1905 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



561 



ment, was that the receipts during the 

 fiscal years of 1905 and 1906 would 

 together equal those of 1904, $6,826,- 

 ooo, and that the increment thereafter 

 would average $2,000,000 annually. 

 Should this estimate be verified by the 

 experience of the next three years, the 

 entire receipts to the fund on June 30, 

 1907, will be $32,200,000. 



It is important to emphasize this 

 statement because there is a natural 

 tendency to overestimate the resources 

 available and to urge the taking up of 

 additional work beyond the amount 

 which conservative judgment will war- 

 rant. This is especially to be consid- 

 ered, too, because in the authorization 

 of a project the letting of the earlier 

 contracts does not indicate the total 

 liability incurred, since other contracts 

 must be entered into as the work pro- 

 gresses to a point where it is practica- 

 ble to take up further details of the 

 construction of the project. 



REPAYMENTS. 



The reclamation law provides that 

 all cost of each project shall be re- 

 turned to the reclamation fund by the 

 settler in ten annual payments with- 

 out interest. These will necessarily be 

 small until 1907. After that a grad- 

 ually increasing sum should be re- 

 turned, and by 1910 two million or 

 more dollars per annum should be- 

 :ome available for new projects. 



The annual payments may, at the 

 discretion of the Secretary of the In- 

 :erior, be not of equal amount, but 

 nay be graduated, so that the first 

 Dayment, when the settler is least able 

 :o pay, is a smaller amount than later 

 3n. 



PRESENT AND FUTURE. 



The physical and financial situation 

 las already been outlined. ' In Ne- 

 vada water is flowing on lands from 

 i government canal. This brings us 

 "ace to face with the question of settle- 

 nent under government reclamation 

 jrojects. The primary idea of the re- 

 clamation propaganda and law is the 

 naking of homes for American citi- 

 :ens. Speculative intent is guarded 



against, also the demoralizing effects 

 of gifts by the government to the in- 

 dividual. The government has done 

 all that could be reasonably expected 

 of it in providing land and water at 

 cost. Each settler and community un- 

 der a reclamation project is placed on 

 an equal footing by the reclamation 

 law all have the same chance. Now 

 the individual and the community have 

 a duty to perform to the government ; 

 they must carry out in good faith all 

 agreements for payment of principal 

 and cost of maintenance. Any attempt 

 at evasion or repudiation will arouse 

 a sentiment throughout the nation that 

 would be fatal to any greater develop- 

 ment of the reclamation work in the 

 future. I mention this, as suggestion 

 has been made that the people will get 

 relief from payments in the future. 

 I trust that the good sense and busi- 

 ness integrity of the .western people 

 will be so manifest, if any such pro- 

 posals are made, that it will not be at- 

 tempted a second time. 



Much depends upon the success of 

 the first few projects. The people of 

 the whole country are interested and 

 watching. The sentiment is pretty 

 well squeezed out of the situation ; it 

 is a business proposition and as such 

 must be worked out on business lines. 

 The works must be well planned and 

 built ; estimates not greatly exceeded 

 in cost of construction and mainte- 

 nance ; settlements of a good and per- 

 manent character that will meet all 

 obligations and take full advantage of 

 all opportunities for intensive cultiva- 

 tion of lands. If these conditions are 

 met, the people of the country will say 

 well done, and undoubtedly enlarge the 

 work as rapidly as the opportunities 

 for reclaiming lands and making 

 homes are determined and recom- 

 mended by the Reclamation Service. 



Among the principles thus far de- 

 veloped that may aid in shaping the 

 policy of the future, four ma\ he men- 

 tioned here : 



(a) The money resulting from llie 

 disposal of public lands belongs to the 

 nation and not to anv rominnnitv. 



