, 1925-12-16

said lis one of the largest single
authorizations for new projects in
the history of federal irrigation. II
is almost half the construction cost
of all the old projects built during
the past twenty two years.
A project once commenced must
be completed. The department has
been cautious in expanding initial
appropriations for these sever pro-
jects. 1t was not certain that mon
ey would be available to complete
these projects promptly. Besides a
large outlay on new projects may
delay completing necessary work on
old projects. The annual accre-
lions to the Reclamation fund. in
stead of increasing, began to de-
cline last year. owing chiefly to the
falling off in from oil
leases. The receipts from land. oil
and other mineral sources credited
to the Reclamation fund last year
were $1.S1S, 600 less than the pre-
vious year.
The acre construction ost of
these new projects will be
than double that of older projects,
especially those built Is or 20
years ago. Farm products have
not doubled in price. Reclamation
projects located at high attitudes or
far north. where growing seasons
between frosts are short, are at a
disadvantage in the markets in COM
petition with projects having a long
er growing season. The sugar beet,
the dairy COW and the mutton sheep
must take the place of wheat and
hay in such locations. Whether the
lands will be sufficiently productive
to attract qualified settlers. after
the government has completed the
irrigation works. is the question to
be answered before new projects are
recommended. The prospect for set
tlement is more uncertain at this
time and without adequate settle
ment no project is feasible.
The cost of developing farms has
increased in like ratio to project
construction cost. Past experience
has shown that a settler on a rec
lamation project should have capt.
tai estimated at from $4,000 to
$4,000 to construct a home, pre-
pare lands, buy equipment and farm
implements and to owe other costs
of this initial investment. The val
ue of water in agricultural produc-
ton has not increased in proper
ton to construction and farm de-
velopment costs and there is need,
therefore, of a careful appraisal and
evaluation to determine whether 1t
will be worth in irrigation what 1t
will cost to provide it."
Grazing on Public Domain
Citing hat the Department of
the interior is primarily the land
branch of the Federal government,
the report of Secretary Work called
attention to the fact that the fertile
lands once q part of the public do
main have now passed into private
ownership and the remaining public
land may be regarded as valueless
for agriculture. These lands COM
prising 1S~4,726,846 acres, are now
being utilized for grazing under
sufference, without charge or control
by the government.
"This gratuitous use of the pub
lie domain as an unrestricted range
for livestock has resulted in over
grazing the Secretary continued.
wide areas have been almost de-
nuded of native grasses and a
change in the federal policy which
will secure the permanent preserva-
ton of p~asturage is imperative for
the protection of the range and
the stockmen. Discussing the sit
uation the Secretary points out that
close grazing of these public lands
precludes %reseeding by natural pro-
cesses to reproduce this important
natural
There is no limit under the law
to the number of animals that may
be grazed on the prairies. regard
less of the growth of grass avail
able. Forage for domestic livestock
Is being consumed by countless wild
horses, unbranded, many unowned
and of little value. The Interior
Department is without authority to
eliminate this pest. The water plac-
es are enclosed by local owners,
which enables them to control large
grazing regions on the public lands.
Insecurity of tenure to the lands
and inability of stockmen to pre-
vent migratory herds from damag-
ing the public domain are %
tinual sources of trouble. Altogeth-
er, the present lack of grazing pol
icy is a disturbing factor in the
livestock business of the West.
Enactment of legislation auth
orizing the establishment by presi-
Dental proclamation of grazing dis
tricts and the issuance of permits