Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-08-12
Former Governor Intimates That Peo,
pie Have Been Betrayed.
TURNER DEFENDS SECRETARY
Washington Senator Says Official is
Within the Law.
FIVE BILLIONS ARE WANTED
Resolutions Introduced Asking for
Billion Each for Irrigation, Drain-
age, waterways, Roads and
Penetration,

SPOKANE, Wash, August 1.-THE Ball.
niger Pinchot contest burst upon the Ma
tional Irrigation congress this afternoon.
Or. George G Pardee, former governor Of
California, attacked Richard A. Ballinger.
secretary Of the interior with a fiercsness
only seconded by that Of former Senator
George Turner Of Washington. VINO de-
Tended the secretary.
Mr.. Ballinger entered the auditorium this
afternoon surrounded by a reception COM
mittee and when he arose 10 speak he was
cheered for several minutes He read from
a paper his ideas on reclamation and the
public domain. He contended that what
has been done by the secretary of the
interior was under the law.
Mr.. BaIIinEer's Speech.
His speech in part follows:
while the government has Invested over
$50 10000 in irrigation works many times
that amount has been invested since the
passage of the reclamation act by pri-
vete enterprise and 1t is safe to say that
a large portion of these private investments
have resulted from governmental example
and encouragement; and let me say here
that 1t has not been and is not the policy
of the national government in the admin
istration of this act to hinder or interfere
with the investment Of private capital in
the construction OF irrigation works, but
rather to lend It encouragement. This is
particularly true in reference to irrigation
under the Carey act in the various states.
The purpose of the reclamation act is
to undertake the irrigation of arid and
seml-arld lands where a considerable por-
tion thereof belongs to the public domain,
and by the dverting of available waters
to irrlgate the largest possible area within
given territory at the least cost to the
entrymen and land owners for construc-
tion, maintenance and operation. always
keeping in view the matter OF the settle
ment of these lands ard rendering them
capable of supporting the greatest number
of families. The law Is a beneficial one
1t differs. however. from the simple home
stead law in that IT holds out inducements
only to men of sufficient authority and
capacity to carry the added burdens Of
construction, maintenance and operation,
which is the cost of the land. While it is
possible that persons of limited means may
successfully enter and acquire irrigated
lands, it will generally be found that 1t
is not a poor mans proposition unieGs
coupled with intelligent industry in agrl-
culture.
Amy one who has visited one or more
of the reclamation projects now in opera
ton and sees on the one hand the desert,
covered with sage brush and barrenness,
and, on the other, the water flowing over
the fertile soil producing heavy crops OF
grain or orchards Of fruit, appreciates to
the fullest extent the benefits OF irriga-
tion.
New Projects Hinder OLD.
THE people of the west therefore, who
are familiar with these wonderful results
in irrigation, are highly appreciative of the
Importance of the reclamation service, but
the great difficulty which the service en-
counters is in finishing the projects now
undertaken as against the clamor for a
diversion of the funds to new fields. In
this respect the, service has suffered in
not carrying TO completion a less number
of projects than II is now engaged in con-
struction.
II cannot conceive of anything which
will contribute more to the permanent
wealth and prosperity Of the reclamation
states and territories than the continued
construction Of the broadest possible scale
Of irrigation works.
''The danger which the government il
undertaking 90 overcome Is the establish
ties. whereby such establishment the
larger opportunities are destroyed, thus
preventing enormous areas OF lands from
ever acquiring the use OF water. For lack
Of funds, the government is at present
often required TO surrender possibilities In
water appropriations which means an en-
ormous loss in future development OF irri-
CATION works, and fear this is not fully
appreciated. II is for this reason that az
times private enterprises are disposed to
contend that the government Is obstructing
their interests, while from the larger view
their interests are obstructing greater pos
slbilities for larger areas Of irrigabls land.
Il may mention here what has fire.
/ quently occurred to me as a source Of ad-
vantage both to the states and the fed
| eral government and that iH the securing
from the various states Of uniform leGis-
lation In the matter Of the appropriation
Of water and its beneficial use and also
legislation looking to the control and con-
servation Of all available water power.
UnifOrm Regulation by states.
This congress could accomplish greater
work beyond the stimulation Of interest
in the development OF irrigation than TO
secure uniform water regulations In the
state and also uniform legislation affecting
interstate waters
! ours is a nation Of busy people. ma
ton OF great resources and possibilities
and most favoraby situated for trade and
commerce. Its wealth is greater than that
Of any single country, even OF France and
Germany combined, ana this wealth is in
| oreasing at a bulous rate. Much OF It
has been accumulated by the destruction,
by the sacrifices and waste OF natures
gifts, and It Is a fortuuous circumstance
that the country has been brought to un-
derstand the importance OF utilizing and
saving our natural wealth and making II
possible for the nation 70 continue 70 pros
49, tfona tkas 49, a.