Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-09-01
MAY FINANCE FARMS
SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT FL
NANCE SETTLERS?

Ell Paso, Texas.-Is the government
doing its full duty in the matter of
reclaiming the semi-arid sections of
the west when it provides water for
irrigation purposes? Should it also
provide money to enable the settler
70 bring the lands under cultivation
The question of financing settlers
or irrigated lands under reclamation
projects, whether public or private.
will be one of the most important
questions to be discussed and posi-
bly, settled when the international
Irrigation congress meets in Ell Paso
October 14-1S.
1t has been held that il the recla-
nation act of 1902 is to become really
effective, something more must be
done under its operation than the mere
building of irrigation dams and ditch
es. It is held that the reclamation
act should be so amended that the
lands to be irrigated shall be brought
under cultivation by means of funds
provided under the operation Of the
act.
II this system is adopted, 1t VIII
not be an experiment, but rather TIE
working out in the United States oi
what is being done in Ireland Ger
many. Denmark, Austalia and othe:
countries. During the past 30 years
more than a billion dollars has been
snent by these countries to enabls
men with small sapital to own the
land they cultivate and the results
have hen little less than marvellous.
In the early days Of the reclama-
lion of arid lands by means of irri
cation under the direction of the L.
: reclamation service, it was deem
ID sufficient to build the dams ana
distributing systems and provide the
wafer. 1t was believed the landles5
non would flock to the lands for
which water had been provided asd
convert them at once into fruitful
ields and the foundation of happy
ZONES.
This idea is being rapidly dispelled
is true that thousands of men uh- ,
lertook to establish themselves IN
he irrigable areas, but these men
ave not all met with success IN
soi. efforts at converting the desert
,+o cultivated farms. Leaders IN the
novement have seen that it is not
nough to bring water to the lands .
he idea now prevails that in addi-
ion TO the building Of irrigation q
-orks the United States government
Trough the reclamstidn service .
go farther. even to the extent
,aveling and ditching the land and
,al<ing some provision for providing
,nds which will lenable the new set
or TO maintain himself while he IS
+,.,,pg,ing with the new problems \
ith which he is confronted. "
In other words it is believed that
has ben found necessary not only
provide moisture for crops out 10
nance the settler on irrigated LANDS q,
otil he has made it possible to earn
: living and something more from
e land being reclaimed S.
Elvood Mead, head of the depart III
emf of rural institutions in the Uni b
,rsity of California, and an eminent a,
,thority on the subject Of rural "
edits and land settlements, Will De co
charge of the section of the con- or
ess which will have this matter un ct
r consideration. Besides Professor
cad. there will be present many Fa
l,e- leaders of thought along this de
rector. and it is believed that as
result of their endeavors, plans may w
formulated whereby the settler bl
tn small capital but with unlimited
ergv will be enable to become in,
rcessful farmer of irrigated land.
Owine TO the importance Of this err
estion and the SEEMING immediate SCI
cd of reaching a solution it, It
expected that that section of the Fa
ernational Irrigation congress which
Il deal with it, will be the scene OF for
ne of the most animated debates lot
the congress when it meets in
tober.