Los Angeles herald., 1910-05-02
LAND WORK FATE
CALLED A TOSS UP
Settlers Must Pay U. S. ReCla-
nation Fund Soon or Jig
Will Be Up
EXPECT ALL TO PAY DEBTS
Squaring Indebtedness Thought
Big Event in History
of Irrigation
EXPECT ALL TO PAY DEBTS
Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, May 1.-The acid
test of the practicability of the govern
ment reclamation work is at hand. on
April / there was due and payable into
the reclamation fund from the settlers
on the various projects approximately
81, 900 600 for water rights. If the farm
ers are able to meet their payments it
evidences that the government is able
to secure a return on it's investment.
II the payments are not made, the law
is a failure in one of its most import
ant provisions and the operations of
the reclamation service would quickly
be brought TO an end.
But a careful canvass of the projects
on which water rights charges are due
indicates that the settlers as d rule are
able and willing to meet them.
On the big North Platte project in
wyoming and Nebraska there were 1886
farms with charges due on April 1. 1t
is reported that 227 of them paid up
as early as last December and of the
remaining los the engineers in the field
estimate that not more than ten will
be likely to be Cancelled. Most Of these
could relinquish at this time at Il profit.
FEW DELINQUENCIEs
in Nevada, where conditions have been
as unfaVorable as any could be, the
reports show few delinquencies. On the
Okanogan and Sunnyside projects in
Washington, the Shoshone in Wyoming
and the Huntley and Sun river in Mon
tana, it is predicted that every farmer
will meet his obligations.
The payment of their indebtedness
by these farmers will probably be the
f.ta inf Gin ole n his
tory of national irrigation. There
never has been any doubt as to the
competency of the engineers to con-
struct the projects, but doubt has been
expressed as to whether the govern
ment could get its money back. The
dollars of the successful farmers in the
districts will be the answer and the
Vindication of the reclamation law.
There have been failures as ii was
inevitable there should be, but the abb
solute failures and the abandonments
have been surprisingly few. In numer'
Gus instances those who underestimate
ed the task or came without expert
ence or sufficient funds were able to re-
tire without serious loss. In numerous
other instances many retired with
some gain, but the greatest number of
failures was found among those who
took up the projects never intending to
use them themselves, but to speculate
for profits on bona fide homemakers
who came later.
TO PROTECT RIGHTS
Where the reclamation service finds
that a failure has been due to condi-
tions not under control of the settler,
it is possible that some way may be
found to protect his rights, but where
the evidence is that the settler has
made no effort to protect himself, he
need expect no aid from the govern
ment. The farmers who came to farm,
however, are making good.
The crops produced on the irrigated
lands operated by the water systems
of the government in 1909 had an estl-
mated value of S14,000000, and the land
values increased not less than $105,-
900 900 as the result of the construction
of the federal irrigation works. The
reclamation fund has had more than
$50 900. 900 under the act and more than
81, 500. 900 are still in the treasury OF
the United states but not available.
The great question has been; Will
the money come back? Indications
are that it will.