The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1910-01-21

the nubljc domain, the area OF the home
stead has been enlarged from l6C TO 32O
acres has resulted most benehcialy in
the extension or 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 10 De 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
Tor the storing of water and the irrl-
cation OF the lands. may be made much
more fruitful and productive than the
best lands in n climate where the molS-
ture comes from the clouds. Congress
recognized the importance or 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 tc 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-ard 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. 1t
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 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 foot. The funds available under
the recla amation statute are inadequate
to complete these projects within
reasonable time. And vet 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 relving 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 aff0rd the means to lift them out Of
the very desperate condition in which
they now are.
This condition docs not indicate any
excessive waste or any corruption on
the part of the reclamation service. It
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 be given to issue. not
exceeding s3O,o0O.0oO 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
sinking fund large enough to retire
the bonds within the time specified
hope that. while the statute shall pro-
vide that these bonds are 10 he paid
out OF the reclamation fund it will be
drawn in such a way to secure in
tercst 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 their special value for
a agricultural or mineral purposes. II IS ap-
parent from the evils resulting by vir-
tue Of the imperfectiOns OF existing laws
for the disposition OF timber lands that
the acts Of June g. 1873, 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 | have said is really an epitome
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 restrcti1ns
necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other
These recommendations are incorporate ed
in bills he has prepared, and they are at
the disposition Of the congress I earnest.
ly recommend that all the suggestions
which he has made with respect to these
lands shall he embodied in statutes and
espec tally. that the Withdrawals already
made shall be 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
as to future disposition
Of them where new legislation is needed
shall hr made complete and unuucstoned
Disposition of Forest Reserves.
The forest reserves of the United
States. some 190. coo Goo acres in extent. are
under the control of the department OF
agriculture. with authority adequate to
preserve them and TO extend their growth
SO far as that may he practicable The
of the maintenance OF ollr
forests cannot he exaggerated. The possi-
hiEty OF a scientific treatment or forests