River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1910-01-20

stead mas been enlarged from 100 to 800
acres mas resulted most benefcially 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 or 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-
gatlon 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-
| ton 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 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
l. construct the works
| No one can visit the far west and the
| country of arid and semi-arid lands with
| out being convinced that this is one of
| the most important methods of the con-
| servat1on of our natural resources that
| the government has entered upon 1t
| would appear that over 80 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 reclamation 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 in
| stances. have taken up. the public land
| within the projects relying upon their
| complete the projects for their benefit
| is. in effect. a breach of faith and
leaves them in most distressed con-
| dition. / 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 reclamation service. 1t
only indicates an over-ZealouS desire
| to as many acres and as many states
| as possible. l recommend. therefore,.
| that authority be given to ISSUE not
| exceeding $30,000.0O0 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
reclamation fund, which returns. as
| the years go on. will increase rapidly
in amount.
There is no doubt at all that if
these bonds were to be allowed to run
ten years. the proceeds from the public
lands. together with the rentals for
wa ter furnished 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 pro-
vide that these bonds are to be paid
out of the reclamation fund. it will be
drawn in such way as to secure in
terest 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 NE public domain not
included in national forests because of
their isolation or their special value for
agricultural or mineral purposes, it is APP
parent from the evils resulting by vr-
tue of the imperfections Of existing laws
for the disposition of timber lands that
the acts of June 3, 1878, should be re-
pealed and 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 I 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. I 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 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
recommendations as to future disposition
of them where new legislation is needed
shall be made complete and unQuestoned
Disposition of Forest Reserves.
The forest reserves of the United
States some 100, 900 600 acres in extent. are
under the control of the department of
aoricu1turR with authority adequate to
preserve them and TO extend their growth
so far as that may be practicable. The
Importance of the maintenance of our
forests cannot be exaggerated The posi-
biIity of a scientific treatment of forests
so that they shall be made to yield
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 in pri-
vate ownership, but only three per cent.
of it is being treated scientifically and
with view to the maintenance of the
| forests. The part played by the forests
i in the equalization of the supply of water
| on watersheds is a matter Of discussion
and dispute, but the general benefit to be
| derived by the public from the extension
| of forest lands watersheds and the
promotion of the growth of trees In
places that are now denuded and that
| once had great f1ourishing forests. goes
| without saying. The control to be exer-
| cised over private owners in their treat
ment of the forests which they own is a
| matter for state and not national regu-
lation. because there is nothing in the
| constitution that authorizes the federal
| government to exercise any control over
1 xyit a unless forests