The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-01-14

these most nsefnl lands BY power
As long as the Govern
ment retains control and can prevent
their improper union with other
plants, competition mnst be maintain
Cd and prices kept reasonable.
Conservation Of soil
IN considering the conservation oi
the natural resources OF the country
the feature that ttanscends all others,
including woods, water, minerals, 10
the soil of the country 1t is incum-
bent upon the Government to foster
~ all available means the resources
Of the country that produce the iood
OF tine people TO this end the con-
servation of the soils Of the country
should be cared for with all means at /
the Governments disposal. Their pro
ductiye power should have the atlen-I
tinn of our scientists that we may \
c9nse We the new soils improve the
old soils. drain wet soils, ditch swamp
soils. leVee river overflow soils grow
trees on thin soils, pasture Hill side
soils. rotate crops on all soils, dscoy-
or methods for cropping dry land soils
find grasses and legumes for all soils,
feed grain and mill feeds on the farms
where they originate, that the soils
from which they come TO be enriched. !.
A work of the utmost Importance 10
inform and instruct the public on this
CHIEF branch of the conservation Of
our resources is being carried on sue
cessfully in the department of agri-
culture But it ought not TO escape
pubiic attention that state action in
addition to that of the department OF
agriculture as for instance in the
drainage of swamp lands) is essential
tc thes best treatment Of the soils in
the manner above indicated.
The act by which. in semiarid parts
Of the public domain, the area of the
\ homestead has been enlarged from
\ 1G0 TO. 800 acres has resulted most
4 heneficialy in the extension Of dry
farming, and the demonstration
which has been made Of the possibili-
tv. through variation in the char
acter and mode Of culture, Of raising
substantial crops without the presence
of such a supply Of water as has been
heretofore thought 10 be necessary
for agriculture.
/ Irrigation OF Arid Lands
But there are millions of acres Of
completely arid lands in the public
| domain which. by the establishment
/, of reservoirs for the storing of va
ter and the Irrigation of the lands
! may be made much more fruitful ant
: productive than the best lands in
! climate where the moisture come!
I from the clouds.
Congress recognized the Importance
2 of this method of artificial distribu
| ton of water on the arid lands by th
passage of the reclamation act tn
! proceeds of the public lands create
r fund to build the works needed &
: store and furnish the necessary waite
o and It was left to the secretary of tn
= interior to determine what project
{ shouH be selected among those siit
II gested and to direct the reclamatio
!. service, with the funds at hand an
/ through the engineers in its employ
! to construct the works.
\ No one can visit the far West an
J. the country OF arid and semi-ari
e lands without being convinced tha
v This is one of The most impo' tar
a methods of the conservation OF on
n natural resources that the Cover
y ment has entered upon. II would a
u near thai over thirty projects hay
e been undertaken and that few
ir these are likely to be unsuccessfl
ii because Of the lack OF water or II
y other reasons. but generally the wol
IA which has been done has been we
e done and msny important enginee
rs ing problems have been met and sol
ed.
Ii One Of the difficulties which h;
arisen is That too many projects
= view Of the avgi'able funds has s.
on foot. The funds available und'
The reclamation statute are mad
Guate to complete these project
within a reasonable tine And Y
the projects have been begun, Sc
tiers have been invited to take
and In many Instances have take
pp. he pit land within the project
relying upon their prompt completio
The failure TO complete the proiee
for their benefit is in effect, q breat
Of faith and leaves them in 4 mo
distressing condition. ! urge that 2
nation ought 10 afford the means
lift them out Of the very despe ra
condition in which they are no.
This condition does moi indicate al
excessive waste or any corruption
! the part of the reclamation servic
1t only indicates an over jealous q
sire to extend the benefit of reclaim
ton 10 as many acres and as mai
states as possible.
Recommends Bond Issue.
| recommend therefore, that a
n thority be given 10 issue not excee
ing $3O00G,000 Of bonds from time
4 time as the secretary of The interi
shall find ii necessary, the proceel
o be applied to The comnlelion oF Y
projects already begun and the
aelprcper extension, and the bonds aru
/, asg ten years or more 10 be TAX,
up By the proceeds Of returns 10 g
fec'snaiion fund, which returns,
the Years go en-, win increase rapid
in amcanis
There Is no Doubt at al That
these bonds were to be allowed
runlten years. the proceeds fran Z
pnblc ands, together wifi the rel
a,s for water furnished through I
conspleted enterprises, would quick
create a sinking fund large enoul
"a reiige the bonds within, the tif
specified. hope that, while :