The Glenwood post., 1924-03-20
SECRETARY WORK
PROPOSES new BILL
Suggests Legislation to En-
courage New Reclamation
Projects in West
MUST Be FEASIBLE

Proposed legislation designed to en-
courage the undertaking Of new and
feasible reclamation projects under con-
ditions which will as nearly as posi-
BILE secure their success, was submitted
to congress by Secretary of the Interior
Work last Friday in the form Of .
drafted bill.
The new plan provides that before
attempting the construction of new
irrigation project or the extensio1 Of
an existing project in the future, the
secretary Of the interior shai1 first OBJ
tain a detailed report concerning water
supply, engineering features, cost Of
acre cost Of development. In addition
a report shall be secured through the
secretary of agriculture with relation
to the climate, soil, kinds Of crops for
which the project is adapted and proba-
BILE production and also q report
through the secretary Of commerce with
respect to transportation facilities, mar
kets, and other economic factors af-
fecting the proposed project.
The proposed measure has the ap-
>proval of the committee of social ad-
visors who have been conducting an
exhaustive study Of the policy and
methods of government reclan 4t{oA
during the last five months. In COM
munication forwarded today to the
chairman of the committee on irriga-
tion and reclamation of the senate and
house of representatives, the secretary
said:
"I enclose herewith draft Of measure
designed to encourage the undertaking
of new and feasible reclamation pro-
jects, under conditions which will, as
nearly as possible, insure their success.
"Lack of proper study along various
lines, particularly those Of climate,
soil, crops, and economic problems,
coupled with underestimates as to cost
of construction, have contributed to
difficulties on some projects already
built or under construction.
"I am very much in favor of under
taking Immediately some new and fea-
sible irrigation projects, but only after
careful selection.
''The plan embodied in the proposed
bill has the approval Of the committee
Of special advisers ON reclamation, and
will be set forth in its forthcoming
report and recommendations, but in Or
der to save time and expedite the un-
dertaking Of some new reclamation pro-
jects in the west, am transmitting
the draft Of measure at this time, with
the suggestion that, If it meets with
your approval, it be promptly intro
duced and enacted"
The draft of the proposed legislation
reads 40 followS:
'sBs It enssted by the Senate and
House of Representatives Of the United
States of America in Congress assem-
bled, That hereafter no irrigation pro-
jest proposed for eonstruction under
the act of June II, 1909 (Thirty-second
Statutes at Large, page 1887, and acts
amendatory thereof or supplementary
thereto, and NO extension Of an exist
ing project shall be approved or under
taken until information, in detail, has
been secured concerning it, feasibility;
it's adaptability for actpal settlement
and farm homes, and the probable re-
JuA - ~ eest tAsfsof to the United
States. To this end, It = hereby d.
rected that in each proposed project
before approval or undertaking Of such
project, or extension Of an existing
project BY tie secretary Of the interior
fspeet shan b. secured BY him, In de-
tail, concerning water supply, engineer
ing features, cost Of eonstruetion, land
prices, and probable acre cost Of d.
velopment. The secretahy Of the In
terror also shall secure . report
through the secretary Of agriculture, II
detail, with relation to the climate
soil, kind Of crops for which the pro