The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-04
AUSTRALIAN RECLAMATION.

Mr., Elwood Mead, well known in
Utah as a hydraulic and irrigation en-
gineer, and formerly prominent in ir-
rigation economics in Wyoming, is now
and has been for the past three years
III Australia. He was called there to
the aid Of the irrigation development
in that vast region. and is now chair
man of the State Water Supply Com
mission of Victoria In the current
number of The Independent there is an
article from him entitled "What Aus.
traha Can Teach America - in the way
of reclamation, colonizing. and co.
operation between the government and
the prospective settler. The. founda.
tion of the work which Mr.. Mead ex-
plains as going forward in Victoria
appears to be our National irrigation
law, but expanded and communized so
as to make reclamation and colonial
tion go hand in hand as a joint enter
prise between the provincial govern
ment and the prospective settlers First
Of all. the government does not invite
settlers to go on the arid lands and
file claims; but the government Laws
out reclamation proposition. keeps
everybody out until il is ready TO ap.
portion the land and supply the water
Then 1T allows settlers 10 locate upon
tracts as laid out. the settlers getting
no title, but only the right Of occu-
pancy on stated rental. which is
made very low. And since the govern
ment owns the land, there is, of course,
no taxation at all The rent is all
that the government tenant paws,
which. so far as that is concerned. is
the usual thing. 1t is not PROPOSE.
tiOn at all equivalent to the single tax,
but is a straight rental charge.
Under the Victoria system. the gov
ernmeut locates the places where water
is TO be diverted, and handles it so as
TO secure the largest return. The gov
ernment not only retains the ownership
of the lands, and all the banks OF the
streams, but il builds houses for its
prospective tenants. supplies them
water. tools. and at need everything
necessary TO go on with farming opera
tions. II Is government rental pure
and simple, with the government tak-
log tho initiative all through, Vic
toria does not allow mining titles to be
acquired. but permits mining under
lease. renewing leases as long as the
work continues.
As Mr.. Mead explains. in the United
States we have depended upon indi.
vidual initiative. In Australia. and
particularly in Victoria province. the
government takes the initiative. and
paternslIy looks after the settlers. Civ
ing them homes ready prepared. with
water supply. and no trouble 10 set.
tier, but, on the other hand. the set.
tier can never get ownership OF his
home. He can simply occupy and pay
rent. or lease charges. TO the State.
Mr.. Mead thinks this an immensely
improved system over that Of the
uuited states. IL NAV be, but that
Is vet TO be proved. ANY fair enthusi.
astic scheme looks well in the begin
ming. especially if there is ample fnan.
cial backing for il, as there would
appear 10 be by the government for
the reclamation schemes in Victoria.
But. after all. men. and especially men
with families. like home of their
own; they like the idea Of proprietor.
ship. They do not like. nor arc they
used to. tho proposition that they do
not own their homes. and never can
own them. but must pay rent in per.
petuity 10 the State. That there
are advantages TO tho Australian idea
in the way of making each roelama tion
project land equal to the capacity OF