The Parker post., 1914-04-18
JONES WILL
DECIDE :. SOON
RECLAMATION ~ SERVICE I" WILL VII
TAKE OVER PARKER PROJECT
IF OTHER SCHEMES FOR REC
,LAMArloN PROVE NOT FEAs-
iBLE,

Individual irrigation projects were
not considered at the Denver confer
ence except in so far as they
related to the solution of the vari-
Gus problems coming before the NEE
ing. However, the writer had occa-
sion to talk over the Par
ker project with several officials
of the interior department, including
Assistant Secretary Of the Interior
A. A. Jones, the latter declaring he
was very familiar with our needs and
that upon returning to Washington
something definite would be recon-
mended for the Parker project
For several weeks Mr. Jones has
been holding up Congressman Carl
Hayden's bill in his department pend
ing the result of the Denver confer
ence, which was expected to suggest
some remedial amendment to the Car
ey act. In this respect, the only rec
ommendation made was that If the
Carey law required fixing that it be
done by the secretary Of the inter
ior, as the various Carey act states
mir in wi hnf
the committee ON Carey act projects
that the law itself was all right ii
beth state and government gave
proper supervision.
The principal objections to the ad-
ministration of the Carey laws wer
she departmental delays in approy
segregations, and the long time which
elapses before settlers on these pro
jects secure patents to their land.
Land office officials explained these
delays as result of inadequate ap-
preparations by the congress for suf-
ficient clerk hire and field engineers.
1t developed that the department was
eight years behind in it's work, but
the officials were sanguine in getting
caught up with the work at an early
date. =.
Idaho came to the conference and
reported thirty-four uncompleted
Carey projects in that state, but not
a project failed because the law
itself was inadequate The reasons
assigned for failure were: Engineer
ing mistakes, lack of water supply,
inefficient state and government su-
pervision,a and lack of capital for the
completion of the lame ducks"
In my opinion the solution OF the
irrigation problems now confronting
the arid land states-which also in
cludes the Parker project-lies in the
reclamation service, or cooperation
between the government and the
state. For the larger projects the re-
clamation service is better equipped
to do the work, and the smaller pro
jects could be taken care of by the
state, with assistance of the federal
government
However, the Parker project could
very we'll come under the supervi-
sion of the Carey Act, with rigid gov
ernment and state supervision. 1t
is probable that Mr. Jones will so
recommend, but if he does not | can
assure the people interested in this
project that he will suggest an alter
native that will undoubtedly meet
with everyhody's approval
While it developed that the rec
lamation service would practically
be without funds after the close of
this year, it was suggested by the
conference that the government is
sue bonds against existing projects
in the sum of 100000, 900. This
would give the required O,OO0, 900
with which to complete the existing
projects, leaving a surplus of $50 O,OOO,-
900 for new projects.
This money would be immediately
available and it is almost certain
ty that such action will be taken be-
fore the adjournment of congress.
otherwise existing projects will suffer
for lack of money for their compile
ton.
Therefore, | feel confident that no
matter what Mr. Jones decides to do
as TO the Parker project, it will be
immediate, effective and definite. /
am thoroughly convinced of his sin
cerity in wanting to do something for
this project at once, and with Con
gressman Hayden, Senators Marcus
Smith and Henry F. Ashurst on the
Job at Washington l look for salts
factory results within the next few
weeks at the latest.
j. B. FLANAGAN.