The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-01-14


But there are millions of acres
Of comparatively arid lands in the
public domain, which. by the estab.
lshment OF reservoirs for the stor.
ing of water and the irrigation of
the lands. may be made much more
fruitful and productive than the
best lands in a climate where the
moisture comes from the clouds.
Congress recognized the import.
ance of this method of artificial
distribution of water on the arid
lands by the passage of the reca.
nation act. The proceeds OF the
public lands creates fund To build
the works needed TO store and
furnish the necessary water and IL
was left to the secretary of the
interior to determine what projects
should be selected among those
suggested and to direct the reclama.
tion 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 seml-arid
lands without being convinced that
this is one of the most important
methods of the conservation OF our
natural resources that the govern
mont has entered upon It would
appear that over thirty projects
have been undertaken and that
few of these are likely to be unsuc.
ccssful because OF the lack of wa
ter or for other reasons, but gen.
orally the work which has been
done has been we'll done and many
important engineering problems
have been met and solved.
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 avail
able under the reclamation statute
are inadequate to complete these
projects within reasonable time.
And yet the projects have been
begun; settlers have been invited
O take up and in many instances
have taken up the pit land within
the projects. relying upon their
prompt completion The failure to
complete 'he projects for their ben.
eft Is a breach of faith and leaves
them in a most distressing condi.
. ton. urge that the nation ought
; 10 afford the means to lift them
out of the very desperate condition
; in which they are now. This con
! dition does not Indicate any eyces
. sive waste or any corruption on
the part of the reclamation ser
, vice. 1t only indicates an oyer.zeal
, GUS desire to extend the benefit OF
. reclamation to as many acres and
as many states as possible. | rec
ommend. therefore, that authority be
given To issue not exceeding $50, 900.
. 900 of 1ds from time TO time, as
the secrt ,ary of the interior shall
: find it necessary, the proceeds to
, be applied to the completion of the
projects already begun and their
E proper extension. and the bonds
: running ten years or more, to be
= taken up Dy the proceeds of returns
. to the reclamation fund, which re
, turns. as the years go on. will in
: crease rapidly in amount.
p There is no doubt at all that il
/ these bonds were to be allowed q
. run ten years the proceeds from
% the public lands, together with
: the rentals for water furnished
through the completed enterprises
would quickly create sinking fund
large enough to retire the bond,
within the time specified | hop,
that. while the statute shall pro
vide that these bonds are to b,
. paid out of the reclamation fund
It viii be drawn in such a way a
Ia secure interest at the loves
rate ana that the credit OF the Unit
h ed States will be- pledged for thei
D redemption.
| urge consideration of the rec
: concentrations of the secretary o
5 the interior in his annual report 70
10 amendments of the reclamation act
ic proposing other relief for settler
: ON these projects
!, Respecting the comparatively smal
Z timbcred areas on public domai
" not included in natural forests b,
!. cause OF their isolation or thel
e. special value for agricultural q
a mineral purposes, it is apparer
)" from the evils resulting by yirtu
'c o. the impcrrevtions OF existing Law