The Arizona sentinel., 1909-11-04
Fifty Millions

Fifty million dollars is q con.
siderable sum of money, but that
is the amount estimated by Sen
Rtor Carter Of Montana, chair.
man OF the senate irrigation
committee, hat will be required
TO finish the government irriga
ton projects that have been
started under the recla nation
act. The resources provided by
the reclamation law are entirely
inadequate for the vast work
contemplated fact that seems
to have just recently dawned up
on the minds of those having in
hand the administration of that
law.
A remark dropped by Secre-
tary Ballinger while visiting in
Yuma a short time ago covers
the case very we'll. He said, in
substance, that the work under
the reclamation law was virtu-
ally experimental. There is GER,
tainly a S6rong element of truth
IN the secretary's view. In some
respects, applied to initiatory
work, this was necessarily true.
1t would seem about time, how
ever, that the experimental stage
had been passed. 1t is very ev-
ident that congress will have to
come to the relief of the settlers
and in some manner provide
means for the completion of the
many unfinished projects, as the
fund from the sale of public
lands rs said to be practically
exhausted, and the matter is of
too much importance to prolong
the work indefinitely, as apbar-
emily would be the case if such
action is not taken.
The present administration,
fortunately, thoroughly under
stand and appreciate the situa-
ton, and through that influence
speedy relief is more than prob
able. President Taft in his
speeches throughout the west
advocated the issuance of bonds
In the amount of fifty million
dollars for the carrying on of
the reclamation work, and viii
no doubt embody this idea in his
message to the national con-
gresS which meets in December.
Senator Carter, who heads the
senate irrigation committeewhich
will visit Yuma next week, is
quoted by the Associated Press
as being opposed to the bond
issue, but favoring the issue of
warrants TO be met at maturity
by the proceeds from the sale of
government lands and payment
for the use of water by the set
tiers.
It matters little to settlers and
others under the Yuma project
how the funds are raised so they
are forthcoming. Here we have
an irrigation project, one of the
first for which an allotment was
made under the reclamation act,
started nearly five years ago,
and now, when three ifths COM
pleted, work ceases on the Ari-
IONA side, because, as we are
told, there is no money available
TO complete the job. To be sure,
Secretary Ballinger has prom
ised that no more projects would
be started until those under way
are completed. There is some
satisfaction In the Secretary's
assurance in this regard, but
that also leaves an impression Of
vaguenesS as to time, which, in
the past, seems to have been no
object OF great moment to the
reclamation service, although of
vital Importance to the indus
trial development Of this section.
Let as have the bond issue of
6fty millions, Or whatever is ne
ceSsary TO complete all of the
projects; it is purely business
proposition-the sooner they are
completed the sooner will there
come returns to the government
for their construction.
Attorney Henry Wupperman
spent several days at Kofa and
North Star last week ON legal