The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-05-02
BIG PROJECTS RETURN
MONEY TO NATION
Even Desert Nevada Makes
Glowing Report TO RGcIa-
nation Board
(By Associated Press.)

Washington, u. G., May 2-The
acid test OF the practibllty Of all the
government reclamation work Is at
oand. On ApHl / there was due and
payable into the reclamation fund
IRON the settlers on the various pro.
Ject, approximately $l,000,000 for wat
or rights II the farmers. are able
10 meet their payments. it evidences
that the government Is able to secure
return on it's Investment II che
payments are not made, the law Is It
failure In Cne Of It's most important
PROVISIONS aud Tie operations Of the
reclamation service would quickly be
brought TO an end
But a careful canvass OF the pro-
1ects ON which water lights charges
are due indicates that the settlers
as rule are able and willing to meet
them.
Where They are Located.
On the Fig North Platte project
IN wyoming and Nebraska there are
235 farms with charges which were
due April /. It Is reported that 227
CT them paid up as early as last De
cember and of the remaining l0S the
engineers Ia The field estimate that
not more than ten viii be likely to be
cancelled. Most Of these could re-
llngush at this time at q profit
Even on The Truckee-Carson pro
ia IA tg.
been as uniavOiabe as any could be,
HE reports snow few delluQuencies.
On the Okanogan and Sunnyside pro-
jects in washington, the Shoshone In
Wyoming and the Huntley and Sun
Ever IN Montana. il Is predicted that
every farmer will meet his obliga-
tlOns.
The Great Final Test.
The patm ment Of their indebtedness
hy these farmers will probably be the
most important single event in the
History of National irrigation. There
never has been any doubt as TO the
competency OF the engineers TO con
siruct the projects, but doubt has been
expressed as to whether the govern.
ment could get It's money back The
dollars OF the successful farmers in
he districts will be the answer and
the yindication of the reclamation
law.
There have been failures, as II was
inevitable there should be, but the
absolute failures and the abandon
ments have been surprisingly few In
rumerous Instances those who under
estimated the task or came without
experience or sufficient funds were
e5le to retire without serious loss
IN numerous other instances many
retired with some gain, but the great
est number OF failures was found
among those who took mp the projects
never intending to use themgelves, bul
o speculate for profits on bona fide
home makers who came later.
VIII Help Real Farmers.
Where the reclamation service finds
that q failure has been due TO eondi
SONS not under control of the settler
i Is possible that same way may b'
found to protect his rights, but wher'
tie evidence Is that the settler hal
made no effort to protect himself. h'
need not expect aid from the govern
Ioent. The fagmers who came TO farm
Fowever, are making good.
Great Production Made.
The crops produced on the irrigated
lands operated by the water system
OF the government In 1909 had a
estimated value Of s1f.000,000 and tn
Land values increased not less thai
sl05, as the result Of the cor
struction Of the Federal irrigation
works. The reclamation fund hal
lad more than $C0000,000 under ID
act and more than $i,909,000 are stil
I'm the treasury Of the United State
Lut not available.
The great question has been, "wll
the money come back?' Indication
IRE that IL will