Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-07-31

In reclamation was 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 to be
charged 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 strong hint of this
in the Kendrck- Winter bill In the last congress.
This required the settler to have at least 81 800
capital and farm experience Advances up to
$1,000 were provided. the settler to put up $40
against each $50 advanced by the bureau. Provi-
sion was made for farm advisor. The bill was
favorably reported to both chambers but failed
Of passage. Whyf Largely because Of another
new 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 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
they stood. In Chicago the two officials met rem
representatives Of nine railroads and set forth the
necessity of their cooperation In the obtaining
Of settlers of the right kind. The railroad men
told that to people the new projects 1900 set
tiers would be necessary and the same number
to I'LL up the gaps 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
$1,000 to one with that more capital: that the
Interior department appropriation act for the 1925
fiscal year recognizes the fact that there ia an
obligation 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 line
and, where the opportunity offered the facts as to
a particular project were set forth. For example
there an irrigation, conference at Great Falls
Mont, with special reference to the completion Of
the Sun river project, for which congress has an
propriated $611,00O. Secretary Work made an
address and here Is what he said. In part:
Congress in appropriating money for completing
the Sun River project made 1t partnership de- 4
velopment The conditions of this appropriation
require the bureau of reclamation to build the
reservoir and complete the canals Afterward the
state of Montana is to subdivide the 10000 adj
ditional acres that will be reclaimed, hnd the set
tiers. advise them, and advance money to eouip
their farms. There should be a complete under
standing In order to determine whether the plan
outlined by congress ought to be adopted or 10
agree on what recommendation should be made 10
congress, construction be postponed until there
can be further legislation.
Changes needed in the settlement clauaas
of the reclamation IL development to go on in
the Rocky Mountain states. Federal reclamation
has not produced the desired agricultural resulta
1t has not given the Industrious, experienced set
tier the kind of opportunity he should have
It has given too wide range to land speculation
It has bred the menace of tenancy Instead Of
the settlers these projects having a sense OF
gratitude TO the government, disappointment and
bitterness prevail We ought not to go on with
policy that creates these results The question 10:
What can we wisely and safely undertake to inn
prove these conditional