Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-14
mate. that the soils from which they
come may be enriched.
Conservation Propaganda.

mate. that the soils from which they
| come may be enriched.
Conservation Propaganda.
4 work Of the utmost Importance to
| inform and instruct the public on this
chief branch OF the conservation of our
resources is being carried on successfully
| in the Department of Agriculture; but
! it ought not to escape public attention
! that state action in addition to that
| of the Department of Agriculture las. for
| instance, In the drainage of swamp lands)
is essential to the best treatment of ,ie
| soils in the manner above indicated.
| The act by which. in semi-arid parts
of the public domain, the area of the
homestead has been enlarged from 100
| to go acres has resulted most beneficial
~ in the extension of dry farming.
and in the demonstration which has been
made of the possibility, through yaria-
ton in the character and mode OF cui-.
ture, of raising substantial crops with
out the presence Of such supply of
water as has been heretofore thought
to be necessary for agriculture.
But there are millions Of acres of COM
letely arid land in the public domain
which, by the establishment of reservoirs
for the storing of water and the irriga-
ton of the lands. may be made much
more fruitful and productive than the best
lands in climate where the moisture
comes from the clouds. Congress recog-
nized the Importance of this method of
artificial distribution of water on the arid
lands by the passage of the reclamation
act
The proceeds of the public lands creates
the fund to build the works needed to
store and furnish the necessary water,
| and it was left to the Secretary of the
Interior to determine what projects
should be selected among those suggest
ed and to direct the reclamation service,
with the funds at hand and through the
engineers IN its employ. to construct the
works.
country of arid and semi-arid 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 thirty projects
have been undertaken. and that a 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 Are insufficient.
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 reclama-
ton statute are inadequate to complete
these projects within a reasonable time.
And yet the projects have been begun;
settlers have been invited to take up and,
in many instances, 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. a breach of
faith and leaves them in a most dis
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 ex-
cessive waste or any corruption on the
part of the reclamation service. 1t only
indicates an Overzealous desire to extend
the benefit of reclamation to as many
acres and as many states possible.
l recommend. therefore. that authority
be given to issue. not exceeding $4,000.
600 of bonds from time to time, as the
Secretary OF the Interior shall find it
necessary. the proceeds to be applied to
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 return, 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 fur
nished through the completed enterprises,
would quickly create a sinking fund large
enough to retire the bonds within the
| time specified. I hope that, while the
statute shall provide that these bonds
are to be paid out of the reclamation
fund. it will be drawn in such a way as
to secure interest at the lowest rate. and
that the credit of the United States will
be pledged for their redemption.
Other Relief Proposed.
/ urge consideration Of the recommen-
ba I~fo TIL
his annual report for amendments of the
reclamation act proposing other relief for
settlers on these projects.
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, 1t Is ap-
parent from the evils resulting by virtue
of the imperfections of existing laws for
the disposition of timber lands that the
acts Of June B. 1878. should be repealed
and law enacted for the disposition 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 Secre-
,ary of the Interior in respect to the fu-
ture conservation of the public domain
in his present annual report. He has
given close attention to the problem of
disposition of these lands under such
conditions as to INVITE the private cap
ital necessary to their development on
the one hand. and the maintenance of
the restrictions necessary to prevent mo-
nopoly and abuse from absolute own
ership on the other.
These recommendations are incorporat- |
ed in bills he has prepared. and they
are at the disposition of the Congress. !
j earnestly recommend that all the sug-
gestions which he has made with re-
spect 10 these lands shall be embodied