, 1924-04-16
LEGISLATION PROPOSED FOR
NEW RECLAMATION PROJECTS
Reports from Secretary of Agriculture on Soil and Crop Produc-
ton and from Secretary of Commerce on Transport
tatiOn, Markets and Economic Factors

AOPOoto oCoA5bto ~
encourage the undertaking of new
and feasible reclamation projects
under conditions which will as near
ly Is possible secure their success.
has been submitted to Congress by
the Secretary of the Interior in the
form of a drafted bill. Senator
McNary, of Oregon. chairman of the
Senate Committee on Irrigation and
Reclamation. promptly introduced
the measure in the Senate.
The new plan provides that before
attempting the construction of a
new irrigation project or the ex-
tension of an existing project in the
future, the Secretary of the Interior
shall first obtain a detailed report
about water supply, engineering
features, cost of construction, land
prices, n probable acre cost of de-
velopment. In addition, a report
shall be secured through the Secre-
tary of Agriculture with relation to
the climate. soil kinds of crop for
which the. project is adapted and
probable production, and also a re-
port through the Secretary of Com
merce with respect to transporta-
ton facilities. markets and other
economic factors affecting the pro.
posed project.
The proposed measure has the ap-
'proval of the Committee of Special
Advisers who have been conducting
an exhaustive study of the policy
and methods of Government recla,
nation during the last five months
In a communication forwarded re
Gently to the chairman of the Com
mittees on Irrigation and RecIama
ton of the Senate and House o.
Representatives. the Secretary said
81 inclose herewith draft of mea
sure designed to encourage the un
~dertaking OF new and feasible re
clamation projects under condition!
which will. as nearly as possible, in
sure their success.
Lack of proper study along var
ious lines. particularly those of eli
mate, soil, crops, and economic pro
blems, coupled with underestimate
as to cost of construction, have con.
tributed to difficulties on some pro
jects already or under construction
Il am very much in favor of un,
d%ertaking Immediately some new
and feasible irrigation projects, but
only after careful selection.
The plan embodied in the pro
posed bill has the approval of tn,
Committee of Special Advisers OF
Reclamation. and will be set fortl
in its forthcoming report and re
concentrations. but in order t.
save time and expedite the under
taking of some new reclamation
projects in the West, l am trans
hitting the draft measure at thi.
time, with the suggestion that, il
1t meets with your approval, it be
promptly introduced and enacted"
The draft of the proposed legis.
lation reads as follows:
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Con.
gress assembled. That hereafter nc
irrigation project proposed for con.
struction under the act of June II
1902 (32 Stat. at Large, p. 3SS),
acts amendatory thereof or supple
mentary thereto, and no extension
OF an existing project shall be ap-
proved or undertaken until informa-
ton. in detail. has been secured con
corning its feasibility; its adaptabi-
lily for actual settlement and farm
homes, and the probable return of
the cost thereof to the United
States. To this end, it is hereby
directed that in each proposed pro-
ject, before approval or undertake
ing of such project, or extension
of an existing project by the Sc
cretary of the Interior, report shall
be secured by him, in detail, con
corning water supply, engineering
features, cost of construction, land
prices, and probable acre cost of
development. The Secretary of the
Interior also shall secure a report
through the Secretary of Agricul-
ture, in detail. with relation to the
climate, soil. kind of crops for
which the project is adapted, and
probable production; also a report
through the Secretary of Commerce.
with respect to transportation facil-
tiles. markets and other econo-
mic factors upon or affecting the
p~rODpgad nrniacI -