The mirror., 1920-10-28
UNCLE SANS IRRIGATION
PROJECTS
Continued from page y

cost of the works of $122, ,64s 900, we have
a cost of approximately 500 an acre for
the lands in reclamation projects to which
the government can now deliver water.
This cost, however, includes the cost of
serving stored water to about 100000
acres of land under the Warren Act. If
these lands be included, the average ex-
penditure an acre benefited is less than
$45 an acre, and this cost includes large
storage works and canals useful for future
reclamation on projects now being COM
pleted, the utilization of which will fur
ther reduce these figures of cost.
Sup to the end of June, 1919, there had
been diverted from the United States
Treasury and made available for reclaim
alton purposes the sum of $119,SS2.0S4.50.
Of this amount there was cash on hand
June 80, $1,00S, ,s02.52. Out of the funds
thus made available, investigations have
been made of proposed projects which
have never been approved for construc-
ton, requiring an expenditure of $1,2O7,-
9s4. This leaves reimbursible invest
ment in irrigation of $117,66s, s,627.9S.
The security for the return of this in
vestment is represented by constructed pro-
jects Under the provisions of the reclaim
alton act of June II, 1902, by which the
reclamation fund was created, this is
made revolving fund, so that the return
of any portion of the investment is made
available for reinvestment in other oper-
ations. The reclamation fund, therefore,
can be compared with capital invested in
any business in commercial enterprises,
and this authority to so use the fund
makes possible the construction of works
aggregating cost greater than the
amount of the original investment. All
appropriations by Congress for reclama-
ton fund projects have been practically
authorities for using the reclamation fund,
as the acts have specially provided that
the amount to be expended for the SER
vice, as whole, is limited to the avail
follows that the construction of new works
depends upon the repayment of the cost
by the projects or units of projects which
have been completed, as but little is being
added to the fund from original sources.
In all, 81 projects have been approved for
construction, and on 19 of these public
construction changes to be repaid by all
or a portion of the area. Projects are
sometimes opened by units, and while con-
struction is proceeding on uncompleted
ones. The reclamation extension act ex-
tended the time of repaying the cost of
the works to maximum of 20 years, in
graduated payments so the rate of turn
over of capital is low, and without an in
crease in capital the progress of construc-
ton will be very slow.
"The net cost of constructed projects to
June 80, 1919, was $122,645,00O. 1t is
estimated it will be necessary to expend
$49,353,000 in addition in order to bring
the entire investment into position where
construction charges may be collected.
Thus the total ultimate cost of present
project units is computed at $171,99S,00O.
ITO return this cost contracts for speci-
fc amounts aggregating $63,s3s,00O have
been executed by individuals and irriga-
tion districts and are secured by liens on
the irrigated lands In addition there are
other contracts for leases of land, power
sales, and so on, valued at $6,724,00O. On
number of projects and units of projects
notices announcing the construction charges
have not been made, and the security for
the return of the construction cost for these
areas and areas of public land not yet en-
tered under the provisions of the reclama
ton law is valued at $96,6s9,000. The
last fgue is secured by general contracts
with water users associations and irriga-
ton districts executed prior to commence