Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-09-28
HOW SETTLERS ON IRRIGATED
FARMS MAY BE ASSISTED

This attitude on the part OF the
people Of California has led me TO
offer q few suggestions 10 this con-
gTess regarding the proper measures
10 adopt 90 guard against The failure
~ irrigation enterprises by bringing
timely assistance to those upon whom
rests the tremendous responsibility Of
paying for both land and water and
of making both profitable. Give n
u this worthy class from three TO five
years To get his land in shape, fences
built, bitches dug. buildings erected
and profitable crops started. and he
viii be prepared "a meet all reason
able obligations. A few years later
he may hay a large bank account.
But place the same burdens on the
settler OF limited means at a time
when he is spending both time and
labor on improvements with little or
40 income and the chances are that
you will crush him.
one Of the suggestions I have 10
offer Is that the settler for the first
and second years Of his occupancy be
relieved ~ All payments IN bOth land
ana water Instead. he should obIi-
gate himself 10 improve his holding to
the extent Of a fixed sum per acre
each year Canal companies that con-
troll both land and water and con-
FACTORS under the Carey act. can af-
AfAh " ~ AIT AiAAr NUiAN tFrlhls 0AA
government projects II the time al
lowed TO pay for a water right can
not well be extended to twelve years.
there should be adopted a sliding
scale OF payments.
Another suggestion which | have to
present Is some measure Of relief for
the new settler from the burden Of
taxation. a few western states levy
no taxes on grapes and fruit trees
HHnHHN FhLE haaR This nEaWn nFsnn
should be extended as far as il is safe
and practical to every immature crop
and 70 every western state and terri
tory.
Communities in newly reclaimed
districts can likewise be assisted by
the use Of sufficient capital 10 estab-
lish such industries as ~canneries.
creameries. etc. These should be or
gnnized on the cooperative plan in
such a way that the farmers inter-
ested will 90 time become the owners
o settlers are not able to start
these industries and for lack OF them
tomatoes and other vegetables
are fed 10 toe and their dairy prod
ucts can not be marketed.
But none Of these means Of assist
ance touches the vital part Of the ir-
rigati0n question That part is simply
this; Five million acres Vill soon be
ready for settlement. An outlay Of
over S1O0.00O.0 900 is required before
homes can be established and crops
marketed Who will supervise the ex-
penditure of this vast sum so that il
may be put to the best possible use.
II il D. Tght and proper 10 employ the
best engineering talent TO design and
supervise irrigation structures the
same necessity exists 10 employ men
Of equal skill 10 supervise that part
which belongs 10 the agricultural side
Of irrigation. 4 teamster can not
bring his load 10 market II one horse
drops by the wayside. In every irri-
CATION undertaking the farmer is the
o1-horse. and no venture Of tina
kind can succeed unless he does his
part.
II this view be correct. fully a thou
sand skilled men could be profitably
employed under the more recently
built irrigation systems. These men
should be familiar with AN the details
Of farm work and Of irrigated culture
and possess sufficient engineering and
scientific knowledge 10 enable them 10
direct and supervise the work Of con-