The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-11-29
THE RECLAMATION WORK.

Inc HloSI important part or The re-
port of the Secretary of the interior.
Just made public. so far as this arid
region is concerned, is that which deals
with the reclamation service. 1t shows
that the total amount paid into the
reclamation fund up TO and including
June 30, 1908, was $50,661 ,549.27, and
the net investments of this in rcclama-
ton work up TO June 80, 1909. amounted
to S45.75i 1854, leaving five million
dollars uuappropriatcd. The estimated
total receipts in the fund io June 30,
1909, arc $5S,il2, ,l40.66, which will in
crease the available surplus to some
thing near 100000 There has been
allotted for the calendar year 1910 for
reclamation work $5,52S,050 OF this
sum 5000 900 has been allotted to Utah
for the Strawberry Valley work, this
State S only project under the national
irrigation law,
The Secretary considers, however, that
the amount of money on hand falls
far short of meeting the immediate
needs of the service. 4 number of very
important aud extensive projects arc in
course of construction, and he urges
Inc authorization by Congress Of the
issue Of certificates of indebtedness. or
of bonds, against the reclamation fund
TO be repaid by the settlers in the same
manner that other public moneys ad.
vanccd on reclamation projects are paid,
0,000. 900, 80 as to insure the speedy
completion of the enterprises now IN
hand.
In addition he recommends amend
mcnts to the law authorizing the Sccrc-
tary of the Interior to temporarily with
draw from NIL entry not only land re-
Quired for irrigation works. but lands
believed TO be susceptible TO irrigation,
pending the receipt of funds 10 com
plete the works and bring water to
the land; also, to authorize the Secretary
of the Interior to withdraw lands with.
in these projects for temporary use as
experimental farms; also, to permit the
assignment of entry on these lands after
the entrymen have completed FIVE years
residence and cultivation and made
proof; also, to permit the sale of water
for lands III private ownership, even
though the land owner is not a resident,
OF to permit the sale of water to non.
resident land owners in all cases where
they had title 10 the land at and prior
to the inclusion of this area In the
reclamation project, also, to authorize
the recognition of irrigation district or
gapization Incorporated under State
laws prior TO the turning over OF the
project, or any portion thereof
In his summary Of results of recama-
tion work, June 80. 1908, to June SO,
1909, the Secretary reports II, 2,l9S farms
for which water can be supplied, the
acreage being 767 ,95S; number of farms
actually irrigated. 1910, with an acre.
age of 424,549; storage capacity Of
reservoirs complete. 903.300 acre feet,
The statement, further, gives in much
detail interesting items specifying work
| done,
| The report does not give iu detail the
amount of work and the estimated cost
on the chief projects that remain yet to
| be done. The Secretary would have done
we'll to have given this in detail in
connection with his recommendation of
the issue of S3O,000,o00 in certificates OF
bonds. Doubtless, however, this will be
covered by a special report TO Congress
when the official and specific request is
laid before that body for the authorl
zation of certificates or bonds as recon.
mended.
The reclamation work Of the Depart
mcnt is in a way in critical state
Just now. A large portion OF the work
has reached the point where it must
either be pushed with vigor and at con
siderable expense, or very great hard
ship TO settlers will ensuc. Undoubt
cdIy the case for the issue of the bonds
for the relief of the situation is d
very strong one. and we shall await with
interest the making of the showing BY
Secretary Ballinger of the details upon
which he rests his recommendation,