Omaha daily bee., 1909-08-10

ton season OF the present year over 5000
farms, with an aggregate acreage of 100000
acres. Storage OF flood waters had been
created and in actual use TO the extent Of
1000, 900 acre-feet. Canals and bitches were
ready for use Of an aggregate length Of
more than 1900 miles, a distance equal to
that across the United States. Fifty-eight
tunnels had been built Of a length Of 5000
feet. Many thousands of smaller struc-
lures. such as headgates, fumes, bridges,
turnouts, etc, were completed, 1000 miles
Of telephone In operation, and yardages Of
earth moved comparable to that handled
in the same time at Panama.
Opportunities for Homes
more than all this showing Of material
progress are the excellent results accom-
plished in carrying out the purpose Of the
act, namely, the making OF opportunities
for homes. The wise provision Of the law
restricting acreage has been enforced, and
there Is a well marked beneficial result In
the subdivision of large areas of irrigable
land and the placing OF this In the hands
of men competent to successfully cultivate
the soil and make permanent homes. The
speculative element has been largely alb
sent.
The works now in Rand will require all
of the reclamation fund for several years.
E4dGn lhIBe NOTk u COIlpleAeQ 10 a point
where 1t has made possible hundreds Of
homes, and where returns are coming to
the fund, but It has numerous ramifica-
tons. or divisions. each Of which requires
considerable more money for completion.
There Is no lack of work when these are
finished. The opportunities for further
conservation of the waste. waters are al
most unlimited, especially in localities
where attempts have been made on a small
scale and complications of such MATURE
have arisen, especially those OF vested
rights, that successful action can be taken
only by following up the matter with in
finite tact and patience, coupled with the
resources OF the reclamation fund.
"Of course, there is always another side
to every large problem. It is not conceiva.
Bile that the reclamation act could be
wholly perfect or that its administrative
could be without flaw. The very bene-
fits brought about by the act nave beer
a source Of criticism. The Requirement OF
residence on the land, or in the ~neighbor-
hood, is freely criticised as involving un-
necessary hardship and yet this is one
Of the requirements which the majority
Of congress considered as being an essen
tial condition for the advancement OF fed.
eral funds.
Den1es work IL SLOW.
THE slowness OF the work is also crit.
icised, and 1t has come to be a matter OF
general remark that the government il
always slow. This, like many truisms, il
a statement which does not stand clos,
analysis. There are very few corporation:
which have accomplished with the fund
available as much, as has been carried OF
by the service.
The successful handling of the reclama
ton fund probably requires as much, i
not more, skill and patience tina In an.
industrial enterprise, On the one hant
5 are the settlers clamorins for immediate
results; on the other hand are engineer
' ing problems and complications of veste,
rights TO water and difficult righJs-of
way with defective LAM titles, all o
2 which must be patiently worked out unde
= very e%xacting regulations. The fedora
: employe is regarded by all as a prope
v target, when Joined with this is the fac
that the man in control OF the ditch
as q matter of course regarded by every
one as responsible for every evil in tn
I community and YOU have a eombinatio
. which requires almost unlimited skin, tao
and self-control. A
The reclamation act is not a perfec
u"' Jul ihS most acts OF col
: gress, is the result OF compromise OF man
conflicting ideas, Wherever it may
d defective, these defects can only be rem
n edied in one way, namely, by congress an
. not by any official 1t is worse than us,
less, therefore, to attempt to remedy the,
defects, If they exist, through criticism
the methods adopted by the officials
direct charge. Any needed improvement
should be brought to tho attention of Il
~law-making body and particularly to II
committees on irrigation Of the senate al
house, each OF which is seeking for SUI
g~estions and intelligent advice from pra
q teal men,"