The daily sentinel., 1909-09-03

BIG PROJECTS


Much interest has centered during
the past month in the Denver and
Spokane conventions. which have TO
do with retaining western arid land. !
Much has been accomplished in the
past along this line, but II is only a
drop in the bucket compared TO the
plans which will be carried out in the
near future. says a well informed
writer on reclamation matters.
At the present time there are either
in actual process of construction or
in contemplation 4 separate and dis
tinct irrigation projects, which will
each reclaim from . 900 to 2,500.0OO
acres of land. The total number of
acres which it is estimated will be
reclaimed through irrigation amounts
to the grand total of 7.SS2.S01. This
would make. if gathered in one place.
a state of 1917 square miles, more
than > times as large as Rhode
Island nearly three times as large
as Connecticut. nearly twice as large
as New Jersey, larger by several hun
dred acres than the combined areas
of Connecticut and New Jersey.
The arid lands of the United States
area. During the past 80 years
crop producing area of 100000
acres has been reclaimed from desert
by private and corporate enterprise.
II Is estimated that the cost of re-
claiming this land has been 100000
600, but II is further estimated that
every year this rescued land returns
a harvest valued at more than Sl50,-
coo. and gives homes to more than
100000 people.
1t was back in 1872 that the United
States government first took up the
reclamation of western land To eN-
President Roosevelt perhaps more
than any other individual credit
should be given for the magnificent
work undertaken by the government
which will bring the biggest returns
of any investment made by the gov
ernmeut since the purchase of the
Louisiana territory
The states and territories involved
in this scheme are Arizona, Colorado,
California, Idaho, Kansas, Montana,
Nebraska Nevada. New Mexico. Ok
lahoma, North Dakota. Oregon, South
Dakota. Utah. Washington and Wy
oming
The various projects started by the
government since 1902 will irrigate
23 separate and distinct areas and
the government, through the reclama-
tion service of over 400 skilled en-
gineers and experts, has in view 20
other important projects. surveys for
which have been made and which only
await the funds TO be carried into
execution.
The various projects now under
way or in contemplation include the
Grand valley high line project.
These projects are being carried
out by the act of congress entitled
AN act OF appropriating receipts
from the sale and disposal of public
lands in certain states and territories
to he construction of irrigation
works for the reclamation of arid
lands. The act provides:
/. That the proceeds from the
sale of public lands in the sixteen
S ates and territories mentioned above
shall be set aside and incorporated
as a special fund to be known as the
reclamation fund.
2 That under the control ant
direction of the secretary of the in.
terror the organization of the recla-
nation service shall investigate and
report on irrigation projects.
g. The return to the fund by
those acquiring possession of these
lands of the actual cost of each prof
ect by the sale of water rights, pay
ments TO be made in annual Install
ments for period of ten years.
4. The holding of these lands for
actual settlers under the homestead
act.
1t further provides for the sale of
water rights and the ultimate control
by the people of the irrigation works
aside from the reservoir, which are
to remain government property
over 10000 men and about 3 900
horses are at present employed in the
reclamation service.