Arizona republican., 1911-12-06

ward. others stili live. In few
hut their achievements will go dowI
as a rich heritage to coming genera
tons. This is too often the reward
Iof pioneers, patriots. and workers fol
the public good. and if any such. hav-
ing done public or semi-public work
look for or expect full compensation
this side of heaven. they are likel,
to be sorely disappointed.
As the constructive work of tn.
United States reclamation service goe.
on, the reason for the existence OF
this congress is demonstrated anC
emphasized. No one will deny. bu
irrigation act and the reclamation ser
vice had never been, and the history
Of the arid west would read very
differently from what il does today
And yet even the people and localitie.
in arid America, which are most ben
Gifted by this law. have today little
comprehension of this fact. Not
many OF them realize that these mon
.Olithic structures of masonry anC
concrete which the federal govern
mcnt is now constructing. destined
as they are. to play such an impor-
tant part i'm contributing To the wealth
happiness and prosperity of the arid
west. are all the tangible results oi
the vigorous propaganda which for
years before the passage of the ma
tional irrigation act. this congress
carried on for irrigation. forestry and
reclamation, in the face of general
ignorance as 10 the facts. sectional
prejudice and hostile criticism. Then
it was considered an iridescent dream
and treated accordingly by the great
majority everywhere. But the idea
contained a living germ. vital prin-
ciplc. which steadily grew and flour
ishod. In time far-seeing men began
to advocate it. Statesmen and ora
tors enlisted in its ranks and elO-
quently emphasized the benefits 10
accrue. not alone to arid America. but
TO the entire nation. east and west.
Thus briefly have | sketched the
connection between the irrigation con-
gress OF 1891 and the congress OF
1911, in order To make clear the ire
mendous obligation which the arid
west is under to this organization.
inspired only by public spirit, and
whose sole aim is the public good.
Suggested Amendments to National
Irrigation Act.
More than nine years have passed
since the national irrigation act be-
came 4 law and the reclamation ser
vice was organized. As anticipated
by its friends, the act has in practice
demonstrated some weaknesses which
could not be foreseen, but ought now
To be corrected.
First-The time limit of ten years
in which To return TO the government
in annual payments the cost OF con-
struction of project is now recog-
nized as too short and the necessity Of
an extension is generally understood
and admitted by everybody.
Second Theoretically, irrigated
lands under any government project
ought TO furnish the best of security
for a conservative loan at low rate
Of interest But what is the fact?
Outside capital SHES at such loans
because. in case of foreclosure. the
act operates against the mOrtgagee
and prevents him. as a non resident"
from securing title. This ought to be
in the interest of the mort
gagor and mortgage.
neutrality-suspicious. has shown that.
when any project is nearing compile
ton. acreage property has so appre
ciated in value that the opportunity
for the Spectator. as such, or the
large capitalist has gone forever.
When that time comes. there should
be- no unnecessary limitation on the
buying. selling or transferring of
lands. This will expedite the cutting
up Of larger holdings. multiply the
number of small homes. bring in new
outside capital and work to the inter
Est of the entire community. Then
the owner should no longer be re-
luired To live on the land
| call the attention of the delegates
10 these acknowledged weaknesses in
he irrigation act with the hope that
which their Importance deserves and
proper regulations regarding same be.
adopted
Swamp Land Drainage.
While forestry. irrigation and re-
,lamation have furnished the legend,
Save the Forests. Store the Floods.
Reclaim the Deserts, Make Homes on
he Land" yet there is another phase
If reclamation which has not been
neglected Few of the government,
,r the more important private, irriga-
ion projects but have also to face
he problem of drainage. a fact which
has naturally brought this congress
INTO close sympathy with the swamp
and drainage question as embodied
n it's resolutions of past years.
Of the land area of the United
States (about 1.92O.00O.000 acres),
more than half is either too dry or too
for settlement. Nearly
III OF the remainder has now passed
nto private hands. 80 that Uncle
Sam is no longer rich enough TO
give us all "a farm" Indeed, the fed
raj government has already under
AIKEN to exc out the supply of lana
or homes by irrigating the fertile
alleys Of the arid west. Some
1000, 900 acres have been. or may be,
reclaimed by irrigation. These lands
ire so richly productive that they will
ustain a population of $4,000. 1000
.qual to that of the United States i'm
900.
In addition To the land area avail