor anu
capital can construct and oper"''
theseB irrigation WORKS at less eA
pense, after realizing proht' oi,an @
the government can accomplish 'ne
same end.