The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1910-01-20

the public domain. the area OF the home
stead has been enlarged from lG TO 800
acres has resulted most beneicially In
the extension OF 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 a 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 irri-
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 reclama-
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 II 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 one 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 30 projects have
been undertaken. and that a 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 lone has been we'll done. and many
important engineering problems have
been met and solved.
Funds Inadequate for Service.
One OF the difficulties which has
arisen is that too many projects in
view OF the available funds have been
set on foo The funds available under
the reclamation statute are inadequate
to complete these projects within A
reasonable time. And yet the projects
have been begun: settlers ave 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 a most distressed con-
dition. urge that the nation ought
to afford the means to lift them out of
the very desperate condition in which
they now are.
inns cOniltlOn 0OeS not lnOlCdte any
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 he given to issue. not
exceeding $50, 600. 900 OF bonds from
time TO time. as the secretary of the
interior shall find IT necessary, the
proceeds to he applied to the compile
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. as
the years go on. will Increase rapidly
in amount.
There is no doubt at all that IL
these bonds were to be allowed to run
ten years. the proceeds from the public
lands. together with the rentals for
water furnished through the completed
enterprises. would quickly create a
sinking fund large enough to retire
the bonds within the time specified. 7
hope that. while the statute shall pro-
vide that these bonds are to he paid
out Of the reclamation fund. il will be
drawn in such a way as To secure in
tcrCst at the lowest rate, and that the
credit of the United States will be
pledged for their redemption.
! urge consideration Of the recon-
mendations OF the secretary of the
interior in his annual report for
amendments OF the reclamation act.
proposing other relief for settlers on
these projects.
New law Requisite.
Respecting the comparatively small
timbered areas on the public domain not
included in national forests because of
their isolation or their special value for
oorictilt1raI ar mineral purnpSos ~ 10 n
parent from the evils resulting by vir-
tue Of the imperfectious of existing laws
for the disposition of timber lands that
the acts OF June 3, 1878. should be re-
pealed and a law enacted for the dispo-
sition OF the timber at public sale. the
lands after the removal OF the timber to
be subject to appropriation under the
agricultural or mineral land laws.
What | nave said is really an epitcme
OF the recommendations OF the secretary
OF the interior In respect TO the future
conservation OF the public domain in his
present annual report. He has given
close attention to the problem OF DISPOSE
ton OF these lands under such conditions
as to invite the private capital necessary
to their development on the one hand,
and the maintenance of the restrictions
necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other.
These recommendations are Incorporated
in bills he has prepared, and they are at
the disposition of the congress. | earnest
ly recommend that all the suggestions
which he has made with respect to these
lands shall be embodied in statutes and.
especially, that the Withdrawals already
made shall he validated so far as neces-
sary and that doubt as To the authority
of the secretary OF the interior to with
draw lands for the purpose of submitting
recommendations as to future disposition
of them where new legislation is needed
shall be made complete and unduestioned
Disposition of Forest Reserves.
The forest reserves OF the United
| States. some 100. 900. 00 acres in extent. are
under the contro Of the department OF
agriculture. with authority a~dequate to
| preserve them and TO extend their growth
so far as that may be p~ractica BILE. The
Importance of the maintenance OF our
forests cannot be exaggerated. The posi-
bility Of n scientific treatment OF forests
So that they shall be made to yield "A
large return In timber without really re-
ducing the supply has been demonstrated
in other countries, and we should work
toward the standard set by them as FAR
as their methods are applicable 10 our
conditions.
Upwards of four hundred millions acres
of forest land In this country are in pri-
vate ownership. but only three per cent.