The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-08-10
National Irrigation Congress NOw in Session al
Spokone---E. H. Newell, Director of United
States Reclamation Service, is Principal
STANDARDIZATION is Concerned More
Because of Improvement of
its Citizenship.

Spokane, Wash, Aug. l0.-One Of the i
principal speakers at today's session
Of the National Irrigation Congress,
was F. H. Newell, director Of the I'M
tied States reclamation service. His
subject was "The National Irrigation
Situation. Mr.. Newell said in part;
THE present situation in national
irrigation is that homes are being pro
vided for thousands of self-supporting
citizens at no cost to the taxpayer.
Seven years have elapsed since the
passage of the reclamation act. I'm.
der it's operation irrigation works
have been built in the thirteen west
ern states and two territories by
which waters are conserved and dis
tributed and nearly 100000 acres al
ready brought under irrigation, with
returns to the fund amounting already
to over million dollars. The success
obtained may be said to justify the
hopes of the most enthusiastic of the
early advocates Of the reclamation
act.
The nation is concerned in this
work, not only because of the result
ing internal development, but also be
cause of the Improvement in citizen
ship and in stability of American in
stitutions.
Mr.. Newell said that while the gov-
ernment has done much in irrigation
work, private capital has also made
great advances and possibly at present
five or ten times as large an invest
ment in the aggregate is being made
by corporations in building irrigation
works as is being invested by the
government. Much of this invest
ment. however, has been made pos
sible, or, at least. mas been stimulated
by the government work" said he.
tThe fact that the national govern
ment has deemed it wise to take up
the matter has been one of the stong
est arguments appealing to capitalists
to do likewise.
There is no competition as be-
tween national and private funds, but
rather an attempt at all times on the
part of the government to stimulate
Legitimate enterprise through obtains
Il ing facts upon which Investments
might be safely made and to avoid
taking up such work as could be-
handled successfully by others.
"The reclamation fund has been lar
ger than was expected, upwards of
ffty-two millions of dollars being.
available to December, 1909, this be-
ing twice as much as was foreseen.
There have been laid out systems
which involve the ultimate recIaE1a-
ton of several million acres. Large
works. whose magnitude is such that
there have been passed over BY pTi-
vate and corporate enterprise, have.
been built. In all, it may be stated
that in round numbers there were
ready for irrigation at the beginning
of the irrigation season of tho present
wear over 5000 farms, with an aggre
gate acreage Of 100000 acres. stol-
age of food waters had been created
and in actual use to the extent OF a
million acre-feet. Canals and ditchcs
were ready for use of an aggregate
length Of more than 5000 mics,
distance equal to that across the Uii-
lited States. Fifty eight tunnels had
been built of a length OF $4,000 feet.
Many thousands of smaller struc-
lures, such as headgates, fumes,
bridges, turnouts, etc, were complet-
ed. a thousand miles Of telephone in
operation, and yardages Of earth NOV
ed comparable to that handled in the
satie time at Panama.
More than all this showing Of ma
lterial progress are the excellent re-
suits accomplished in carrying out the
purpose Of the act, namely the making
of opportunities for homes The wise
provision Of the law restricting acre
age has been enforced and there is a
we'll marked beneficial result in the
subdivision Of large areas Of irrigabls
land and the placing Of this in the
hands OF men competent to success
fully cultivate the soil and make per