The new era., 1910-01-27

the public domain the area OF the home
stead has been enlarged from 100 to 800
acres has resulted most bcneticially in
the extension or dry farming" and in
the demonstration which has been made
of the possibility, through variation in
the character and mode of culture, of
raising substantial crops without the
presence of such 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 irri-
cation of the lands. may be made much
more fruitful and productive than the
best lands in a climate where the mois-
ture comes from the clouds. Congress
recognized the Importance of this method
of artificial distribution of water on the
arid lands by the passage of the reclama-
tion act. The proceeds OF the public
lands creates the fund to build the works
needed to store and furnish the neces-
sary water, and it was let 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 can visit the far west and the
country of arid and semi-arid lands with
out being convinced that this is one of
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 well 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 reclamatio 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 a most distressed con-
dition. l urge that the nation ought
to afford the means to lift them out of
the very desperate condition in which
they now are.
This condition does not indicate any
excessive waste or any corruption on
the part of the recla nation service. II
only indicates an vcr-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 30,OOO,0o0 of bonds from
time to time. as the secretary of the
interior shall find it necessary. the
proceeds to be 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
,p11 mot on =
the years go on. will increase rapidly
in amount.
There is no doubt at all that II
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 to be paid
out of the reclamation fund. it will be
drawn in such a way as to secure in
terest at the lowest rate. and that the
credit of the United States will be
pledged for their redemption.
l 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 or their special value for
agricultural or mineral purposes. it 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 3. 1875 should he
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 restrictions
necessary to prevent monopoly and abuse
from absolute ownership on the other.
These recommendations are Incorporated
in bills he has prepared, and they are at
the disposition of the congress. | earnest
ly recommend that all the suggestions
which he has made with respect to these
lands shall be embodied in statutes and.
especially, that the Withdrawals already
made shall be validated far as neces-
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 be made complete and unauestioned.
Disposition Of Forest Reserves.
The forest reserves of the United
States some 1870, ,000. 900 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 be practicable. The
of the maintenance OF our
forests cannot be exaggerated. The possi-
biity of scientfi, treatment OF fo, <sts
so that they shall be made to yield "A
large return in timber without really re-
ducing the supply has been demonstrated
in other countries. and We should work
toward the standard set by them as far
as their methods are applicable to our
conditions.
Upwards of four hundred millions acres
OF forest land in this country are in pri-
vate ownership but only three per cent.