The Dolores star., 1924-01-04

Ice have been unable to get figures that appear
70 be dependable as to the cost of individual prof.
ects or the total money expended all projects
1T Is represented, taken from the records of the
bureau that the governments total Investment to
June 30 1923, in round numbers is $1S1 100000, and
its total receipts about $4,000 900, leaving bal.
ance invested and unpaid Of S135 100000.
The reclamation service. for which this depart
ment Is responsible apparently requires reorgani-
zation. Annual reports on some projects indicate
their Insolvency and pending failure. Out Of the
2S projects only one has met its obligations they
fell due Long extensions of time for payments
due are being urged individually and by projects.
The original 2O-year period for payment is expr-
ing on certain projects and an additional 2Oyear
extension is being asked. In one instance such
tension is 10 be preceded by fve-year moratorium.
Reclamation Of arid lands by irrigation from
government funds heretofore praCticed is failing
on majority of projects as business procedure
and must be promptly readJusted as to methods of
reimbursement of funds appropriated and for the
purpose of securing to the settler a permanent
home.
"Your committee is requested to survey the
whole subject in its entirety give to the bureau
YOUR opinions concerning our operating methods
that we may avoid errors, and finally your recon-
mendations which congress may study and which
should ultimately preserve the sanctity of
tract, secure formers safety for their invest
ments already made and insure return of invest
ed funds
Secretary Works first move was to accept the
resignation of A. P Davis as director of the rec
IomatiOn and to abolish the office. He then ap-
noInted David W. Davis commissioner of the bu-
raou of reclamation, and Miles Cannon. former
commissioner of agriculture of Idaho, field recla-
,,o,iop commissioner. Late last fall he announced
,bot the two principal headquarters of the recla-
,io, service would be in Washington and Den
ver the latter city being a central point as to the
rorious reclamation projects. The reclamation
oryIce will henceforth be divided into two prac-
,,co,lv separate departments. one VIII care for
w., onstruction of the projects; the other will care
49, t,a oneration and maintenance after construc-
tion. . ,or,o,, ,f -oo-,or,vo
.'.es made 10 a special committee of the Den.
cor civic and Commercial associa'ion' WIN "no'
ta ,od heen in conference. He said in part:
nc .r', ,r,a dropping of 25 employees in Washington
m ,neon n saving of $2O,OOO year, as the sal
"i'- - those employees amounted to approximate
~ $4,000 n year, ana ti'e eApe.se .a,,a a,,o,,rt
~ 80 onpIoyment totaled about the same amount
me-, @ ~ arc about 10 employees of the bureau IN
a some 5000 employees engaged IN the
-. of construction, operation anu h'"'''' M
an the different projects NO ''.,, 'eI W. ,..o
oh nod in regard to these employees uhti' nave
,'', IN opportunity to go over 'he si'uat'o" ''o'
oughy. ,o,;on service was under
fofn,l' % reclamation CA. P. Davis), who was
the '.'oar uiie. with offices in Washington Ihe
an na,oo in Denver was for the administrative
I,' in the field Each project was supei'iseu w w
n,ar who attended to the opein'io VI w
- -, and who was the connecting HIN o.'"
p',arnment and the farmer Inns pioIec. '
a. d,d tbe collecting. supervised 'i'e sa. .ha
,he bitches and endeavored 10 se' se'
land