The Ordway new era., 1909-11-05
TAFT ON IRRIGATION
President will Ask Congress tor
slOO,OOO,OOO Bond Issue.
Outlines His Plans for Continuation
Of Reclamation Work In Speech
Delivered at Spokane for Pre-
serving Waterway Sites.

In a speech ON the conservation OF
natural resources delivered recently
at Spokane. Wash. President TAFT de-
clared that he would ask congress TO
authorize the issuance OF SlO.OJO,OOO
In bonds to complete irrigation pro
jects already begun In the west ana
on which work had been stopped Tor
lack OF funds.
This has been, the hope OF many
settlers in the arid regions who had
taken up lands in expectation OF pro
curing supply Of wats; to make
them fertile. and the presidents dec
larntion was enthusiastically cheercd.
The president said: My admins
tration is pledged to follow out the
policies OF Mr.. Roosevelt in this re-
gard, and while that pledge does not
involve me In any obligation TO carry
them out unless have congressional
authority TO do so, II does require that
take every step to exert every legiti'
mate influence on congress to enact
the legislation which shall best sub.
! serve the purpose Indicated
The president had praise for Chief
Forester Clifford PinChot. and referred
TO his wonderful work for the con.
servHtiOn of the forests. supported by
Mr.. Roosevelt "
President TAFT declared as to water
power sites that congress must au'
thurizc the government to allot these
sites to private interests for develop.
ment. tn" government retaining gen
cral control and supervision.
lie declared also that he would urge
on congress tn" necessity OF an au'
/ thoritativc classification of public
lands to prevent difficulties OF tie
/ past. such as tn" setting aside of coal
and mineral lands as agricultural
| lands. and vice versa.
In speaking on the subject of irri
| CATION President Taft said
The plan OF the government to re-
| claim the arid and semi-arid lands
manifested in the reclamation act. has
been carried out most rapidly by the
bureau charged with its execution.
There are some 30 projects which
have been entered upon by the recla
nation bureau. and believe that all
OF them are to be commended fol
their excellent adoption to the pur
pose for which they were erected, and
for the speed with which the worl
has been done.
Now. 1t appears that it will tax,
SlO,OOO,OOO or more. which Is mo-
available in the reclamation fund a
present, fully to complete the projects
and II also appears that a great mum
Der OF persons. by reason of the be
ginning of the projects, have beef
lei into making settlements. the ex
penditure of time and labor, with tn,
hope and upon the reliance that sucl
reclamation enterprises would be car
Red through in n reasonable time.
Something must be done to relicv,
the present situation. which Is one o
disappointed hopes to many settler
on the arid lands, who counted on al
carly completion of the projects un
dertaken and invested their none,
and spent their time and seem to b.
no nearer the goal of satisfactory irri
cation than they were when the prc
jcc'S were begun.
i think it wise to apply to congres
for relief by urging the passage of al
enabling act which shall permit tn
secretary of the interior to issu
bonds in the sum of $4,000 900 q
more to complete all the projects.
These bonds should be redeemn
from til" money paid into the recli
iraticn funds after the completion q
the PROJECTS