The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1922-03-15
National Irrigation
Nearly 70 Years Old
Secretary Fall Completes One Years
Work As Head of Work; Dis
cusses Merits and Dement'S

June II, 1922, is the goth ami
yersary of National Irrigation. At
ter two decades of operation under
the Federal reclamation law we
may now intelligently discuss the
merits and demerits of what has Of
ten been described as the most pa
ternal policy ever initiated by our
government, according to a state
ment issued by Secretary Albert B.
Fall, on the completion of his first
years administration.
The statement continues: II
fundamental weakness has develop
ed in the operations of this policy,
as the administrative officer 1t was
my duty to ascertain the facts. For
this purpose l have devoted the
larger part of my first year in Of
flee in making a personal investiga-
tion of many of the more difficult
projects and in meeting hundreds of
the farmers. 1t should be remem-
bered in considering such findings
as are here given that my visit oc-
CURED at a time when agriculture
everywhere was much depressed and
the outlook for the future most dis
quieting. Notwithstanding these
conditions | found the relations be-
tween the government and the farm
ers in the main cordial and the man
agement of the projects quite salts
factory. The engineering works,
many of which are monumental and
spectacular are worthy of commen-
dation. They rank with the great
est in the world.
The problems which had to be
overcome by the Service in dealing
with the human elements frequently
proved more complex and difficult
than those of physical nature.
Settlers came from every state in
the Union. Many were without ex-
perience, and the majority insult
ficiently financed. 1t was inevitable
that many should suffer privations
and distress, yet the number of can
eellations for non-payment were
relatively few. Up to the close of
the war the progress of the farmers
was rapid on most of the projects,
and the collection of charges for
construction, operation and water
rentals was satisfactory. From
some of the projects where the in
come of the settler is derived large
ly from live stock and grain, the
prices of which are greatly debated,
requests have been made for tenn
porary deferment of chargs. | have
suggested to Congress the desirable
ity and justice of authorizing the ex-
tension of relief in meritorious cases
and bill is now pending. In view
of the general clamor for financial
aid from farmers all over the coun-
try these requests from our project
settlers do not warrant apprehen-
sion as to the ultimate collection of
the governments investment. AS a
whole, National reclamation is meet
ing the test of repayment. In rem
dering habitable 1,622,000 acres OF
formerly vacant and valueless des-
ert, now occupied by 1924 people
on farms. Increasing the value of
taxable property by more than
$500, 100000 and the production of
crops totaling nearly 100000, 600
since 1905, by a reimbursable net
investment of $130,000,0 1000 Nation
al reclamation fully justifies its con-
tinuance and its extension to all
parts of the country where such
work may economically be carried
on. President Harding in recent
address said:
"If our policy shall be, as 1t ought,
to encourage the dual development
Concluded on page5)