The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1915-06-02
IRRIGATION
ON NAbUS|NESS
BASIS
E.P. OSCOOD SUBMITS PLAN
TO SECRETARY OF INTERIOR
Would Have Every Acre Seeded to
Protect Land and Insure
Quick Returns.

That at no distant date the Fed
eral Government may scientifically
prepare land for irrigation and for
its quickest and best surface drain
age and SO insure to the settler I'M
mediate and maximum and contin-
uous production is the hope of e. p.
Osgood who has just returned from
Washington, ID. c. As a homestead
er from this project he was accord
ed hearing by Secretary Lane and
by the Reclamation Service Com
mission consisting of Mr.. A. ?.
Davis, the Director and Chief Engi-
neer; Judge Will r. King, the Chief
Counsel and Mr. w A. Ryan, the
Comptroller and he was deeply i'm
pressed with their keen interest in
the welfare of the settler and with
their evident determination to do all
in their power to carry out their al
ready we'll known policy of trying
to make 100 per cent successful
homeseekers of those really trying
The policy supported by Mr.. 0s-
good is that of having every acre
prepared and seeded to protect the
land and to insure the settler i'm
mediate adequate returns to meet
current family and farm expenses
and to meet all payments on land
and water right and interest and
principal on any borrowed capital,
and, further, to gain the settler To-
cal credit, when needed, in the shape
of store account based on the pro-
ducing acres going to sure harvest
If largo ratnrpc and yalua
The final cost of a desirable so
acre irrigated farm suitably stocked
to insure consumption of production
and continued fertility of the land
will be over $4,000. The Govern
ments investment in preparing the
land at an average cost of $35 per
acre would be $500, and inasmuch
as a settler with as little as $500
could still succeed so the initial in
vestment in the farm would be only
$1,000 and there would still be in
the shape of home, barn, house
furnishings. farm machinery, plant
and equipment and stock over $12,-
700 of the investment to be created
by the settler. 1t can readily be
seen that even with the aid of the
Government the homebuilder will be
busy many years to come before he
has finally accomplished his task of
gaining a fully equipped and paid
for ranch for himself and family.
The Government has wisely
adopted the policy of reclaiming the
very fertile arid lands; the final tri-
umph of this great program should
be assured by putting the matter on
sound business basis. 1t can be
done by treating the settler as a
business man by giving him a busi-
ness proposition. The suitable prep
aration of the land does this, and
the cost might best be met by inter
est bearing bonds issued at the rate
of three per cent on which the set
tier would pay four per cent. With
this charge becoming, as il really is
building Charge" and being re.
paid under the provisions of the
splendid 20-year reclamation Exten-
tion act now available to us, then
immediate success can be predicted
to the settler and to the West.
Few seem to realize that this pol
icy can be carried out at a cost ol
about $2.45 per acre per year, CON
sisting of an average interest of 70
cents and an average return OF
s135 of nrincipal. and that il will
insnre returns to the settler. to the
business man the banker. the rail.
road and the limited States as well
of $40 to $50 of gross production
for each acre each year. Ever,
acre would be in production where
now IL takes nearly 10 years for the
average man to get his whole plac,
going and the returns of each acre
would be as stated where now under
the limited efforts of the handi
canned settlers the returns are but
$40 to $25 per acre.
AS an Indication of the spirit OF
cooperation now sought by the Rec
lamation Service with its water
users it can be stated that the Com
mission allowed Mr.. Osgood over al
hour for the presentation of a home
steader's view of the situation, ant
that il freely went into discussion o.
suggested features. Every eourtes,
was shown him and he was invited
to put his specific suggestions dowr
in writing that they might receiv,
the fullest consideration. The Com
sion was kind enough to give hin
letters of introduction to Secretar.
Lane and other prominent men IL
Washington in order that he Nigh
have every chance to urge the view
of a settler for settlers.