The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-09-02


struction Of irrigation works, bu
rather to lend it encouragement.
This is particularly true in ref
+ erence to irrigation under the Care,
net in the various states. am not
f believer in the government entering
] into competition with legitimate pri
yate enterprises. It's functions under
the reclamation act are not of thi.
character, and I am sure that wher
private enterprise has done what il
can there will still be hundreds Of
thousands of acres of public land re
clamable only by government aid. The
western states should therefore be
very jealous of the perpetuity of the
reclamation fund and of its constant
increase.
The purpose of the reclamation
act is to undertake the irrigation of
arid and semi-arid lands where a
considerable portion thereof belong
10 the public domain, and by the in
stallation of the storage and diver
sion Of available waters to irrigate
the largest possible area within a
given territory at the least cost to
The entrymen and land owners for
taxation, maintenance and operation
always keeping in view the matter Of
the settlement Of these lands and
rendering them capable of supporting
the greatest number of families. The
law is a beneficient one; it is anoth-
er evidence Of the broad and liberal
policy which has ever actuated our
national government in the disposi-
ion Of its public lands. It differs.
however, from the simple homestead
aw in that it holds out inducements
only to men of sufficient industry
and capacity to carry the added bur
deus Of construction. maintenance
and operation, which is the cost Of
he lands. While it is possible that
persons Of limited means may sue
eessfully enter and acquire irrigated
'ands, it win generally be found that
It is not poor mans proposition,
lnless coupled with intelligent indus
Try in agriculture.
1.-THE whole scheme of the act is
based upon the appropriation of the
proceeds of sales of public lands in
certain states and territories for the
OF irrigation works for
he reclamation of arid and seni-arid
ands therein. No further appropria-
ion by the government is intended,
u can be inferred from the act, and
he responsibility for the disburse-
nent OF the funds and the construc-
ion of the works is placed upon the
ecretary of the interior. 1t must be
ecognized that the government is
citing in the nature of a trustee Of
he people in the disbursement of this
und: that it must construct the
lorlls for the settlers and turn them
yer at cost and has no right to reck-
sssly or improvidently waste the
md; that cost means the cost which
incurred in the exercise of com
ION business prudence and this is
kewise true of the expense Of main
nance and operation.
1T is also the declared purpose of
lis law that the secretary of the in a
rior in carrying out its provisions {
lall proceed in conformity with the 6
WIS Of the states and territories 2
herein the irrigation works are sit 5
lted and is bound by these laws in .
spect to the appropriation and use a
the waters therein. Is
THE government as l have said has 1
vested s5O,OOO,OOO in reclamation e
,rks and by such investment has sue 4
aded in irrigating over ,00Q, 600
res of arid land; and it may be a
.ewise be stated with fairness that il
ore than s5O,OOO,O0O has been adj b
d to the value of these lands. With 81
g additions which are contemplated c,
the completion of irrigation works Al
W under construction and those in
ntemplated, the increase Of values tc
Il more than proportionately con tt
ne and the consultation Of the re- "a
living fund brought about by the of
urn of the cost of constructor of tn
, present work viii enable the gov ay
lment in the course Of years, where ge
sibie prpieefs exist, 10 increase be- nc
I'd calculation the wealth Of the tn
igable region and the continual ex- -
lsion Of opportunities for settle
Mt and for homes; the end to be ~
ched only when irrigable lands