The Detroit times., 1910-01-14

powers should have the attention OF
our scientists that We may conserve
the new soils. improve the old soils.
grain wet soils, ditch swamp soils.
levee river overflow soils, grow trees
on thin soils. pasture hillside soils. ro-
tate crops IN all soils, discover meth
grasses and iegames for ali soils feed
grains and mill feeds on the farms
where they originate. that the soils
from which they come may be enrich
A work OF the utmost Importance 10
INFORM fSld instruct the public sn this
chiei branch OF the conservation OF our
resources Is being carried on success
fully In the department OF agriculture:
put II ought not TO escape public at
tsntion that state action. IN addition TO
that or the department OF agriculture
tas Tor instance In the drainage OF
swamp lands) is essential TO the best
treatment Of the soils In the manner
Lands Cas- ne Made More Fruitful.
The act by which. In semi-arid parts
or the public domain. the area of the
homestead has been enlarged from leo
10 sgo acres has resulted most hene-
nciaiiy In the extension OF dry farm
has been made OF the possibility.
through a variation In the character
and mode of culture. or raising sub
such supply OF water as has been
heretofore thought TO be necessary for
agriculture.
completely arid land in the public do.
main which. by the establishment OF
reservoirs for the. storing OF water and
msa. ne rrsssion sb or OF the lSnds may n9o, be
tive then the best lands In climate
where the moisture comes from the
clouds Congress recognized the i'm,
portance OF this method OF artificial
distribution OF water on the arid lands
by the passage OF the reclamation act.
The The proceeds proceeds Of the public lands ere
ed TO store and furnish the necessary
water. and II was left 10 the secre-
tary OF the interior 20 determine what
those suggested. and TO direct the re-
clamation service. with the funds at
Land and through the engineers IN it's
employ to construct the works
No one can VISIT the far west and
the country OF arid and semi-arid lands
without being convinced that this IS
one OF the most important methods OF
the conservation OF our natural re-
sources that the government has en-
tered upon. 1t would appear that over
80 projects have been undertaken. and
that few OF these are likely to be un-
successful because of lack OF water. or
Tor other seasons. but generally the
work which has beon done has been
well done. and many important engi-
solved
One Of the difficulties which has
arisen fs that too many projects In
view OF the available funds have beer
set on foot The funds available un-
der the reclamation statute are made
quate TO complcte these projects with
In reasonable time. And yet the pro-
tects have been begun; settlers have
been invited TO take up and. IN many
land within the projects. relying upon
their prompt completion. The failure
70 complete tho protects for their bene-
| In L..
leaves them in n most distressed con-
dition. ] urge that the nation ought
To afford the means to lift them out OF
the very desperate condition In which
indicate any excessive waste or any
corruption on the part OF the reclama-
jealous desire to extend the benefit OF
reclamation to aS many acres and as
many states as possible. recommend.
therefore that AUTHORITY be given to
Issue. not exceeding $50 .O0D. 900 OF bonds
from time to time. as the secretary OF
the interior shall find IL necessary. the
proceeds to he 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
the years go on, will increase rapidly
In amount.
u. =. Credit should he Pledged.
There Is no doubt at all that II these
bonds were to be allowed to run ten
years. the proceeds from the public
water furnished through the completed
! enterprises would quickly create
sinking fund large enough TO retire
/ tho bonds within the time specified. J
hone that. while the statute shall pro.
1 vide that these bonds are to be paid
out OF the reclamation fund, II VIII be
terest at the lowest rate. and that the
credit OF the United States will he
pledged for their redemption.
7 urge consideration of the recon-
mend1tions or the secretary of the In
terior In his annual report for amend
ments OF the reclamation act. propos-
ing other relief for settlers on these
projects.
Respecting the comparatively small
timpered areas on the public domain
not included in national forests he,
cause OF their isolation or their special
value for agricultural or mineral pur-
poses, IL IL apparent from the evils re-
sulting by virtue OF the impertcctionss
OF existing laws for the disposition OF
timber lands. that the acts OF June 2.
1873. should be repealed and law en-
| acted for the disposition or the timber
at public sale. the lands after the re-
moval Of the timber to be subject TO
annropriation under the agricultural or
mineral land laws.
What 7 have said is really an cpl
tome OF the recommendations OF the
secretary OF the interior In respect To
the future conservation OF the public
He has given close attention to tho
problem OF disposition OF these lands
under such conditions as to Invite the
private capital necessary to their de-
velopment on the one hand and the
| maintenance OF the restrictions neces-
sary to prevent monopoly and abuse
| from absolute ownership on the otner.
| These recommendations are incorpor-
| ated In bills he has prepared. and they
! are at the disposition OF the congress.
! 7 earnestly recommend that all the sug
| gestions which he has made with re-
spect TO these lands shall be embodied
| In statutes. and. especially. that the
| Withdrawals already made shall he
validated go far as necessary and that
| the authority OF the secretary or the
interior to withdraw lands for the pur
pose of submitting recommendations ms
| to future disposition OF them where
| new legislation Is needed shall be
| made complete aud unquastioned.
The forest r2servo- or the United
states some 100. 000 600 acres In extent,
nre under the control % the depart
ment Of agriculture. with authority
| ad .uuate TO preserve them and TO ex-
tend their growth far az that NAV
he practicable. The Importance OF the
| maintenance of our forests can not be
! exaggerated. The possibility OF scfen-
| tihc treatment OF forests so that they