Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-01-21


stead has been enlarged from ie5 TO 20
acres has resulted most beneheiAlly in
the extension or dry farming" and In
the Demonstration which has been made
OF the possibility. through a variation in
the character and mode OF culture. OF
raising substantial crops without the
presence Of such supply OF water as
has been heretofore thought TO be neces-
sary for agriculture
But there are millions of acres OF COM
pletely arid land in the public domain
which. by the establishment OF reservoirs
for the storing of water and the irrf- i
cation of the lands. may be made much /
more fruitful and productive than the |
best lands in a climate where the mois- |
ture comes from the clouds. Congress /
recognized the Importance OF this method |
of artificial distribution OF water on the |
arid lands by the passage OF the Feclama-
ton act The proceeds OF the public
lands creates the fund to build the works
needed to store and furnish the neces-
sary water. and IL was left to the secre-
tary of the interior to determine what
projects should be started among those
suggested and to direct the reclamation
service. with the funds at hand and
through the engineers IN its employ, TO
construct the works.
No can visit the far west and the
country OF arid and semi-arid lands with
| out being convinced that this is one OF
the most important methods of the con-
servation of our natural resources that
| the government has entered upon. II
| would appear that over % projects have
been undertaken. and that few OF
| these are likely TO be unsuccessful be-
| cause of lack of water. or for other rea-
sons but generally the work which has
been done has been well done. and many
| important engineering problems have
! been met and solved.
Funds Inadequate for Service.
One of the difficulties which has
] fg projects in
view of the available funds have been
set on foot. The funds available under
the reela nation statute are Inadequate
to complete these projects within
reasonable time. And vet the projects
have been begun; settlers have been
! invited to take UP and. in many in
| stances have taken up. the public land
within the projects. relying upon their
prompt completion. The failure to
complete the projects for their benefit
is. in effect. a breach of faith and
leaves them in most distressed con-
dftion. urge that the nation ought
to AFFORD the means to lift them out of
the very desperate condition in which
they now are.
This condition does not Indicate any
J excessive waste or any corruption on
! the part of the reclamation service. 1t
only indicates an over-zealous desire
to extend the benefit of reclamation
to as many acres and as many states
as possible. / recommend. therefore.
) | that authority ne given 10 Issue. NOT
! | exceeding $40, 100000 of bonds from
; time TO time. as the secretary OF the
! | interior shall find IL necessary, the
} | proceeds to he applied to the compile
4 tion OF the projects already begun and
= | their proper extension. and the bonds
: | running ten years or more to be taken
: | up by the proceeds of returns to the
= reclamation fund, which returns. a.
4 the years go on. will increase rapidly
in amount
There is no doubt at all that II
4 | these bonds were to be allowed TO rur
3 | ten years. the proceeds from the public
) lands together with the rentals fol
! water furnished through the completeS
: enterprises, would quickly create 1
: sinking fund large enough to retir'
the bonds within the time specified.
hope that, while the statute shall pro
q vide that these bonds are TO be pat
9 out of the reclamation fund. IL will b.
r drawn In such a way as to secure in
r terest at the lowest rate. and that tn
ID credit of the United States will b
J. pledged for their redemption.
II urge consideration Of the recon
IN mendations of the secretary OF tn
~ interior in his annual report 10
he amendments OF the reclamation aci
he proposing other relief for settlers o.
in these projects.
ID New Law Requisite.
p Respecting the comparatively sma
~ | timbered areas on the public domain no
% included in national forests because Q
- | their isolation or their special value 70
- | agricultural or mineral purposes. il is ar
~ parent from the evils resulting by viz
? tue OF the imperfections OF existing law
- for the disposition OF timber lands tina
he the acts OF June ;. 1878. should he r.
y, pealed and a law enacted for the dispC
~ sition of the timber at public sale, III
II lands after the removal or the timber
=. be subject TO appropriation under IN
nd agricultural or mineral land laws
~ What I have said really an option
~. -szF aNasa
NJ of the interior in respect TO the futnI
ha conservation OF the public domain in h
1T present annual report He has give
.ar | close attention to the problem OF dispos
Re | ton Of these lands under such condition
he as to invite the private capital Becessa'
~ to their development on the one han
and the maintenance Of the restriction
necessary to prevent monopoly and abu
Ne from absolute ownership on the othe
~, These recommendations are Incorporate
~ i'm bills he has prepared and they are
=" the disposition Of the congress. earnes
IA ly recommend that all the suggestion
~ which he has made with respect TO the
r lands shall be embodied In statutes an
us especially that the Withdrawals alrea'
o. made shalt he validated so far as niece
Lle sary and that doubt as to the authori
yer of the secretary of the interior to wit
ute draw lands for the purpose Of submittil
vn- recommendations as to future disposit
nef of them where new legislation is need
ny. shall be- made complete and nnanestiont
are Disposition of Forest Reserves.
to The forest reserves OF the Unit
of states. some l9O. 600 90 acres In extent. d
eni under the control Of the department
otv agriculture. with authority adequate
der preserve them and to extend their grow
USE so Tar as that may be practicable. 7
wal imnortauce of the maintenance of
Of forests cannot he exaggerated. The pos
per ntlty Of scientific treatment of fore
ad- s,, that they shall be made TO yield
DOS large return In timber without really
lese ducing the supply has been demonstra
DIV. In other countries. and We should We
on toward the standard set by them
mon ~ their methods are applicable to
be conditions
le Upwards of four hundred millions &C
of forest land in this country are in I
~ waite ownership. but only three per &C
IN of II Is being treated scientifically 4
- with view to the maintenance of
,ne forests The part played by the fore
~. US | IN the equalization of the supply OF wa
81 | on watersheds In a matter OF discuss