The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1909-03-24

reclamation project, to investigate
| the affairs of the Reclamation Ser
vice, take the testimony of witnesses,
summon persons, require the pro-
ductiOn of papers, administer oaths
and do all things necessary to go to
the very bottom of the whole bust
ness from the establishment of the
Reclamation Service in 1902 up to the
present time.
The Importance of this branch of
the public service is beginning to
dawn upon Congress. Over 81 millions
of dollars have been invested already
and 1T is now understood that before
the Panama Canal is furnished there
will be invested in the Reclamation
Service at least one half as much as
the Panama Canal will cost when
completed. President Roosevelt WIS.,
tied the Panama project, corps of
engineers and consulting engineers
have repeatedly visited the Canal
Zone, and hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been spent by the Pres-
dent, President elect, congressman
and Congressional Committees in
looking into the Panama Canal con-
struction, but neither the President
nor Congress has paid any consider
able attention to the work of the
Reclamation Service. Before the
first of August the Senate Committee
on Irrigation will start out under the
direction of Senator Carter to make
thorough investigation of this re-
clamation business. The party will
probably assemble at Chicago and
will consist of about IS persons, all of
whom will be members of the Com
mittee. The secretary of the Interior
the Director and Chief Engineer of
the Reclamation Service will accom-
pany the Committee.
In reply to an inquiry Senator Car
ter said that it was the purpose of
the committee to give a full hearing
to the farmers. contractors and 9TH
ers having to do with the Reclama-
tion Service with view to eliciting
the real facts and truth with refer
ence to the administration OF the law,
the making and executing of con-
| tracts and the collection of dues
from settlers under the numerous
projects. He states that in his judg-
ment those desiring to be heard by
the committee would be allowed to
make their statements privately or
publicly as they might prefer, the
purpose of the Committee being to
ascertain facts.
The first projects to be visited will
be in North Dakota and Montana.
The Committee will stop off at Glen
dive in the early days of August and
visit the Yellowstone project; then
go to Billings, Montana, examine the
Huntly project, take the testimony
OF all persons who desire to be heard
in connection Herewith and from
that point go to the Shoshone project
in Wyoming and thence to Helena, |
where one or two days will be spent
in looking over the proposed Prickly
Pear project. The party will proceed |
from Helens to the SIM River, Milk
River, st. Mary's, and the Flathead
projects in regular succession. It is
the purpose of the Committee to
reach Spokane in season to attend for
couple of days the Irrigation Con-
gress, which will be held in that city
August Ola inclusive. The entire
trip will probably consume so days
and will embrace inspection of pro-
jects in North Dakota, Montana,
Wyoming, Washington, Oregon, Ida
no, Utah, Nevada, California, Ari-
iona, New Mexico, Colorado, |
Nebraska and South Dakota.