Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-05-02
GOVERNMENTS SYSTEM OF AD-
vANcINe FUNDS AT CRITICAL
STAGE.
WILL FARMERS BE ABLE
TO PAY WATER CLAIMS?
Sum of 100000 Now oue-lf They
Pay Up, System Will Be Proven Sue
cess, Otherwise It Will Be Marked
FaiIure-Irrisated Crops Of Great
Value.

Washington, May 2.--The acid test
ernment reclamation work is at hand.
On April 1st there was due and payable
into the reclamation fund from the set
tiers on the various projects. approx
mately $1.000,00O for water rights. II
the farmers are able to meet their pay
ments, 1t evidences that the govern
ment Is able to secure return on Its
investment. If the payments are not
made, the law is a failure in one of
its most important provisions and the
operations of the reclamation service
would quickly be brought to an end.
But careful canvass of the pro-
jects on which water rights charges
are due indicates that the settlers as a
rule are able and willing to meet
them.
Few Farmers Default.
On the big North Platte project in
Wyoming and Nebraska there were
3S5 farms with charges due on April
1st. 1t is reported that 227 of them
paid UP as early as last December and
of the remaining 10S the engineers in
the field estimated that not more than
ten will be Likely to be cancelled Most
of those could relinduish at this time at
profit.
Even on the Truckee- Carson project
in Nevada where conditions have been
as unfavorable as any could be, the
reports show few delinquencies. On
in Washington, the Shoshone In Wyo-
M O tho CnD two
in Montana. 1t is predicted that every
farmer will meet his obligations.
Much Doubt Removed.
The payment of their Indebtedness
by those farmers will probably be the
most important single event in the his
tory Of national Irrigation. There
never has been any doubt as to the
competency of the engineers to con-
struct the projects. bat doubt has been
expressed as to whether the govern
ment could get its money back. The
dollars Of the successful farmers In
the districts will be the answer and the
vindication of the reclamation law.
| There have been failures. as it was
Inevitable there should be, but the alb
solute failures and the abandonments
have been surprisingly few. In num-
erous Instances ttilose who under
estimated the task or came without
experience or sufficient funds were
able to retire without serious loss In
numerous other instances many re-
! tired with some gain, but the greatest
number Of failures was found among
those who took up projects never in
tending to use them themselves, but to
speculate for profits on bona fide home
makers who came later.
Where the reclamation service finds
that failure has been due to condi-
tions not under control of the settler,
1t is possible that some way may be
found to protect his rights, but where
9the evidence is that the settler has
made no effort to protect himself, he
need expect no aid from the govern
ment. The farmers who came to farm.
however, are making good.
irrigated Crops Valuable.
The crops produced on the irrigated
lands operated by the water systems of
the government in 1909 had an esti-
mated value of, s14,000.000 and the land
values increased not less than $105,-
000,0 as the result of the construc-
ton of the federal irrigation works.
The reclamation fund has had more
than $60,000,00O under the act and
more than s4,50o,o00 are still in the
treasury of the United States, but not
available
The great question has been: VIII
the money come back? Indications are
that it will