Weekly journal-miner. [volume] (Prescott, Ariz.) 1908-1929, 1911-12-13
NATIONAL IRRIGATION
CONGRESS IN SESSION

CHICAGO. Dee. :. prc,iien, Ben
iamin s. Fowler .peaking at the
opening Of the nineteenth national
irrigation congress here yesterday,
advocated amendments 20 the nation.
al irrigation act aud urged the re.
clama,ion Of swamp lands as two of
the most important matters for dis
cussion by the congress.
." More than nine years have passed
since the national irrigation act be.
came a law and the reclamation ser.
vice was organized" said President
Fowler in taking up the subject Of
the proposed amendments. "As anti.
cipated by its friends, ,ac act has in
practice demonstrated some weak.
nesses, which could not be foreseen,
but ought now 10 be corrected.
"First. The time limit Of ten
years in which 20 return 90 the gov.
eminent in equal annual payments the
cost Of construction of project Is
now recognized as too short, and the
necessity Of an extension is admitted.
Second. theoretically, irrigated
lands under any government project
ought TO furnish the best Of security
for conservative mortgage loans at
low interest. But outside capital hes.
itates to offer itself for such loans
| a -. - t...aI...ta h. 81
operates against the MORTGAGE and
prevents him "a non resident from
securing title. This ought to be rem.
edied in the interest of both sides.
"Third. Experience has shown that
when any project is more than half
completed, acreage property has so
appreciated in value that the oppor.
tunity for the speculator as such or
the large capitalists has gone forever
and the time has come when the own.
or should no longer be required Ia
live on these lands. -
Regarding the reclamation OF
swamp lands. President Fowler said
T in part:
"In addition TO the land area avail
able for reclamation through irriga
y ton. there are about eighty million
z acres of swamp and overflow landi
,. not now inhabitable but susceptible
g 10 drainage.
r "Though these wet lands are most
= ~ along the Gulf and Atlantic slopes
:. with considerable areas in the Pa
c cifie states. they are distributed
il throughout every state. Generally o
2 great fertility they would, IL reclaim
ed, sustain population Of ninct.
Is millions Of people. While not we
Is settled or, cultivated, except in
IS small way, most Of the wet land
!. have been ceded to states and hav
h passed into private ownership. D.
m far the greater portion of the ares
n (for example, In the lower MISSISSIPPI
N region) is 50 located that drainag
3. projects would necessarily affect Sc,
II eral states, so that the drainage prof.
5. lem is essentially interstate invol'
m ing federal action with that of IN
4. states.
alt is clear that one Of the greo
~ needs Is the extension of reclamatio
=. over the wet lands, and IL is impor
n ant that the action be taken by stat
ID legislatures and congress in coopcri
Pc ton with private owners at an earl
If date.
k. "Thus far no attempt has bee
D. made 10 formulate policy lookin
to the reclamation Of our wet land
n by drainage. But 1t Is hoped that III
n deliberations OF this meeting will q
r. least point way to the adoption {
m wise mode Of procedure.
"Tbe swamp land drainage err
A SADIE, embracing as IL does, more tina
"a eighty million acres Of wet land,
es thirty-five states, Is a proposition ,
ar big, involving 80 many million ,
nm dollars and such vast interests, ind
az vidual, state and national, that
he must inspire the biggest Drained me
nm who could be interested in its d
A. velopment."