American Fork citizen. [volume] (American Fork, Utah) 1912-1979, 1920-08-28

/ M l. WI ilitI'Nl nus Dftn Iil6tlillfNI
| wi of late In the matter of reclama
ton of our lands, both as to ir
rlgation and drainage. and the question
Is taking such a grip upon the attention
of our public men that IL naturally oc
ours to the mind of those Interested In
the work In the various public land
states that now Is the time TO strike the
rock of public sentiment. and continue
to strike, until the waters shall be made
to gush forth. through the liberal and
iudicious appropriations made by Con.
gress and the various states them.
selves.
The initiative taken by leading men
from thirteen irrigation states in SAT-
Lake City last year. resulting In an or
ganization which Is now known as the
Western States Reclamation Associa-
tlon, was the first concrete step taken
to secure for the West that attention
and assistance. from the Federal gov
eminent. which has so long been neces-
sary. II the various states compris-
Ing the association are to occupy that
position Of dignity and importance
which other states of the union with
out half the resources such as we en-
Joy, have been occupying for the last
several decades.
To the end that our necessities may
be made known, the governors of sew
eral states. headed by Governor u. W.
Davis OF Idaho, president of the assoc
citation. and other leading men of the
West. journeyed to Washington, ID. c.,
and there presented their claims tn
various committees of senators and
representatives and In so doing plant
ell seed which IN future DAYS will bear
the fruits of development in the form
of happy homes and productive farms.
A representation was left behind tn
water and cultivate the soil so plant
ed, and although at times the sun beat
down hard and the dry winds of IN
difference had somewhat of n wither.
Ing effect, yet Mt the close of the Sos
sion on June : sufficient results In
the nature of favorable sentiment
had been obtained. tn justify those
engaged In the work to feel that the
time was coming, after politics had run
their course. and the two bodies Of
Congress turned their attention To the
real needs Of the country. an increase
ner as to cause n hymn of thanksgiv-
ing TO he sung from Seattle down to
the banks of the Rio Grnnde.
The Smlth-Flctcher bill fathered In
the house by that energetic, always
on the job congressman from Idaho,
Honorable Addison r. Smith, and ~
the senate by Honorable Duncan G..
Fletcher OF Florida. gentleman
whose sympathy has always been with
the farmer-provldes very elaborate
system for both irrigation and drain
age by taking advantage of the various
irrigation and drainage district laws
of the respective states, so that upon
the organization of districts for either
purpose. and complete surveys and es-
Inmates as to cost of construction being
made and presented TO the Secretary
of the Interior, he shall proceed To
investigate. and properly check the dis.
trict presentation. then II satisfied the
project Is feasible and the cost within
reasonable figure he may order the
work to commence and proceed under
the direction Of the reclamation service
until completion.
Provision is made for the needy set
tier to secure loan In sufficient
amount Ia enable him To make his
start. 50 that the awful sacrifice of
time and comforts mnde by the early
settler may be overcome. and that
when the project II an assured, going
concern, which should he not later
than from four 10 six years, the
bonds Of the district may he taken over
and long time loan made by the set
tier covering period of thlrty-thrgc
ar thlrty-fnur years The money, plus
interest, viii he converted back into
the reclamation fund 80 that other
projects may be undertaken. because
the fund will be OF a revolving char
actor. growing ana increasing With
the years. In this way our problems
viii be solved our population IN.
creased and IN time of stress the ma
tlon can look To- the West for its sub
siStence and not suffer dsappolnt.
mcnt. In this hin all veterans of the
world war hive u preference right of
ninety DAYS over other citizens.
The Smoot Rural Homes hin which
passed the senate In April, failed only
by hukp AT the last moment and
seemed surely a. become n law In De
ccmber. meets great national need.
Enowu MS the SmOot Rural Homes
bill, this law enables Uncle sam to
show the way 10 every ambitious set
tier, hut does not ask him to carry the
entire load.
II swings wide open the door of op-
affording every man the al,
10 work out his own destiny.
Every state, country ana In fact every
township. X afforded the invaluable
services of the governments rcClamn-
;lOn engineers, not only for inyestign-
ton. hut for the actual construction
OF the works and subdivision ana set
tement of the land. All Of this !
Is accomplished without calling for
single dollar Of the Federal funds, and !
without increasing the |
delay incident to obtaining national !
The SmOot bin contemplates the
Initiation of proiects by providing en-
terprlses, and often these win be or |
canlZed into districts under state |