The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-05-26

6aastsHt and foe csnts per Tine from regular ad
Sestjssss.
WEDNESDAY NAY 26, 1903.
IMPROVE RECLAMATION LAW.
The prospective visit Of the SENATE
committee OF irrigation to the various
government projects in Montana and
other western states, is an event OF
considerable interest and Importance
20 communities affected by the success
Of these undertakings. The purpose
the trip, 90 announced IN . circular
letter from Senator Carter, chairman
OF the committee, is to secure Informs
ton from settlers az to the workings
OF the reclamation law-whether its
provisions, when applied to local con.
ditions, are satisfactory; and II de.
f~ective, what changes are necessary.
The visit of the committee will give
critics Of the reclamation service and
its methods an opportunity to present
complaints, which can be investigated
personally by members of the com.
mittee. In regard to the Milk river
project, for instance, there has been q
somewhat bitter controversy among
the settlers concerning the scrip system
Of payment for work, which is con.
demned by many as unfair and unsatis-
factory. This alleged grievance, and
other matters that appear to operate
to the injury OF disadvantage Of the
settlers, can be properly presented to
the committee for consideration.
The scope Of the inquiry 70 De made
BY the visiting senate committee on
irrigation is indicated in . series Of
questions presented in Senator Car
ter's circular letter, the more impor-
tant being as follows:
''Is the existing reclamation law sat.
isfactory and, II not, in what respect
should it be amended?
"Are your local laws governing the
appropriation and use of water for ir.
rigation satisfactory in application to
lands being reclaimed by the govern
ment Dr. through private enterprise,
and II not, what amendments are re.
quired?
''Is the administra alton of the Law by
the reclamation service satisfactory,
and II not, what are the objections and
what remedy is proposed?
sis your water supply adequate both
for irrig alton and domestic uses?
sis your canal and distributing sys.
tenn satisfactory, and II not, what are
the defects, what caused them and
what remedy ia proposed?
"Can thescost of maintaining and
oper ating the canal and distributing
system be reduced, and II so, in what
way and to what extent?
"Can the water users by employing
reasonable industry and economy
promptly make all payments required
by the existing law?
what additional terms and condi-
tions, If any, should be imposed ou
those who default in payment?
"What are your principal crops,
where do you market them and what,
If any, organized effort 10 being made
to put your crops into the mari et un'
der the most favorable conditions?
"What are your present transpor
tation facilities audsare they adequate
and satisfactory?
"Whst is the reasonable present Az
erage value persacre Of land in you,
project, exclusive of water right, th,
value being computed or the basis o;
productive capacity, interest being
computed at 6 per cent. per annum
and what was the value thereof, ex
elusive Of water right, prior to tn
construction of the reclamation works
"Are non.irrigable public land
available for pasture contiguous to o
in the vicinity of your project, and /
90, to what extent and under VIVA
conditions are the anne now availabl
for the stock owned by water users?
"What suggestion have you to offe
for legislation to make public pastur
lands in the vicinity of your projec
available for the use of those cult
waiting the irrig ated lands?
SIS the farm unit of your projec
as established by the secretary of tn
interior. satisfactory, and If not
would the objection be removed b,
the addition of pasturage rights q
suggested by the foregoing question
In answering the foregoing 1t is de
sirable that you take into considers
tion the cost of wages incident to tn
cultivation Of Q larger tract and th
~inceaaaad axnanaa NTH tn