The Washington herald., 1910-12-27

The board which made these recon-
mendations IS composed of the following
engineers Lieut. Col John Biddle. Lieut.
Col w. c. Langntt, Mai William W
HaTtz, Mai. c.. W. KutZ, and Maj II.
Burgess-all of the Corps Of Engineers
United States army. Brig. Gen. William
J.. Marshall, retired consulting engineer
Of the Department Of Interior, was con-
suited also by the board.
The board examined fifteen projects
aside from those above mentioned, but
none OF them were included in the rec
ommendation involving the expenditure
OF the $20000.000 These projects were;
Orland, Cal. Garden City. Kans.; Carls-
bad. \. Mex; Hondo. n. Mex; Missouri
Pumping, y. Oak; Belle Fowcse. 5.
OAK; Shoshone, Wyo.: Minidoka. Idaho;
Hunuey, Mont; Sun River, Mont; Low
or Yellowstone, Mont; Okanogan, Wash;
Wapato Benton. and Kittitas. ali in the
Yakima project. Washington. All of these
projects. however, except the following
are TO receive allotments from the gen
era reclamation fund: Orland. Cal:
Carlsbad, \. Mex; Hondo, y. Mex;
Garden City. kans: kittitas. Wapata,
and Benton, IN the Yakima project.
Washington. These projects are prac-
tically complete, and only enough is re-
Quired for maintenance and operation.
In a letter 10 Secretary Bauinger re-
garding tho report. President Taft has
this comment to make; Il hereby ap-
prove the report of the board of engi-
neers in respect of the reclamation pro-
jects 10 which they have made allot-
ments from the S20,O00OJ0 loan; but this
approval. so far as the amounts of the
alloments are concerned, is not final
and absolute. but is intended TO be sub
ject to change by adjustment and mod
ifcatiOn of tho amounts and may be
necessary for the intelligent and proper
prosecution of the work and 10 the ad-
vantage Of the service.
You are authorized 10 call upon the
Secretary of the Treasury 10 issue certifi-
Gates OF indebtedness needed 10 furnish
the funds in accordance with the allot-
ments recommended by the board as ap-
proved by me as the same shall be need
ed from time to time in pursuance Of the
terms of the act"
OO,OOO,O Already spent.
Aside from its recommendations as TO
aIloments Of the loan, the board made
several suggestions for the Improvement
Of conditions Of construction for the aid
OF settlers and on other points OF the
men engaged in the work the board spoke
highly. The board examined twenty-five
projects designed 70 irrigate $3.50 0j
acres OF arid or semi-arid land at a cost
Of Ni5,OOOOO0. The general irrigation
fund, the report shows. amounts to 800
10000, and the amount expended to date
: about $4,000 900. Accretions to the fund
in the next four years from the sole Of
public land and repayments. the board
estimates at a total OF $2S,00O00
The board recommends that steps be
taken as soon as possible to secure an ad-
5udication OF water rights where such
adjudication has not been made The
water supply in most projects is under
State control, and unless there has been
special legislation the Reclamation Serv-
Ice mas no more rights than a corpora
tion OF an individual.
The board heard complaints of the size
OF farm units. which vary in different
projects from ten 10 forty and eighty
acres, but suggests that further expert
ence is necessary before a general change
be made II believes that the government
demonstration farms maintained by the
Reclamation Service at the expense of the
projects on which they are located
should be left 10 the Department OF Agri-
culture,