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

velopment take of themselves.
This plan has proved failure. Too many of the
settlers had insufficient capital and were lacking
In practical experience. There was no provision
for advancing capital for giving advice. The
result is that the government Is not getting Its
money back; settlers are abandoning their hold
Angs; mortgages being foreclosed.
The plain truth is that the Coolidge administra-
dion has inherited unfortunate situation which
may be briefly described "Our Reclamation
Problem" This problem is of national Importance
land has many complications and ramifcations that
call for prompt action by congress 1t Is really
two problems in What shall be done to save
the completed projects? Shall new projects be I'M
dertaken? The new idea to proposed projects
lis that the bureau of reclamation shall build the
reservoir and canals and that the states shall find
select settlers, advise them and advance the money
necessary to equip their farms.
That the situation is pressing Is shown by the
fact that Secretary Work of the Interior depart
ment has made two extensive trips In the arid
and semiaitd West since March and that his
experts are investigating every phase of the prof.
ects-compluted, under way and proposed-in
heroic effort to reclaim reclamation"
There are now twenty-eght projects in seven
aeen states, comprising than 100000 acres
under operation construction, and canals serve
another million acres Approximately 100000 per-
living on $4,000 farms and in project
towns. These farms valued at $500, 100000 and
the 1924 crop was more than $65, 100000. Con-
struction costs to 1923 than $150O00,0 00
Congress last winter made appropriations for
new reclamation projects which will cost between
fifty millions and sixty millions Older projects
partly completed call for expenditures which will
bring the total construction costs of work
up to $110O00O00. This means 100000 more acres
of irrigated Iand-about 10000 farms. Moreover
congress is continually pressed to undertake ad
.ditional projects in many localities
The funds for the work have come from the
sale of public lands from oil-leasing and mineral
operations aud from repayments by the water
users. The general proposition is that the money
expended by the government shall be returned
to the fund ty graduated payments from settlers
usually in twenty annual installments, without
interest in accordance with the reclamation extern
sion act of 1914
Secretary Work Is practical irrigationist
Through personal experience In his home state,
Colorado. u pon becoming secretary In March of
1928 he reorxanzed the reclamation bureau In part
and thereby created a political rumpus of no
small proportions He soon realized that the sit
uation was beyond the powers OF any one man
end instituted "fact-fnding committee composed
of six of the ablest men In the country They
analysed reclamation from its beginning and rec
commended the establishment Of new policy.
This policy, with slight notifications, was en-
bodied Ia the act of December B, 1924.
The reclamation bureau has now been COM
vuletely reorganized The commissioner OF reclama-
ton Is DR.. Elwood Mead who has national
reputation not only engineer and reclama-
ZIONIST but as economist and sociologist. Other
uen Of national prominence actively engaged in
lhe work of review, reappraisement, survey and
adjustment are Francis M. Goodwin. who left the
position OF assistant secretary Of the interior;
-THShas e. Campbell. former governor Of Arizona.
and John A.. Widtsoe. agriculturist, educator and
author. Governors of The states have designated
state representatives the board OF survey and
!. adjustments and these men have been appointed
by Secretary Work.
y Secretary Work, several months ago. stated to
<ha President his conviction that new program