El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-03-21

, water is available for delivery, prefer
! ence will be given in the order above
described"
The order of preference given Is;
With respect to those lands under con-
tract with the reclamation service
(which. il. view of the paragraph above
quoted L think, means Glands that are
now or NAV hereafter be placed under
contract and "alI lands under contract
at the time water is available for de-
livery1), ''it shall be my policy, and L
shall direct the reclamation COMMISSION
to observe the rule, that water shall
be made available for lands under cultl-
walton. not necessarily to lands which
have been longest under cultivation but
to those lands as to which the owners
have evidenced good faith by cultlVa-
ton and preparation for reclamation
The lands next to be considered IN ac-
cordance with this policy will be those
uncultivated lands for which stock sub
scriptiOn contracts have been made and
also excess holding contracts when the
holding exceeds the amount designated.
The next lands to be considered will be
those for which such contracts have not
been made and for which the necessary
contracts are promptly made and other
requirements are met, to the extent to
which the water supply will be sUtH-
Gent"
It is a very fortunate letter at this
/ particular time. 1t removes any I'M
preston which might have existed that
sunbaked, unplOwed land, which hap
pened to have been signed up in the
first $4,000 acres, has any speculative
prior right or value, over cultivated
! land living next to it that did not hap
pen to have been so signed up. 1t es-
! tablishes priority Gas a matter Of right
and Justice in Cultivated areas
The position of the secretary Is absO-
/ lutelv right 1t is a blessing to the bona
{ fide farmer. in that it. places his rights
/ over anv unreasonable assumption OF
/ spectators. We must remember that
/ the Elephant Butte dam is being con-
J structed for farming purposes, to water
| land, not for speculative purposes, to
water land values.
1
This letter must bring good cheer to
all who look with disfavor upon great
J stretches of idle land. land that is un-
! improved, and improbable to society,
] that is held in its idleness for the profit
| of spectators, at the expense OF both
/ the government and the bona fide farm
! er on adjoining land. 1t must bring
| greater cheer still to the bona fide
! farmer. who now knows first hand that
! his industry, in cultiyating and improY-
/ ing land in good faith. is to be given
| primary consideration.
/ Furthermore, it is a blessing to the
community. As it discourages the hold
/ ing of land for idle speculation. 1t at
/ the same time encourages the develop
ment Of the valley BY cultivation. 1t
| brings the Rio GTande project to the
| standard, for which the law, IN letter
and spirit. intended it, to the standard
I of the bona fide farmer, who. IN good
/ faith, accepts and utilities the advantages
/ given by the government.
When land is held idle. the owner, be-
! cause of the work of his neighbOr re-
! ceives an unearned increment, but So
| cietv. the public, the community, the
! government that advances the money
I to build the dam, receives no benefit
| No one would denv owners the reason
able value of their lands with their rea-
/ sonable profits, but society cries out Tor
/ the farmer, for whom the dam IS con
| structed, to be given a square deal. The
! secretary. proposes the right treatment.
! Society expects the owners OF unused
| land to do as we'll Friends, either eul-
| tivate your lands, or give the chance to
| others who will.
Zach Lamar Cobb.