The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-10-22
SENATE COMMITTEE WILL SUP.
PORT PRESIDENTS RECON-
MENDATION.
Members of Committee Have Recently
Completed Tour of Inspection of
Many Projects Which Government
Now Has Under Way-Senators
Won Over.

members of the committee on irriga-
ton. These senators recently COM
pleted a tour of inspection of projects
in all but the more southerly of the
reclamation states and territories. The
result of their investigations was the
conclusion that the work was going
along too slowly, and it was with them
that the proposition for bond issue
originated.
While the senate committee was on
it's tour of investigation, Secretary Bal
linger of the interior department was
on the same errand, getting informa-
ton for himself as to the practical re-
suits obtained under the federal re-
clamation law. The secretary and
members of the senate committee were
together part of the time, and came to
a mutual understanding that the COM
pletion of work already under way
should be expedited.
1t was decided by them that the best
way to do this would be to secure, con-
gressional authority for the issue of
bonds bearing low rate of interest,
and spend the money for reclamation
of land which would be made produc-
tive Immediately. 1t was decided that
the bonds should be secured by the
proceeds from the sales of irrigated
lands, and that the interest charge
should be included in the cost of the
work. all to be returned as fast as the
settlers paid for their lands.
Secretary Ballinger presented the
plan to President Taft, who Endorsed it
and made it a part of his conservation
policy, as outlined at Spokane.
Too Much Attempted With Small
Capital.
The present crisis in the affairs of
the reclamation service has been
reached because too much has been at
tempted with comparatively small
capital. The reclamation law fOrbids
the expenditure of any money, and
even the execution of a contract that
will obligate the government to pay
out more money than is actually in the
treasury. The only source of income
is the sale of public lands. Therefore
the annual increment to the reclama
ton fund is indefinite. Up to the end
of the fiscal year 1908, the total
amount in the reclamation fund was
about $42,O00,OO0. In the past year it
has been increased by about $S,000,OO0.
The projects already approved will
cost vastly more than this sum to COM
plete in their entirety. But the interior
department has never made an allot-
ment in excess of the amount avail
able, so all the projects have been
planned on basis of the construction
of small units, each containing some
thousands of acres. The reclamation,
therefore, is going on too slowly for
the settlers who want water on their
land.
Pressure From Many Sections.
When the reclamation act was
passed in 1902, pres sure on the interior
department from every one of the II
irrigation states and territories was
tremendous. The senators and repre-
sentatives from these states went to
the secretary of the interior and in
sisted that something should be done
for their respective states. The pres
sure was so strong that reclamation
works were authorized in nearly every
one of the II states and territories.
The service put too many irons in the
fire and it's resources are now strain
ed Labor and materials cost more
than the original estimates and numer-
Gus unexpected difficulties were en-
countered.
A proposition has been made to
"slow down" on the work. That is, to
select some of the projects that may
be completed in year, or two years,
and put all the available capital into
them. 1t is realized that such action
would work hardships to settlers on
the projects which would be temper
arily set aside. The alternative plan
of bond issue was taken up and in
dorsed by them and passed on to the
secretary and to the president, and re-
ceived the Endorsement of both.
F. H. Newell, director of the recla-
nation service, who was with the SEN
ate committee on it's tour of the West,
has just returned to Washington, and
gives the bond issue plan hearty in
dorsement.
Should congress authorize the issue
of SO 100000 of bonds" said Mr.. New
ell, 1--WE shall be able to anticipate the
completion of units on the various pro- |
jects as much as year in most cases.
We lay plans for great project, capa-
BILE of watering tens of thousands of |
acres. The water supply for the en-
tire acreage is the first consideration |
and the storage works are planned on
large scale. On some of our pro-
jects, for instance, the land under cul- |
tivation is not using more than one
third of the available water in the re-
servoir. Next year, however, the
bitches and laterals will be extended |
SO that half the water will be used, and
so on. The quicker extension of these
works may be accomplished by the is
sue of bonds
With the acceleration of work on the !