University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1910-09-30
IRRIGATION BRINGS
LARGE [! RETURNS
..s+5---.. = i ~
Frederick H. Newell Shows
Value of Improving
} Arid Lands.
SPEAKS AT PUEBLO, COLO
Progress Made in West III as
Surprised Even the Most
Optimistic.
BY United Press.

I .
BY United Press.
PUEBLO, Colo, Sept. 30.-"1t is con
sentative to state that every dollar
leaned by the Federal Government
for National Irrigation will add three
dollars to the taxable wealth of the
Invest" s-.:.> .-s..f -ze, :
This was the assertion made
by Frederick H. Newell of the Recla.
Emation Service before the National
irrigation Congress now meeting in
this city. Newell spoke upon the
progress of irrigation and declared
that in eight years the work had prov.
ed beyond doubt that it would pro-
vide big returns upon the investment
that Uncle Sam had made in it. Not
only. will it pay. he said, in money
at three dollars to one but in the far
more valuable work of tbs permanent
location on the. reclamation projects
Of families of independent citizens de-
irving their living from the soil and
vitally interested in the preservation
of the principles of free government"
! Progress Has Stopped Criticism. !.
In speaking of the financial aspects
Of the mammoth undertaking OF re-
claiming the arid lands of the west.
Newell said that the progress thus
far made not only stopped the criti-
cism of the enemies and dOubters OF
the work but had surprised the most
optimistic of its supporters. He
pointed out that the maximum figure
suggested in Congress to be expended
in reclaiming lands when the Recla-
nation bill was first under considera-
ton was S. per acre. He showed
how this limit had been raised through
successive stages as the. success of
the project increased confidence in It.,
to $40 per acre. He said that settlers
on irrigated lands were now urging
that work be undertaken by the gov
ernment which would cost $40. per acre
and claiming that they could pay even
up 500 per acre in ten annual Install
nents and maintain themselves on
the products of the land.
Defends Residence Requirement.
Newell stoutly defended the clauses
of the Reclamation Law which de-
manded actual. residence on the govern
ment lands as requirement to secur-
ing title. He opposed the contention of
many persons that they could remain
in their eastern homes until the land
in the west could be brought into a
paying condition and at the same time
contribute as much to the develop
ment of the land. Newell said those
arguments were not strong enough to
hold against the immense benefit de-
rived from the personal interest of
settlers in. the civic betterment of
the region.
1t is in the schools and churches
that are erected, declared Newell, that
this country would be most benefited
by the settlement on the irrigated
lands of the west. ""This," said he,
sis the true test of the value Of Ma
tional Irrigation"
Advocates Greater Initial Expense.
The director spoke strongly in ia
vor of greater initial expense on rec
lamation projects rather than the con-
struction of poor and unreliable works
at a smaller cost to the government.
He cited the instance of one irriga-
ton canal whose owners boosted of
the low cost. of construction. In the
season of 1910 this canal was out of
water for twenty-one days and the
crop losses resulting from this one
failure of the water supply were suffi-
cient to have paid the entire cost Of
reconstruction of the canal on sound
basis. -..
A word of caution was sounded by
Newell to prospective settlers on ,irri-
CATION lands. He dwelt at great length
upon the hardship incident to pioneer
ing and said that no man should sub
iect himself or his family to it without
being physically and financially able
to meet the burden and willing to de-
vote several years of his life to the
most strenuous exertions Of which he
was, capable.
Boone county strained honey in quart
jars. at Van Horns. - -. ~