The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-01-19

the public domain, the area Of the home
stead has been enlarged from 100 to S2o
acres has resulted most benefcially III
the extension of dry farming ana IN
the demonstration which has been mace
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 lrri-
cation of the lands. may be made much
more fruitful and productive than the
best lands in a climate where the mols-
ture comes from the clouds. Congress
recognized the Importance of this methoo
of artificial distribution of water on the
arid lands by the passage of the reclama-
ton act. The proceeds Of the pubic
lands creates the furd to build the WORKS
needed to store and furnish the neces-
sary water, and it 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 ana
through the engineers in it's employ, to
construct the works.
|
| 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. IL
| would appear that over 30 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 we'll done, and many
important engineering problems nave
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 foot. The funds available under
the reclamation statute are inadequate
| to complete these projects within
| reasonable time. And yet 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, breach OF faith and
leaves them in most distressed con
dition ! urge that the nation ought
to afford the means to Lift them out o,
the very desperate condition in Whlcf
they now are.
This condition does not indicate any
excessive waste or any corruption or
the part of the reclamation service. II
only indicates an over-zealous desire
to extend the benefit of reclamation
to as many acres and as many states
as possible. I recommend. therefore.
, that authority be given to issue. no
exceeding s3o,O00,OO0 of bonds from
, time to time, as the secretary OF th'
interior shall find it necessary. tn
, | proceeds to be applied to the compile
, ton of the projects already begun ant
| extension.
| running ten years or more to be take1
: up by the proceeds of returns to tn
reclamation fund, which returns a
I the years so on. will increase raplcl.
in amount.
. There is no doubt at all that !
! these bonds were to be allowed to ru1
ten years the proceeds from the puhii
lands. together with the rentals TO
water furnished through the complete
| enterprises. would quickly create
sinking fund large enough to retir
the bonds within the time specified.
hope that while the statute shall pro
d vide that these bonds are to be pal
3 out of the reclamation fund it viii b
r drawn in such way as to secure II,
r tercst at the lowest rate, and that tn
d credit of the United States will b
: pledged for their redemption.
II urge consideration of the recon
II mendations of the secretary or tn
y interior in his annual report &c
e amendments of the reclamation &C
e proposing other relief for settlers O
n these projects.
d New Law Requisite.
). Respecting the comparatively sna
!" tinhered areas on the public domain No
>. included in national forests because
y their isolation or their special value ft
- agricultural or mineral purposes, it is al
- parent from the evils resulting by vii
tue of the imperfections OF existing la"
- for the disposition of timber lands tn;
~ the acts of June 3. 1S7S should he r.
~ pealed and a law enacted for the dispt
:, sition Of the timber at public sale. IL
~. - lands after the removal Of the timber
~ be subject to appropriation under II
- agricultural or mineral land laws.
~, What I have said is really an option
=, of the recommendations Of the secreta'
~ of the interior in respect to the futu
20 | conservation of the public domain in h
~ present annual report. He has give
ar close attention to the problem Of dispos
10 | ton of these lands under such CONDITION
40 as to invite the private capital necessa'
e1 to their development on the one han
- and the maintenance of the restriction
necessary to prevent monopoly and abu
!; from absolute ownership on the othe
These recommendations are incorporat
81 in bills he has prepared, and they are
t" the disposition Of the congress. l earnes
al Nv recommend that all the suggesto
which he has made with respect to the
nc lands shall be embodied in statutes an
us especially, that the Withdrawals airea'
oI made shall he validated so far as nece
''e sary and that doubt as to the authori
81 of the secretary Of the interior to wit
NC draw lands for the purpose OF submitt1
H. recommendations as to future dispositl
er of them where new legislation is need
~. shall be made complete and nnduestione
re Disposition of Forest Reserves.
to The forest reserves of the Unit
OF States, some 100, 900 600 acres in extent. i
mt under the control of the department
,ly agriculture. with authority adequate
Ter preserve them and to extend their grow
Use so far AS that may he practicable. I
,al | importan ce of the maintenance OF {
OF | forests cannot be exaggerated. The pos
Der bjlity of scientific treatment of fore
Id so that they shall be made to yield
os- large return in timber without really
use ducing the supply has been demonstra
ly. | in other countries. and we should W.
on toward the standard set by them AS
ion as their methods are app!icabr To
be conditions.
T. UPWARDS of four hundred millions ac
foroct LAND i'm this country are in