The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-07-16
Wise Law
INCREASES CROPS
Reclamation Act Passed By
Republicans In 1902.
Has Given 100000 Acres Of
Land to Countrys Use Valued
At Sl5,7OO,OOO.

washington, July lU.-AmOng the
numerous achievements to which the
Republican party can Justly point
with pride is the enactment of the
reclamation law, passed in 1902 by q
Republican Congress and signed by a
Republican President. Under the pro-
jects have been constructed affording
water supply sufficient for 100000
acres of land. During 1918, the crop
production on land already supplied
with water exceeded in value $751;
100000.
This production was from an area
of only 100000 acres then under
cultivation. The last annual report
of the Reclamation Service shows
that with relatively small additional
expense, the total acreage supplied
with water can be increased to g.
100000 acres.
Considering the immense amount
! of work to be done in the construc-
ton of reclamation projects on
plan designed to be permanent, it is
remarkable what rapid progress has
been made. The first considerable
amount of irrigation on government
projects was reached in 1906, when
$4,000 acres of arid land was sup
piled with water. In 1913, which
is the latest date for which statistics
are available, the total of 100000
acres was reached.
The reclamation of arid land under
government projects is still in its in
fancy. and mas necessarily been slow
because both the government officials
and the farmers have been compelled
to learn by experience what methods
are most successful and satisfactory.
Development will be far more rapid
in the future. Vast areas of land
that was previously abandoned to
sage brush. jack rabbits and coyotes,
will. for all time to come, make pleas
ant homes for thrifty American far
mers, produce food for residents Of
American cities and add enormously
to the total wealth of the nation.
These irrigation farmers are rails
ing alfalfa, fruit, grain, vegetables
practically every other farm pro-
duct that can be grown anywhere.
The alfalfa supplies feed for live
stock. The live stock furnished raw
material for the packing houses. Tho
laborers in the packing houses are
buyers of all kinds of food and cloth
ing and other necessaries of life. The
100000 of products on irrigated
land in 1918, was but the beginning
of a chain of business that furnished
profitable employment for thousands
of men and women.
The trainers of the reclamation
act anticipated that development
must be slow. and therefore, they
provided for settlement by home
seekers under a plan of payment by
instalment covering a ten year per-
iod, which period Congress has
since extended to 20 years. The pur-
pose of the act was to provide more
farm homes and extend the area of
productive lands. While the act was
a departure from accepted ideas as
to the proper scope Of government.
experience has proven the wisdom Of
government initiative in an under
taking so large that private enter
prise could not be expected to in
vest unless given concessions that
might ultimately be found against
the interests of the homeseekers.
Altho President Wilson has de-
clared that the Republican party has
not had new idea in thirty years.
the Reclamation act stands upon the
statute books alongside the pure
food law. the postal saving bank law
and the parcel post law as mute
but permanent evidence of the con-
structive policies of that party.