Palisadian., 1925-07-24

There has already been spent for construction
the four projects of this state $4,000 900. OF
that. only S62s00O has been repaid. On four i'm
portant divisions not dollar of construction
costs has been returned. 1t has cost to operate
has been collected All the money that has been
received +. would not repay the government VIVA.
irrigation work that is not worth enough to pay
for its operation should not be continued.
Acting this conviction. arranging to
sell the Williston project. and we have seriously
to consider whether the same action should not
be taken with regard to the Lower Yellowstone
project, where out of s96S0oo operating cost to
December 81. 1924 only s174,ooo has been repaid
the deficit today standing at $79400o.
These results are not believed to be due to lack
of agricultural resources. They are the result
of large holdings, lack of belief in the
sty for irrigation, poor cultivation, imitation In
the prices of privately owned land, and the lack
enable them to cultivate their land as irrigation
requires.
that thousands of farm under federal ir-
rigating bitches have never been farmed and other
million farms in the United States were abandoned
last year; that railways that once best
who will ride and interested in peo-
ping land with those who cannot produce freight
for them to haul. We must be able to show congress
that have enough in sight to work these
projects congress will not advance money to
develop them.
We are canvassing old projects to determine II
Is impossible for settlers to pay the costs and
charges assessed against them. We making
a study of proposed new projects, their physical
features fertility, length of growing crops
adapted, markets accessible financial require
ments of settlers etc, but my principal concern
Is to discover the attitude of the people, locally
For must certify to the congress on these points:
whether those living in town realize that the sue
of proposed project Is vital TO them whether
the business disposed to exploit the new
venture to get the money appropriated by the gov
ernment Immediately, or to treat these new set
tiers neighbors and community assets and not
as to be cajoled or strangers to be preyed
upon.
1t is of vital moment the future of federal
that first reclaim reclama ton, that
we restore confidence in its government repre-
sentatiyes re-establish the enthusiasm brought on
to projects by settlers, and discredit those who
live by farming the farmers. l not willing
70 let federal reclamation continue to ride reck-
lessly to it's ruin without effort save
1t to those by their courage and industry have
earned the right to home ownership
Leaving settlement and agriculture to shape
themselves was a mistake that has cost the
reclamation fund millions of dollars and will cost
more,' said Commissioner Mead at Denver. "The
situation in the case OF ihe older reclamation
projects has created financial conditions that can
be cured only by refunding settlers private debts
or getting q body of settlers This is not
conjecture; 1t is a fact. On some of the projects
settlers were accepted without any inquiry into
their fitness and were given neither advice nor
aid What is the result? They have undergone
crucifxion. Many have lost their homes through
foreclosure Payments are not made to the gov
ernment. Nearly all this trouble has its origin in
accepting unfit settlers and leaving the good ones
to struggle unaided against obstacles too great
for them to overcome"
ut is purpose to build reclamation from
the ground up From the farmer to the govern
ment, rather than from the government to the
dam and the dam to the desert" says Secretary
Work. THE reclamation bureau is not now being
conducted in the interests of individuals but for
the best interests of those who live on the land
and who hope may eventually own it. 1t Is
the human element involved in reclamation that
should be our first concern; to protect the inter.
ests of those already the land and prepare
for those shall invite to come"