Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-07-23
Secretary Work Believes
Nev Program Is
Necessary
BY JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN
ZNAg1gI

velopment take care Of themselves
1hls 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 or for giving advice The
result Is that the government is not getting its
money back; settlers abandoning their hold
lngs; mortgages are being forecosed.
Inc plain truth Is that the Coolidge administra-
ton has inherited an unfortunate situation which
may be briefly described as "Our Reclamation
Problem" This problem Is of national Importance
and has many complications and qualifications that
call for prompt action by congress- 1t is really
two problems in one. What shall be done to save
the completed projects? Shall new projects be I'M
dertaken? The new idea as to proposed projects
is 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 10 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 semiarid West since March and that his
experts are investigating every phase of the prof.
ects-completed under way and proposed-in a
heroic effort to reclaim reclamation"
There are now twenty-eight projects in seven
teen states comprising more than 100000 acres
under operation or construction and canals serve
another million acres. Approximately 100000 per-
sons are living on $4,000 farms and in project
towns These farms valued at $30O,000 600 and
the 1924 crop was more than $65,000000. Con-
struction costs to 1923 more than $15000OO0O.
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 new work
up to $1100O0,000. This means 100000 more acres
of irrigated land-about 10000 farms. Moreover
congress is continually pressed to undertake adj
ditional projects in many localities.
The funds for the work have come from the
sale of public lands from oil-leasing and mineral
operations and from repayments by the water
users. The general proposition is that the money
expended by the government shall be returned
to the fund by graduated payments from settlers,
usually in twenty annual installments, without
interest, in accordance with the reclamation extern
sion act Of 1914.
Secretary Work Is a practical irrigationist
through personal experience in his home state
Colorado. Upon becoming secretary in March of
1923 he recognized the reclamation bureau in part
and thereby created a political rumpus of no
small proportions He soon realized that the sit
uatiOn beyond the powers Of any one man
end instituted "fact-fnding committee" composed
of six of the abest in the country. They
analysed reclamation from its beginning and rec
commended the establishment of a new policy.
This policy, with slight notifications, was en-
bodied in the act of December D. 1924.
The reclamation bureau has now been COM
pletely reorganized The commissioner of reclama-
ton is DR.. Elwood Mead who has a national
reputation not only as an engineer and reclama-
ZIONIST but economist and Socologist. Other
men of national prominence actively engaged In
the work of review, reappraisement survey and
adjustment Francis M. Goodwin, who left the
position of assistant secretary Of the interior;
Thomas e. Campbell former governor of ArizonS,
and John A. Widtsoe, agrculturist, educator and
author. Governors Of the states have designated
offN-ac no nord NJ ond
adjustments and these have been appointed
by Secretary Work.
Secretary Work, several months ago, stated to
the President his conviction that q program