Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1911-12-05
MANY EXPERTS ON
IRRIGATION ARE
ASSEMBLED IN
CHICAGO NOW
Delegates to Big Congress
from All 0ser West and
from a Dozen Foreign Coun-
tries Meet Again Today.
MESSAGE IS RECEIVED
FROM PRESIDENT TAFT
Amendments TO the Federal
Statute Are Urged by Pres
ident Fowler in Address on
Reclamation of Land.

Reclamation of Land.
tBy Eveni.r u~rssa A. p. Lrssea ws--,
Chicago. Dec. b.--Exports In irriga.
tlon from many OF the western states
and from doxen foreign countries
including Mexico, Canada and Cen
,.al and south America and govern
ment officials interested IN the rec.
lamation OF arid and swamp lands, at.
tended the opening ;oday OF the nine
seenth annual meeting OF the National
Irrigation congress.
Dr. +. n. Newell. director OF the
United States reclamation service, n.
Y. Teale, In charaa OF irrigation sta
tiatics OF the bureau OF census. and
Senator William NJ llOrah OF Idaho
we're the chief speakers for this alter.
noon, An encouraging message from
President Taft was received.
President benjamin a. Fowler.
speaking at the opening OF the Nine
teenih Annual irrigation congress, ad-
vocated amendments 10 the national
irrigation act and urged the reclama.
ti0r OF swamp lands as two OF the
tnvst thPtt'ohA tH~tetta tof utoeuonf"ti
by the congress.
More than mine years have passed
since the national irrigation act be-
came a law and the reclpmation sery'
Ice was organized" said President
Fowler In taking up the subject OF the
proposed amendment AS antlcipat-
ed by It's friends, the act has In prac-
tice demonstrated some weaknesses,
which could not be foreseen, but
ought now TO be corrected.
1.-The time limit Of ten years IN
which 10 return to tho government IN
equal annual payments the cost OF
construction OF i.~sjoct Ia now recDg-
nlzod as TOO short. and the necessity
|of an extension is admitted.
"e.--Theoretically, irrigated lands
under any government project ought
to furnish the best OF security for con-
servatiye mortgage lonnE al low in
terest. Hut outside capital hesilates
10 offer itself for such loans because
In case of foreclosure. the oct oper'
ates against the mortgagee and pre-
vents him AS a nonresident from Sc
curing title.
This ought to he remedied In the
Interest OF both sldes.
"3.--Experience has shown that
when any project ID mere than hall
completed, acreage property has Sc
appreciated In value that the oppor
tnnity for the specuIator as such oI
the large capltnllst has gone forever
and the time has come when The own
or should no longer be required "a
live on these lands"
Regarding the reclamation of rwamr
lands, President F9wier said I'm part
'fn addition TO the land area avail.
able for reclamation through irriga.
tion. there are about eighty million
acres OF swamp and overflow lands
mot now inhahlabie but susceptible
| To drainage.
Though these wet lands arc mist.
Ily along tho Gull and Atlantic slopes
with considerable areas In the Pa
cifc states. they are distributed
lthr0ughont every state. Generally OF
great fertility they would IN reclaim.
ed sustain a nopnlaslon Of 90. 900 0Ot
OF people. While not yet settled O,
cultivated, except In A small way. mos,
Of the wet lands nave been ceded te
states and have PASSED into private
lownership. By FAR the, greater nor.
tioH OF the area (tor example, In the
lower Mlsslss.ppl rogionl. Is so 10
Gated that drainage projects wouIc
necessarily affect severaI sta,ea. sc
that the drainage problem is easent
tally Interstate. involving federal ac'
ton with that OF the states.
~ Is clear that one OF the grea
needs n the extension OF reclamation
over ihe wet ianus' ana y ~ impor
,aht tnat the ae''un De taAeh ny sta.'
.ssssM,uIes enu oonhsess IN co'opeIn
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