The Dolores star., 1923-07-20

weeks, where. incidentally. he has missions to per-
form for my department, but we are longtime
personal friends know the trend of his mind and
ieeI assured that will not be far apart In
conclusions bearing on the important services
respective home making departments should ren.
Ger to the government"
Ihs will be good news for many who would
oehent by cooperation, since these two depart
mehts have been for long time at feud over
oe'eFai questions-such, for example. the pro-
posed transfer Of the control of the national for
ests 10 the Interior department; the efforts of the
Agricultural department to get control of the M
uonn parks, and the proposed turning over of
AiSka to the Interior departments adminlstra-
ton
AT any rate Secretary Work has begun his ac-
uVltles by appointing Miles Cannon, former com
missioner Of agriculture of Idaho to the position
Of field reclamation commissioner Headquarters to
be established later in one of the reclamation
states In his letter to Director A. F. Davis of the
reclamation service and to managers of the sew
eral reclamation projects DR.. Work SAYS in mart.
Mr.. Cannon Is the direct representative of the
secretary of the Interior In a work which | hive
undertaken Tor the Improvement of government
reclamation projects along business and DprcrI
tural lines. His work is not to conflict with or
duplicate the engineering work now being carr,ed
on by existing reclamation forces nor with tba
work Of other bureaus or departments but ia to
be, so far as same touches your work or that of
others, In cooperation in producing beneficial re-
suits.
Briefly. 1t is the purpose to coordinate vor,-
Gus agricultural activities, aid the farmers In ros
ing better and more diversified crops In or,,-,,
modern methods in handling marketing, and real
izing upon crops produced, to effect economia.
wherever possible. and to in every wav Imnrouo
not only the condition of the water users on ~
projects but the administration of the nroieo,s h
this department"
Incidentally. Commissioner Cannon D,roo.o-
Davis and Special Assistant Secretary n W.
Davis are at this writing making visit of Insnec
tion to the principal reclamation projects
There are 30 reclamation projects in v.r,or
states. The total Investment of the Un,ted
States Is approximately s172,OOOOOo: the ra,,,
bursements and credits approximately $4,000 ooo
The net investment is therefore about s125 ON 600
Senator Ashurst Of Arizona, In a recent so,a.
debate, gave these general figures.
since federal irrigation began, 5000 mn o,ro, -.
heretofore practically worthless desert land hor.
been made productive by government irr,u,tIo,
The value OF the crops produced thereon No.
amounts to S9O,0OOO0O annually The Incroasa ~" y,
value Of the irrigated acreage amounts IN eeno
100000 and since the government bepar ~ y.
livery or irrigation water the crops produced ~
the reclaimed lands today aggregate s40o ooo o w
In value Nor does this sum of s4OOOOO ON w
clude the value or expansion Of production ., IL,
stock or stock products; In other words tha ' a.'
ures (S4OOOOO,OOO) as to the aggregate cron rs
are limited to vegetable, fruit and grain voIs
at the farm, for which government recIa,,a,Iss
furnishes the sole supply Of water. All the mon.
olsburseo by the government to the yarious H.,
CATION projects will ultimately be repaid
AT the outset let 1t be remembered tho, ~,
full Importance of national irrigation cannon ho
measured In dollars, for 1t has an intangible va,n
NOT to be estimated in tonnage tables nor trans