Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-06-21

irrigation Congress.
of acres Of lands in various parts of
the United States now a|bsolutely
worthless. said Mr.. Hooker in cx-
planning the plan. Congress viii not
be asked to appropriate a penny.
The returns from the Improvements
would pay off the bonds. The gov
eminent would simply act as banker,
as it does now for the various irriga-
ton projects The bond issue would
provide ample funds as required to
carry out the work in the several
divisions. at the same time giving the
best possible collateral to those invest
ing in these securities.
Government figures GEAR out the
statement hat there is enough good
land overlooked in Minnesota, Wiscon-
sin. Kansas. Nebraska, Louisiana,
Kentucky. Tennessee and Mississippi
nj 10 make an area as large as the
state Of Missouri, or more than a.
600, 900 acres, while in the EASTERN,
central and western states there is
more than as much more, or about
100. 600, 600 acres in all. At a conser-
vative estimate of S25 an acre, the
sale of this reclaimed land would
justify the expenditure Of $500. 000,-
goo. or $50 per cent. more than is
required to drain it. This lane would
support from 100000 to 100000
population.
Approximately 10000, 600 acres OF
lands in western and southwestern
states are adapted to irrigation, which,
If reclaimed 1T an average cost OF
s25 an acre, would be worth not iess
than S2UO an acre or a total of SIS
coo. 600. 900. and provide homes for
more than S,u00, 600 persons. The
economic value Of irrigation cannot be
measured ii. dollars and cents. but
crops of from $500 to $1,000 an acre
are not rare IL the irrigated districts.
There are already $4,000, 600 acres un-
der irrigation and the Reclamation
Service estimates It viii have re-
claimed 1000. 600 acres, at a cost not
exceeding S1o. 900 400, before the close
of 1911.
THE construction and improvement
of the deep waterways required to
provide better and cheaper transport
tation facilities is, | believe. a 100 per
cent. investment. from the fact that
two-thirds of the bulky freight could
! be shipped by water routes. az a cost
to the shipper of not more than one
sixth of the present rail rates. The
Importance Of his becomes apparent
when it is remembered that the food
question is becoming a world prob
lem.
THE state Of New York is expend-
ing 100000 600 to enlarge the Erie
canal and XfuO O0O. 600 is the amount
required to improve the Missouri
river from a point ABOUT az mics
west Of Yellowstone park 70 Where y
meets the MISSISSIPPI RIVER -o4,
miles. Then there IS me projected
WATERWAYS from Lake Mlchlsau 70 'ne
Gulf of Mexico and scores OF others
necessary 70 cheap ana better trans
portation facilities. Millions OF dol-
lars viii be saved annually TO Ihe
people OF the lhllcu 0lalcs pN t"e
completion OF these works
The maintenance Of the greatest
waterway IN the world composed OF
the Great Lakes, on Whlch the gov
eminent OF the United states mas eN-
pended more thah S9V' uVo wv lol
harbors ana connecting chahhels' pre-
sents an argument IN favor oil the
Stitiil1 10 "NN''NP '
of territory in the Missouri other
valleys. The other projects outlined
in the foregoing are Of equal Il not
greater importance and with proper
backing they can be carried out sue
c~essfuily.
No one questions tne statement
that good roads nave q hlgh money
value 10 the OF the nation
md IL may be said that TINS atone i
sufficient To JUSTIFY me cost or thelr
construction as rapldR as practleapIe
under an efficient economical ana
equitable system oil highway improve
ment The big points IN FAVOR OF TINS
expenditure is the economy OF time
and force I'm transportation between
farm and market, enabling the grow
crs to take advantage OF
In buying ana selling as Well as en-
HANGING the value or real estate.
1t is estimated that the average
annual loss from poor Is 90
cents an acre, Whlle the estimated aV-
crage increase resulting rom lmproV-