Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-20
URGES PLANNING
FOR COLONIZATION
Reclamation Commissioner
Tells Work Why irrigation
Projects Fail.

Adoption of carefully plann. q
policy for colonization of Irrigation
projects to he constructed in the flu
ture was urged by Or. Elw"od Mead.
commissioner of reclamation, in a
special report he submitted to Secre-
tary Work today upon his return
from 4 9.O00-m mile inspection trip in
the West. pr Mead visited projects
in Utah. Nevada. California. Wash
ington. oregon. Montana. Idaho. NEo-
ming and Nebraska.
"On each proposed new project. an
economic survey has been organized
under the direction of G.. c. krent-
yer. director of the division of farm
economies" said the report In this
survey the cooperation of the state
agricultural colleges of Utah. Nevada.
California. oregon. Washington and
Idaho has been secured and these in
situations have generously sNtende q
the services of experts on SOILS and
farm management. Thes" experts are
now engaged in working out the prob
l. III OF what water for irrigation is
worth in the districts of their States
where the proposed projects are To-
Gated. and what it Will cost settlers
to change raw land into improved
form. When the experts have reacht d
their conclusions on all Of the pro-
posed new projects. they are to be
submitted to local committees Of
bankers. farmers and business mt n
for their suggestions as to cost and
methods of development.
Consider Many Factors.
Every factor that would lessen eX-
p-nse and hasten development of in
come must be considered. While wa
ter charges must in the end come
irr; a irri it,p or
that are not followed promptly by ir-
rigat,d agriculture are a financial
burden to land Owners. Long delayed
agricultural development has wrecked
more of these enterprises than all
other causes combined. The costlier
the work the more important il is
that this fact be recognized"
Or Mead pointed out that hereafter
more attention must he given as to
where and how money needed in ag-
ricultural development is to be OBJ
tanned: where and how settlers are to
be obtained. and how the settlers
must he aided and directed to enable
them to use their money. effort and
time to the best advantage.
''In order that the farmers may sue
coed, practical business supcrin-
tendent who has n knowledge of farm
conditions should he employed to plan
settlement and advise settlers" said
Dr. Mead For the past six months I
have been studying the causes for in
creaSng arrears of payments by
settlers and the widespread demand for
postponcment of payments on Federal
irrigation projects. One reason has
been the extreme agricultural depres-
sion. which. however is temporary and
NAV be ignored. There are other
more serious reasons which we must
consider.
Consider settlers Terms.
"One Of htcse is the terms ON which
settlers have bought farms and the
prices they have paid for them.
Another is the lack Of capital and the
lack of other qualifications indispen-
sd bic to success ia agriculture. The
evidence is conclusive that we must in
the future pay more attention to settle
ment problems and the qualifications of
tons and losses that will diScredit if
not terminate, this policy.
What | have seen in the last )
wears of the achievements of planned
settlement and financed farm develop
ment in other countries compels me to
realize that we are ignoring the most
valuable feature of reclamation, and a
few demonstrations like the colonial
ton plan | propose will assure the
success of reclamation in the future"
The ColorS of autumn foliage are
due to the accommodation of the green