The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-05-09
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

WASHINGTON, May "a graphic
statement of the vast extent OF the
governments irrigation projects and
the success that attends their opera
tion has been made by c. ]. Blancha
ard, statistician OF the Reclamation
Service, who has returned from atom
Of inspection.
"At the present time there are q
projects in various stages Of construc'
ton" said Blanchard. THE total
acreage involved in these projects Is
100000 which will provide homes fol
approximately 100000 persons on
farms, and an equal number in: cities
towns and villages within this area, OF
in the neighborhood thereof, or total
l1oH $4,000 people! The total area now
under water is 100000 acres, on
which have been established approx
mately $4,000 fanilis and an equal
number have taken up,theit homes In
the cities, towns and villages.
"The progress ofthe engineers has
been rapid, notwithstanding isolated
location Of the principal engineering
works from transportation and the
many difficulties, which have been en-.
countered IN the promotion of the
work. Up to the present time the
canal systems constructed have a to.
tai length Of 1921 miles. Many Of
these canals carry whole rivers. Plac-
ed end to en- dthey would reach from
New York City to San Francisco and
Back to New Orleans. Tunnels hav-
ing a total length OF 16 miles have
been .excavated, mostly through noun.
tains. The excavation OF rock and
earth amount to the enormous total OF
66,OO0,000 cubic yards, or more than
one-thlrd Of the yardage required for
the Panama canal Owing to the To-
cation OF some of the principal works
in regions heretofore inaccessible, the
reclamation service has been compel,
ed to, construct 575 miles 81 wagon
roads, some Of which are In the most
rugged country on this conttrent. The
service has,in operation 1,5OS miles OF
telephones, 275 miles Of transmission
lines, and is furnishing power and
light for municipal and manufacturing
uses to seven cities and towns from
its own power plants.
1.-The Investment Of the government
in the projects now under construction
is $62,20S,000. The total computed
cost OF these projects when completed
is $145OOO,O0O. The allotment togcoN
er the work during. the present fiscal
year is $10,OO0,OO0. This does'not IN,
Glide the issue Of $2O,OO0,OOO in cert
ficates, which will be aavllable when
required. ~
using as basis the present value
per acre of irrigated land in the pro.
ieCts Of the government with sufficient
water night, It is conservative 10 state
that the total value Of all the lands UNI
der these projects when irrigated will
exceed 1920, 100000. There lan,ls are
virtually mortgaged to the government
to repay the cost Of the Irrigation sysfE
TEN, which is computed at S145,O0O,.
900. ..4
"The gross value Of crops produced
in 1910 on lands which were supplied
by the government irrigation systems
Appropriated $4,000, 900. The value
of the Improvements of the settlers,
including buildings, fences, etc., is
$7,500,0OO. The value OF live stock Is
$2,400,00O. The total increase in the
values including lands, implements,
buildings, live stock, etc, as a result
OF rpvitogndRidera.. tiS2isltmorefGn $
of providing irrigation for these farms,
is not less than 100000, 1000. Compar.
ing the former selling prices >of the
other lands which ar included in the
government projects but not yet irrl.
gated, with the prices at which they
are now being sold, an additional in
crease in values OF $S0000,000 Is
shown as a result OF this Development
There is no more hopeful sign in
connection with the home-buildlng
work Of the government, than the sur
prisingly large number OF settlers who
have left the cities and towns to- take
up their homes in the dessert. The
reports from the field are gratifying
for the reason that a very small per.
centage Of failures is shown, Z yf d
"Ihformation from all sources shows
no dimunition in the movement OF the
people to the West, Railroads report
that the travel has been .aboYG the
average, with a promise Of great IN
crease in the fall.
@At present the government farms
are limited to five projects, = and ln7
cludes only S66 farm units! The field
forces are pushing forward the work
OF extension OF canals in order to
make ready for settlers a large area
of new lands, some Of which Will prob
ably be opened In the fall. n 1ti
THE question Can merchant, me.
chanic, lawyer, doctor brother probes
sionaI man succeed as a farmer in the
,west?' has always been answered:
Given good health, a small capital TO-
make a start, and q Willingness to-
work, and the answer in most cases is.
'yes.sH
=. =, i,Al., y i -. 4.