, 1926-01-13
RECLAMATION LOSS
ALMOST u MILLION
Governments Policy Attacked a
House Hears Of Sinking
$14,317,15O on Projects

Wnlle the mouse heard the gov
eminent reclamation policy denoun-
ced and defended Friday, congress
was told by an interior department
investigating board that it should
consider ~S14,317,150 spent on 10
reclamation projects as definitely
lost and ~$12,5S5.137 more as pro-
badly lost.
The house closed general debate
in the interior department appro-
priation bill and took it up for
amendment, agreeing to an appro-
priation of $450,O0O for the Cool
idge' dam across the ella river in
Arizona and approving without ma
terial change, items for national
forests and Indian relief. Recla-
nation projects will be considered
Saturday.
Attacks Belle FOurche Action
Representative Williamson, Re
publican, South Dakota, ~assailed the
sub-committe in charge of the in
terror bill fo1 dropping the Belle
Fourche project in South Dakota,
which was included in the investi-
SdeihS Dodiu ilsl VI uellHlle II
probable losses to the amount of
s1.179.392.
Representative Blanton, Demo-
crat. Texas, asked why the commit
tee had restored an appropriation
of 100000 for the Baker project
in Oregon after Secretary Work
had advised against it. Mr.. Blanton
addad that no wac MT 4nna.al a.
the Baker development, but wanted
the reclamation policy defined.
Would Relieve Helpless Victims
The report on reclamation losses
was delivered by the board of sur
vey and adjustment, appointed I'M
der the reclamation act of Dec, 5,
1914, to investigate the extent of
fertility, inadequate water supply
and other physical causes. Recla-
nation bureau officials character
lied it as a forward step toward the
solution of social and humane pro-
blems on its projects.
The boards letter of transmittal
to Secretary Work emphasized its
conviction that an early disposition
of it's recommendations not only
would promote the welfare of the
projects, but bring relief to people
wearing themselves out in a fight
against what is termed insurmount-
able odds.
Where Money Was Sunk.
The losses were attributed to
the construction of irrigation works
on land naturally infertile, to in
adequate water supplies and to
other causes.
The latest estimated loss was on
the Newlands project in Nevada,
where it was recommended that
$4,536,396 be charged off as not
recoverable and $S13.246 be esti-
mated as a possible loss. The
Milk river project in Montana was
second on the list with a definite
loss of s~1,S7S,656 more. On the
loss of $1,S7S, 656 more. On the
North Platte project in Nebraska
and Wyoming, the probable loss
was fixed at $2,S37,864, of which
$237,S77 was definite. The fourth
was the Uncompahgre project in
Colorado, where the definite loss
was estimated as $1,365,427 and
~$1,436,155 more was given as pro
bable.
Other combined definite and pro
bable losses given were:
Belle, Fourche, South Dakota, 81,
279.159; Boise project, Idaho,
$%495,369; Carlsbad project, New
Mexico, ~$45.S67; Grand valley, Col
orado. $2,105,037; Huntley, Mont
ana, $SSS,623; King Hill, Idaho,
sS1S.9S2; Kalamath, Oregon and
California, s233,395; Lower yell
lowstone, Montana and North Da-
kota, $%9S9,271; Minidoka,. Idaho,
$S20,173; Rio Grande, New Mexi-
CO and Texas, $43,15S; Shoshone,
Wyoming, $2.249,6 72; Sun River
Fort Shaw. Montana, $257,471;
Umatilla. Oregon i$1,539,O2S; Yaki-
ma, Washington, $3S1,192.
The board of adjustment asserted
that the welfare of the projects
would be greatly promoted by the
early disposition of its recomenda-
ton.
Human lives" it said, ARE be-
ing worn out unnecessarily in the
futile attempts to win a living from
lands without productive value.
These people. fighting against in
surmountable odds, should receive
immediate relief.
1.-THE projects generally are in a