The Delta independent., 1912-04-05
GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE
DRAINAGE FOR SETTLERS
Secretary Fisher Says Reclamation
Act COmpSls Him to Thus
Provide.

the duty of the reclamation service
to provide in connection with each
project a complete, effective drain
age system such as will, so far as
practicable, prevent injury to the
agricultural areas.
After visiting various projects,
Secretary Fisher has declared that
the practical operations of the Rec
lamation Act authorize or compel
him to provide, so far as practi-
cable for adequate drainage systems.
Every settler who has taken farm
unit in good faith, and who has
lived upon it and cultivated it,,
should be afforded reasonable pro-
lection against injury by seepage
Where feasible he may be temporarily
here feasible he may be temporarily
relieved from payments, or if the
injury cannot be prevented by rea-
sonable expenditures, the secretary
proposes to use every practicable eff
fort to allow the entryman to Sc
cure another farm with as little loss
as possible.
The proprie.y of providing drain
age and protecting against the evil
effects of seepage being thus es-
tablished in the view of the seCre-
tary. it follows that in preparing
plans for all future work, special
pains must be taken to study the
conditions and TO anticipate as far
as practicable, the extent of drain
age work necessary to meet these
conditions. The cCst of the main
drains, both for waste water and
seepage, should be included, as far
as they can be forseen in the es-
timated building charge. The farm
and miner drains essential to es-
tablish onnection with the main
drainage system must necessarily be
constructed by the settlers them
selves as the need for them becomes
apparent after irrigation is COM
menced.
''As for the projects which have
been constructed or partly construct
ed, and for which the building
has pttu Mllhouk
provision covering the drainage
charge, or with insufficient pro
vision therefor, it will be neces-
sary to provide the required drain
age US part of the expense OF
maintaining the irrigability of the
land, and the cost of drainage will
be Included as part of the annual
cost of operation and maintenance.
1t is believed that this conclusion is
not merely reasonable and just but
also that it is founded on sound
legal principles. Hereafter public no.
tices and orders fixing charges for
water rights and for operation and
maintenance will make definite pro
vision for drainage along the linSs
above stated.
The cost of drainage is to be as
sessed to all the land irrigated within
the project, unless there be some
exceptional condition which should
be submitted to the secretary for
special consideration. This general
rule depends upon the fact that it
is unfair to charge the cost OF
draining lands which happen to
show seepage solely on such lands,
because the Individual hardship on
their owners is an incidental result
of the general benefits of irrigation
and those who share the benefit
should unite in relieving the Incl
dental hardship The man whose
lands have not yet been seeped may,
of course. object. He is not asking
for relief, but it is highly probable
that in most instances he is con
tributing directly or indirectly to
tho unfavorable conditions. In any
event he is getting the benefit of
the irrigation and it is safe to say
that If no land were irrigated on
the project there would be no seep-
age. While it is practically impos-
sible to draw any sharp line be-
tween the men who are causing the
seepage and those who are not, any
one who does irrigate probably con
tributes to it. The balance of ma
ture has been disturbed in put
ting water on the land and can only
be restored by artificial channels
to carry off the surpls. s.'-Reclama-
ti0a Record.
Smith 4 Reilly's. one of the old
est meat markets of Delta. was sold
this week to Louie Kurz, who is now