, 1923-07-05

aSSSAi
engineer for an experienced bt
clsmation service indicates what re-
sponsible officials of the government
believe to be the matter with this
line of government endeavor at his
time. The government must get Its
money out of existing projects II 1t
is to expand them and build others.
The shift in directors is with the idea
of placing the reclamation service on
a business rather than a technical
basis as the salvation Of the entire
plan OF reclamation.
1t must be confessed that returns
from some reclamation projects have
been disappointing; that failure to
meet payments has crippled the re-
volving fund plan and delayed If not
prevented the beginning of many new
and worthy reclamation works in the
west. That payments have not al
ways been made as they should have
been cannot in each instance be at
tributed to lack of good faith on the
part of settlers; in some instances
failure to pay has been because oil
underestimate by the government
and unseen handicaps of one kind or
another. Some of these conditions
congress has sought to remedy and
plans further consideration on a
wider scale later.
But the fact remains that the re-
turns to the revolving fund have been
far short. and the recent appoint
ment of a trained business man to
the head of the reclamation service
A-t Trov, nnUy nm the nc
t~ivities of the service will be directed
toward placing existing projects on e
business basis before undertaking
many new projects. Upon the sue
cess of this plan will depend in large
measure the immediate future for
irrigation in the west.
wyoming's immediate hopes for
irrigation development, in the way OF
new projects, are for the completion
Of the Guernsey dam and active work
on either the Casper or Pass creek
projects. Flowage rights have been
secured on the Guernsey project. and
some preliminary work undertaken;
Il 4. understood to be next on tine
list. The Casper project, or that por-
ton OF It contemplating the
of some is 1000 acres near the oil
metropolis is rather expensive, but
unuuestionably the value or these
lands, adjacent TO n city, wouln
fustify the outlay. Pass creek, IN
southern Carbon county, is said 10 ne
the most economical project in Wyo-
ming, although the elevation of the
lands is somewhat of an objection, &C
cordinR to reclamation officials.
Former Congressman Mondell, one
Of IN. fathers of the reclamation law
and whose long experience a ueep
study of irrigation problems makes
b him competent to speak. believes mat
the time has now come when there
should be n general study OF govern
ment projects with a view to re-
adjustment which will enable indus
trious and w~ell-meaninB settlers 10
meet their obligations and place the
projects on n basis Of permanent
prosperity.
"a, basis Of this resdjustment
there should be a writing on OF some
OF the liabilities which are clearly
not collectible.'' say the Wyomlns
,olon in discussing the matter. 1T
was inevitable in this enterprise. the
first of its kind undertaken by the
government. hat mistakes should
occur. Fortunately the losses are
relatively small.
"A plan should be worked out
which can be depended upon to create
conditions under which landowners
can pay out. II there are any who
believe that tho reclamation fund
should not have returned to It the
money which vas expended in TINS
development. euch people should DC
brought to realize that this is not the
view OF the majority of their neigh
bors who have in good faith cooper
ated in the effort OF the federal gov
to aid them in securing a
home. The plan should not, in the
majority OF cases at least, provide TOT
any considerable suspens on OF pay
msnts. 1 doubt II a uniform period
of construction payments applicable
10 all projects would be wise. 1t would
seem more equitable to fix the pay
ments on the basis of the construction
costs and the average productivity.
Congressman Winter, who came 20
washington soon after his election
spent several months here in going
over the various Wyoming reclama-
ton projects. with Mr.. Mondell and
OFFICIALS of the government, In order
TO fully inform himself of conditions
from the administrative end. He
plans to spend a part OF the ummer
in personally visiting these projects,
conferring with settlers and others
10 get their viewpoint. Returning 10
. Washington for the winter session.