The Monte Vista journal., 1916-01-08
BY Edward Heating.
(Ccngrossman from the Third Colo
RADIO District

(Ccngrossman from the Third Colo
RADIO District.)
Washington, D. C.-The Grand
Valley in Western Colorcdo is to be
the scene Of one of the most inter
esting experiments ever undertaken
by the Federal government. Uncle
Sam has expended tens of millions
of dollars on the construction of ir-
rigation works to redeem hundreds
of thousands of acres of arid lands,
and no finds himself obligated to
spend many millions more. 1t is all
being done in order that land-hungry
Americans may have a chance to Gu
tivate the soil
When the reclamation act was
first enacted our statesmen imagined
that If the government would pro-
vide the water the settlcrs would do
the rest, but now we find that
something else is required. Tha set
tiers must be taught how to use the
water, cultivate the land, and mar
ket his product. And, to enable HI
to do all this, system must be pro-
vided which will furnish him with
the needed finances at . reasonable
rate of interest
Sounds good deal like paternal-
ism, doesn't it? And "paternaliem"
is terrible word to American ears
but a system which will make a
dozen blades of grass grow whero
none grew before, and cause happy
homes to spring up on what was
once desert waste, may not be a
bad thing after ell.
Mead to Have Charge
Elwood Mead is to have charge
of the experiment and better man
could not have been found. He was
one of the recognized irrigation ex-
perts of the west when he was dis
covered by the wise men of Auotra-
liza and induced to visit he antipcdes
as chief engineer of vast govern
mental enterprises. He did a great
work there, but while he taught the
Australians many things he learned
much from thom. Now he has re-
turned to America to give his native
land the benefit Of his experience.
Eight years ago Australia was
confronted by exactly the same prob
lens which are now worrying the Of
f1cials of our reclamation service. A
large sum of money had been in
vested in irrigation works. The wa
ter was available; the land was
there; but neither the land was cul-
tivated nor tho water used. Mead
was called in to help solve the prob
lem and here are some of the things
he induced the Australian govern
ment to do.
Australia's Plan
First it was agreed that the gov
ernment would not only give the set
4 tier land and water, but it would
build him a home. Plans of four
%teen houses of different design and
Ncost were prepared. The settler Sc
elected his design, deposited one
Hfourt the cost and the government
built the house.
+ The next thing the settler needed
was to have his land graded and
seeded. The government had the
work done under the direction of ex-
#perts, and planted one-fourth of the
sarea In alfalfa. The settler paid
one-fourth the cost and had ten
years in which to pay the remainder
xGovernment experts also undertook
to place settlers in positions best
( suited to their abilities-refraining
from putting orchardists on grazing
lands or dairymen on fruit lands.
These experts-who are tactful,
practical farmers-remain in con-
slant touch with the settlers, advis-
ing them what to do and how to do
1t. They soon discovered the indus
trious workers, and at the same time
ascertain who are indolent or vision
ary. These facts are reported to the
central Office of the reclamation ser
vice and become, very largely. the
basis of the governments dealings
4 with the settlers.
4 II settler displays the right
4 spirit the government will grant him
q loan equal to so per cent Of the
q value of the permanent improve-