Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-09-02
Is Government Doing Its
Full Duty in Reclaiming
Semialid West!
WEIGHTY MATTERS
Will BE Thrcshed Out at
international Irliga-
ton Congress.

Ell PASO, Texas. Sept. lis the
government doing its fun duty in the
matter of reclaiming the semi-arid
sections of the west when IL provides
water for irrigation purposes? Should
II also provide money To enable the
settler to bring his lands under cul-
tiVation?
The question of financing settlers
| on irrigated lands under reclamation
projects. whether public or private,
will he one of the most important
questions TO be discussed and pCssi-
lily settled when the International il
rigation congress meets in El pasO on
October 14-1S.
II has been held that if the rccla-
nation act of 1902 is to become really
effective, something more must be
done under its operation than the
mere building of irrigation cams and
bitches. II is held that the reclama-
ton act should he so amended that
the lands TO be irrigated shall be
brought under cultivation 10y means
of funds provided under the opera
tiCn of the act.
If this system is adopted, II will not
be an experiment, but rather the
working out in the United States of
WHIST is being done i'm Ireland, Ger
many, Denmark, Australia and other
countries. During the past fifty years
more than sl,0O0,000,OOO has been
81 ent bN these countries to enable
men with small capital to own the
land they cultivate and the results
have been little less than marvellous.
In the early days of the reclamation
| Of arid lands Ey means of irrigation
under the direction Of the United
States reclamation service, 1t was
deemed sufficient to build the dams
and distributing SYSTEMS and provide
the water. II was believed the land
less men would flock to the lands for
which water had been provided and
convert them at once into fruitful
fields and the foundations of happy
homes.
Had Hard Time.
This idea is being rapidly dispelled
II is true that thousands of men un-
dertook to establish themselves in the
/ irrigahle areas but these men have
not all met with success in their Of
forts at converting the desert into
cultivated farms Leaders i'm the
movement have seen that II Is not
enough to bring water to the land
The !dea now prevails that in addi-
ton to the building of irrigation
works, the United States government,
through the reclamation service,
should go farther, even to the extent
/
making some provision for providing
funds which viii enable the new set
tier to maintain himself while he is
struggling with the new problems
| with which he is confronted.
In other words It is believed that it
has been found necessary not only to
provide moisture for crops but to fl
nance the settler on irrigated lands
Until he has made II possible to earn
his living and something more from
the land being reClaima I'd.
ElwoOd Mead, head Of the depart
ncnt of rural institutions in the Uni
authority on the subject of rural cred
its and Land settlements VIII be in
charge Of the section of the congress
which will have this matter under
discussion Besides Professor Mead.
there will be present many other lead
ers of thought along this direction, and
II is believed that as a result Of their
endeaVors plans may be formulated
where by the settler with small capital
but with unlimited energy will he en-
abled to become a successful farmer
Of irrigated lands
Owing to the importlr ce OF this
question and the seeming immed ate
need of reaching a solution Of 1t. II Is
expected that that section of the in
tornftlon irrigation congress which
Will deal with it will he the scene OF
some Of the mCst animated debates OF
the congress when It meets Ia OC-
tOber.