190 J 



AMERICAN FORESTRY ASSOCIATION. 



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The question of immediate profits and 

 of tempting interest returns is not consid- 

 ered in the case of reclamation by the 

 Government. The matter of time also is 

 not one always pressing, and if it is neces- 

 sary to wait ten or even twenty years be- 

 fore all the reclaimed land is disposed of 

 there is not the ever-threatenine bank- 

 ruptcy such as is involved in speculative 



quantities of land, and with a vital interes 

 in the welfare and property of the peopli 

 there could be no hesitation in taking ui 

 the reclamation of these lands as one o 

 the best business enterprises. While eacl 

 particular item of investment might no 

 from the outset be a money-making pro 

 ject, yet in the aggregate the increase* 

 prosperity of the whole property wouh 



enterprises where the land and conserved justify the outlay 



waters are not disposed of at once. Under the present conditions great land 



When a corporation undertakes recla- owning corporations cannot put them 

 mation works, the funds invested in pre- selves in the position of the Governmen 

 liminary surveys and investigations must as its relation to settlers is entirely differ 

 be returned with interest thus the money ent. They could not receive the indirec 

 spentfor construction must ultimately re- benefits which the communitv or the peopli 

 fund interest from a period preceding the at large obtain under our institutions, am 

 laving of a stone. If, as often happens, their profits are of necessity concentrate* 

 the work is delayed and the settlers be- along the lines of dividends to be paid thei 

 come discouraged and land is not disposed stockholders. 



of rapidly, the interest charges continue The present condition is something liki 



day ami night, increasing the ultimate that prevailing in the early days preceding 

 cost; thus it frequently occurs that the the systematic improvement of rivers anc 

 bondholders must step in and take the en- harbors. Certain necessary works wen 

 terprise anil reorganize it upon a new basis. executed on these by municipalities ant 

 The time and uncertainty involved in corporations, but trade and commero 

 these reorganizations tend to discourage languished because the large works wen 

 the settler and involve additional expense, found to be unprofitable, and no one com 

 and so it has happened time and again munity was able to bring about the neces 

 that these large enterprises go to pieces. sary changes, although when these wer< 



In the case of Government construction, made property values w ere increased fa 

 the conditions are far more simple. They beyond the outlay required, 

 are along the line of reclaiming the largest The question maybe asked, what ha 



possible area of arid land at a cost com- the Government done towards makin; 

 mensurate with the ultimate value of the habitable these vacant public lands? Up t< 

 reclaimed land, and with the probability the present time practically nothing ha 



been undertaken beyond surveys and ex 

 animations determining the extent to whicl 

 these can be reclaimed by irrigation 

 Some of the investigations have been quit 

 extensive and have brought matters to ; 

 point where if further advance is made i 

 must be along the line of construction 

 the reclaimed land slowly but steadily at- As an example of the work already ac 



of financial return of the cost without ref- 

 erence to interest charges on stocks and 

 bonds. If ten or even twenty years are 

 required for the gradual settlement of the 

 country and the disposal of the water there 

 is no anxiety or loss, since experience 

 demonstrates that the conserved water and 





tains higher values. 



While the interest charges are not con- 

 sidered by the Government, yet the latter 

 is by no means the loser as the indirect 

 gain through the increase of population 

 and of taxable property far more than com- 

 pensates for the loss of interest charges. 



If a business firm should be in the posi- 

 tion of the Government, as owners of vast 



complished may be given the surveys o 

 Gila River in Arizona, Tuolumne Rive 

 in California, Truckee River in Nevada 

 Saint Mary River in Montana and othe 



projects. 



In Arizona the most important under 

 taking claiming the attention of Congres 

 is the consideration of a large reservoir 01 

 Gila River. This important stream ha 



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