El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-14
PRESIDENT SENDS IN SPECIAL MES
SAGE TO CONGRESS ON CONSERVATION
CONTINUED From Page one)

electricity to be transmitted long dis
tances has progressed so far that it is
no longer Droblema teal. but it is
certain inference that in the future
power of water flowing in the streams
to a large extent will take the place
of natural fuels.
Insthe disposition of the domain al
ready granted, many water power sites
have come under absolute ownership
and may drift into one ownership, so
that ali the water power under private
ownership shall be a monopoly. If,
however, the water power sites now
owned by the gOvernment-and there
are enough of them-shall be disposed
of to private persons for the investment
of their capital in such a way as to
prevent their union for purposes of
monopoly with Otner water power sites
and under conditions that shall limit
the right of use to not to exceeding so
years with proper means for determ1n-
ing a reasonable graduated rental and
with some equitable provision for fix
ing terms and renewal, it would seem
entirely possible to prevent the absorp
lion of these most useful lands by
power monopoly. AS long as the gov
eminent retains control and can prevent
their improper union with other plants,
competition must be maintained and
prices kept reasonable.
Conservation of Soil.
I'm considering the conservation of
natural resources of the country, the
feature that tranScendS all others, in
Guiding woods, waters minerals, is the
soil. 1t is incumbent upon the govern
ment to foster, by all available means.
the resources of the country that pro-
duce the food of the people. To this
end and conservation of the soils should
be cared for with all means at the
governments disposal
Their productive power should have
the attention of our scientists that we
may conserve the new soils, improve
the old soils. drain wet soils, ditch
swamp soils. levee river overflow soils,
grow trees on thin soils, pasture hill
side soils. rotate crops on all soils, dis
cover methods for cropping dry land
soils, find grasses and legumes for
all soils, feed, grain and mill feeds on
the farms where they originate, that
the soils from which they come may
be enriched.
A 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 success
fully in the department of agriculture,
but it ought not to escape public atten-
ton that the state action in addition
to that of the department of agriculture
(aS for instance, in the drainage of
swamp lands), is essential to the best
treatment OF soils in the manner above
indicated.
Progress of Dry Farming.
The act by which. in semi-arid parts
Of the public domain. the area of the
somestead has been enlarged from $50
TO 800 acres. has resulted most benefic-
tally in the extension of dry farming
and the demonstration which has been
made of the possibility. through a var
iation in the character and mode of
culture. of raising substantial crops
without the presence of such a supply
of water as has been heretofore
thought to be necessary for agricul-
ture.
But there are millions of acres of
completely arid land in the public do
main. which by the establishment of
reservoirs for the storing of water and
irrigation may be made much more
fruitful and productive than the best
lands in climate where the moisture
comes from the clouds
Congress recognized the Importance
of this method of artificial distribution
OF water on the arid lands by the pass
age OF the reclamation act. Proceeds
OF the public lands create a fund TO
build the works needed to store and
furnish necessary water and it was left
10 the secretary of the interior TO de-
termlne what projects should be Sc
lected 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.
Reclamation Money Needed.
NO one can visit the far west and
Of wi
without being convinced that this is
one of the most important methods Of
conservation of our natural resources
mat the government has entered upon.
Ii would appear that over 80 projects
nave been undertaken and that a few
OF these are likely to be unsuccessful
because of the lack of water or for
other reasons, but generally the work
whlch has been done has been well
done and many important engineering
problems have been met and solved.
One difficulty which has arisen is
hat 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 I'D
and In many instances have taken I'D.
the land within the projects. rely |
nS upon their prompt completion The
failure to complete the projects for |
their benefit is in effect, a breach Of |
faith and leaves them in most dis |
tressing condition
Urges Bond Issue.
L urge that the nation ought to af- |
ford means to lift them out of the very |
desperate condition in which they now |
Ire. 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 extend the benefit of reclamation to !
as many acres and as many states as |
possible.
L recommend, therefore, that authority |
De given TO issue not exceeding $780, |
100000 of bonds from time to time as |
The secretary of the interior shall find |
t necessary. the proceeds to be applied |
20 the completion of projects already |
begun and their proper extension, and |
The bonds running 10 years or more, to !
De taken up by the proceeds of returns |
% the reclamation fund, which returns, /
rs the years go on, will increase rapid !
y in amount
There is no doubt at all that if these
bonds were to be allowed to run 10 |