The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-01
DISCUSS FAULTS IN
RECLAMATION WORK
immigration Commissioners
Ventilate Problems of "Back
to the Land" Campaign.
WEAKNESSES OBSERVED
Failure to Properly Irrigate
and to Secure Experienced
Farmers Alleged.

At a session Of immigration commits
sioners held In the Hotel Utah yesterday
morning tho back TO the land move
ment'' was considered in Its various
phases, special consideration being given
TO the populating of the various western
irrigation projects which are open at the
present time, The work OF organlza-
tons such as the American Agricultural
society was also discussed, The adyisa-
bility OF agricultural instruction in the
elementary schools of the country was
also shown.
Experts Attend.
Among those who were in attendance
were Louis v, Guye. representing the
state OF Nebraska; Mr.. Haines OF Utah
and the following railroad men: j. l..
Brtcker, general immigration agent for
the Northern Pacific. and Professor Dam
iel E. willard. the development agent
Missouri Pacific, c. 3. Schmidt. commits
soner Of immigration for the Rock Is
land lines; A. E. Chamberlain. develop
ment commissioner OF the Great North
ern, and Director +. Fl. Newell and Sta;
tisticlan c. ]. Blanchard Of the United
States reclamation service.
Discussion developed the fact that the
pecialIy that put under water by large
concerns and by the government, Is not
being well irrigated. and the average crop
production Is too small to attract new set
tiers or bring about the best handling OF
the projects. This is particularly true Of
the government projects. More than L.
100000 acres have been reclaimed at a
cost OF between .s3o.o0O.ooo and S4o,-
being used for the production Of crops,
while practically all OF 1t is in the hands
Of homestead entrymen and others. The
big proposition is to teach these land
holders to crop and cultivate the soil In
an intelligent manner, using more brains
and less wtaer.
Hard Work Necessary.
ditions, and on Investigation Il appears
that most Of these men have come into
the irrigated country with the idea that
there ts nothing to do but reap the profits
ten that hard work and much intelligent
agriculture must be applied to make a
success Statistician Blanchard states
that during the past summer he has per-
sonally investigated more than 1000 such
complaints and found that 95 per cent OF
these complaints were made by men who
Were not actually tillers Of the soil them
selves, but were Of the type Of farmer
who d rives to town and airs his troubles,
Instead Of getting down to work.
New Plan Requested.
The meeting came to the conclusion
that many irrigation projects must be re-
a fair amount Of capital, and who un-
derstand that Irrigation means hard
work and continuous application II sue
cess Is to follow their efforts, The I'M
migration commissioners may be able to
hnd Intelligent farmers in the eastern
states who would come out and take the
farms owned by the dissatisfied parties.
soon as the commissioners bring In pros
pective buyers that the natives imme-
diately begin 70 boost prices. AS a
remedy for this condition It is suggested
each locality give an opinion on fair
prices for the land In question before the
buyer appears.
Railroads Can Help.
1t was the consensus of opinion that
the federal government and the railroads
should get together In a movement for
securing all possible options on irrigated
lands ut fair rates and then advertise
these opportunities before men of mod
crate means m the east. thereby safe
guarding them from the operations OF
irresponsible land agents.
Another condition which was deplored
was the attempt of local land owners
to buy up irrigated tracts and hold them
until they rise In value. through the
labors Of their neighbors. and endeavor-
ing to profit thereby. Such speculation
is said to be seriously hampering the
development Of many sections, because Ii
prevents the use Of the lands.
Cooperation Helps.
The success Of state cooperation with
the railroads was shown by Mr. Guye of
Nebraska. who. as agent for the gover-
nor, visited thickly settled portions OF
the east. showed that he had no personal
interest In the matter and that the state
was behind the movement Several hun
dred men were thus brought together.
taken to points where public land could
result over 400 families have been set
tied upon lands at a nominal cost to the
state.