Palisadian., 1925-07-24

In reclamation necessary and should include
Cooperation between the federal government
and the states where projects located advances
to settlers to help complete the Improvement and
equipment of their farms; low interest be
charged on these advances that where projects
include land in private ownership held in excess
of homestead units, development should not be-
gin until an agreement has been reached with
these owners fixing the price of that land to set
tiers and methods OF colonization.
1t seems likely that these radical innovations
will bulk large in any legislation enacted by the
next congress. There is a strong hint of this
in the Kendrick- Winter bill in the last congress
This required the settler to have at least 81. 500
capital and farm experience. Advances up to
$1,000 were provided, the settler to putSup $40
against each $50 advanced by the bureau. Provi-
sion was made for farm advisor. The bill was
fevorably reported to both chambers, but failed
Of passage Why? Largely because of another
Eew idea: That congress should make settlement
and farm development state matter.
That this idea has become popular with con-
gress is shown by the fact that on three projects
this years appropriations are conditional on the
states entrance into contract with the bureau to
subdivide the land, find the settlers and advance
the money needed to improve the FARMS
The survey trips of Secretary Work and Com
missioner Mead have been remarkable for one
thing: plain talk Governors, congressman bank.
ers, merchants, officials Of chambers of congress
and agricultural associations, land owners and
railroad men were called upon to state where
tney SlO0Q. LII CnlcaSo the TWO OffcfalS rem
representative of nine railroads set forth the
necessity of their cooperation in the obtaining
of settlers CT the right kind The railroad men
were told taat to people the new projects 5000 set
tiers would be necessary and the same number
10 fill up the caps on the old projects; that from
$1,000 to $1,000 was necessary to equip farms of
from forty to eighty acres; that statistics showed
about four prospective settlers with less than
$4,000 to one with that more capital: that the
Interior department appropriation act for the 1920
fiscal year recognizes the fact that there Is an
obligation on the part of the state as well as the
federal government in the successful development
of these projects through selection of settlers
and the furnishing of financial assistance and
instruction.
These facts were repeated all along the limo
and where the opportunity offered the facts as ia
q particular project set forth. For exsmn,e
there an irrigation conference at Great Falls
Mont. with special reference to the completion ar
the Sun river project, for which congress has an
proprated $6t1 ,000 Secretary Work made nm
address and here is what he said, in part:
Congress in appropratng money for completing
the Sun River project made it partnership de-
velopment. The conditions of this appropriatior
require the bureau of reclamation to build tha
reservoir and complete the canals. Afterward the
state of Montana Is to subdvide the 40 600 ad
ditional acres that will be reclaimed the set
tiers advise them, and advance money to eonin
their farms. There should be a complete under
standing in order to determine ,Uhethar uhueI-
outlined by congress ought to be adopted or 10
agree what recommendation should be mada ~.
congress- construction to be postponed until therea
be further legislation.
Changes needed in the settlement causss
of the reclamation act If development Is to go on In
the Rocky Mountain states Federal reclamation
has not produced the desired agricultural results
1t has not given the Industrious, experienced set
tier the kind of an opportunity he should have
1t has given too wide range to land speculation
1t has bred the menace of tenancy. Instead OF
the settlers on these projects having a sense of
gratitude to the government, disappointment and
bitterness prevail We ought not to 60 on with
What wisely and safely undertake to i'm
prove these conditions?