The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-05-02
RECLAMATION OF
|. GOVERNMENT LAND
Government viii Secure Returns ON
Investment if Farmers Arc
Able to Pay.
BY Associated Press.

| Washington, May 1.-The acid test
OF the practicability of all the govern.
rnent reclamation work Is at hand.
On April LIST there was due and pay
able into the reclamation fund from
the settlers on the various projects,
approximately s1,0o0.000 for water
rights. If the farmers are able to
meet their payments, 1t evidences that
the government is able to secure a
return on its investment If the pay.
ments are not made. the law is fail
lure In one Of its most important pro-
visions and the operations OF the re.
clamation service would quickly be
brought to an end
But careful canvass Of the pro.
jects on which water rights charges
lare due indicates that the settlers as
a rule are able and willing to meet
them.
On the big North Platte project in
Wyoming and Nebraska there were
1856 farms with charges due on April
Ist. It is reported that 227 Of them
Ipaid up as early as last December and
lof the remaining 108 the engineers in
the field estimate that not more than
ten will be likely to be cancelled. Most
of those could relinquish at this time
lat a profit.
Even on the Trhckee-Carson pro-
ject in Nevada where conditions have
been as unfavorable as any could be
the reports show few deIinkuiRcies.
the reports show few delinqueneies.
On the Okanogan and sunnyside pro-
jects in Washington. the Shoshone in
Wyoming and the Huntley and Sun
river in Montana, it is predicted that
every farmer will meet his obliga-
tions.
The payment of their Indebtedness
by those farmers will probably be the
most important single event In the his
tory of national irrigation. There nev.
er has been any doubt as to the COM
potency Of the engineers to construct
the projects, but doubt has been TX.
pressed 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.
soIute failures and the aband0nments
have been surprisingly few. In mum.
erous instances those who underesti-
mate the task or came without ex-
perience 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 the projects never
intending to use them themselves, but
to speculate for profits on bona fide
home makers who came later.
Where the reclamation service finds
that faiInre has been due to eondi-
tions not under control Of the settler,
it is possible that some way may be
found to protect his rights. but where
the evidence is that the settler has
made no effort to protect himself. lie
need expect no aid from the govern
ment The farmers who came to farm. |
however. are making good
The crops produced on the irrigated |
lands operated by the water systems
of the government In 1909 had an es.
tImated value Of s14,oo0,OO0 and the |
land values increased not less than |
sl05. 100000 as the result OF the con.
5truction Of the federal irrigation |
works. The reclamation fund has had /
more than $6o,oOO.o0O under the act |
more tSan s4,5Oo.o0O are stiIl in the
treasury Of the United States but not
available.
The great questicn has beens viii |
the money come bask7 Indications
are that It will