The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-15

fer, and it was left to the Secretary of the Interior to determine what projects should be selected 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.
 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- servation of our national resources that the government has entered upon. It would appear that over 30 projects have been undertaken and that few O. these are likely to be unsuccessful because of the lack of water, but generally the work which has been done has been well done and many important engineering prob- lens have been met and solved
 Too Many Projects.
 One of the difficulties which have arisen is that too many projects in vIew or ,..c available funds have been set on foot The funds available under the reclam- alton statute are inadequate to complete these projects within a reasonable tme 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, re- lying 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 distressed condi- tion.
 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 extend the benefit of reclamation fo as many acres and as many states as possible.
 I recommend, therefore, that authority be given to issue, not exceeding s3o.- 00o of bonds from time to tlrne IS the Secretary of the Interior shall find it necessary, the proceeds to be applied to the completion 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.
 Tcn-Year Bonds.
 There is no doubt at all if these bonds were to be allowed to run ten years the proceeds from the public lands, together with the rentals for water furnished through the completed enterprses. would quickly create 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 1t will be drawn in such way as to secure interest at the lowest rate and that the credit of the United States will be pledged for their redemption.
 I urge consideration Of the recommenda- ton of the Secretary of the Interior in his annual report for amendments of the re- , clamation act proposing other relief for settlers on these projects. 1 Respecting the comparatively small l timbered areas on the public domain not 1 included in national forests because oi !; their isolation or their special value for l agricultural or mineral purposes 1t if i apparent from the evils resulting by va ! i'ioDs irrerfections of the existing laws for the disposition of timber lands that | the acts of June B. 1S7S should be re- i pealed and a law enacted for the dis position of the timber at public sale 1 the lands after the removal of the tim l her to he subject to appropriations un. l der the agricultural or mineral land laws What I have said is really an epitomt | of the recommendations of the Secretary 1 of the Interior in regard to the future | conservation of the public domain 1T | his present annual report. He has giver ] close attention to the problem of dis ] position of these lands under such con i ditions as to Invite the private capita | necessary to their development on the ont | . xx-