The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-08-10
NATL LEGISLATION
ON AGRICULTURE.
A Means of Developing
Agricultural Re
sources of u. S.
By JOHN ]. CURTIS

President Roosevelt, early in his
first term, urged upon congress the
Importance of enacting legislation
that would bring under cultivation
vast areas of arid and semi-arid
lands in the western states. 1t was
national proposition of gigantic
! proportions. Private capital had
for years been carrying this work
! forward in a small, desultory and
unsatisfactory manner.
The government by supplying
funds made possible the building Of
the Pacific railroads, thus opening
to settlement millions of acres OF
fertile lands. Why, then, should not
the government furnish sufficient
money with which to construct res
ervoirs, dams and storage basins for
| the conservation of the water neces-
sary to put these rich lands in a con-
dition of productivity. This was the
view entertained by the dynamic
Colonel Roosevelt, and the passage
of the Reclamation Act in 1902 was
the result of his energetic efforts.
The high state Of development Of
the natural, unbounded agricultural
resources of the great west is today
manument to his far-sighted
policy.
About this time the writer, seek
ing data for an article on the much
discussed, but not generally under
stood reclamation legislation, con-
suited young Addison T. Smith, then
secretary to Senator Hepburn.
Mr.. Smith was regarded as
thoroly conversant with the subject.
He not only supplied the writer with
the necessary information, but with
the illustrations that accompanied
an article entitled Reclamation of
the Arid West" published in
Worlds Events Magazine" New
York; in 1906.
That Mr.. Smith has kept alive his
interest in irrigation and reclama-
ton matters since his election to the
House of Representatives is evil
denced by the fact that he is today
reputed to be one of the best author
tiles on the subject in either branch
Of congress.
This is the day Of specializing and
Mr.. Smith has made a specially of
land problems, irrigation projects
and arid and semi-arid reclamation
matters. Without going into details
along these lines affecting local con-
ditions, the outstanding national
piece of legislation of which Mr..
Smith is the author is IAN Act ito
Promote the Reclamation OF Arid
Lands" august II, 1870 de-
scribed in the digest of Federal
Reclamation Laws of the United
States" as the Smith Act" being
so named in honor OF Representative
Addison T. Smith.
Provisions of the Smith Act are
remedial in their scope, extending to
bona fide settlers on public lands
within constituted irrigation dis
tricts, the same rights, privileges,
benefits and exemptions given by
state laws to persons holding lands
of a like character under private
ownership. ~
This is great boon. to entrymen |
on the public domain, and not only
serves to foster and encourage law
full acquisition Of small farms, but
by the terms of this act annoying !
litigation is practically eliminated. !
The far-reaching results accruing
to the arid and semi-arid states
made possible by the Smith Act are
so well and favorably known to the !,
agricultural industry that further
comment on the wisdom of this leg
islation seems unnecessary.
The enactment Of this law was &C.
complished by an arduous and untir-
ing canvass of the membership of
the congress, personally conducted
by Representative Smith.
But the browning glory of Mr..
Smiths active career is the measure
III. R. 10614) introduced February
81, 1922, now known as the "Smith-
McNary Bill" providing for the de-
of the agricultural re-
sources of the United States thru
federal and state cooperation, CIV
ing preference in the matter of en-
and the establishment of
rural homes to those who have
served with the military and naval
forces of the United States
Mr.. Smith from the Committee on .
Irrigation of Arid Lands to whom
this bill was referred, submitted to
the committee of the whole huose on
the state Of the Union very COM
prehensive report covering nearly
fifteen printed pages. The bill is
now on the house calendar, and If
Mr.. Smiths efforts are successful
this most important of all reclama-
ton legislation will become reality
before final adjournment of the
present congress. I,
The crux of this measure is to
create fund to be used in reclaim
ing arid, swamp, or overfowed lands |
Tor agricultural purposes. AS an
underlying capital for the building
Of reclamation works congress is {
asked to authorize an advance, over I
, period Of years, of $3.50, 900, 900
which Is to be appropriated from I
lime to time upon estimates made
BY the secretary of the interior.
Unfortunately space will not per-
nit going into details concerning
he enormous benefits to be derived
BY agricultural interests in the en-
actment of this law. It's popularity
S attested by the stacks of letters, ,
II