406 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION September 



under irrigation 3,070,000 acres. It of indefinite extent. It is variously 



will thus be seen that when the gov- estimated at from fifty to one hun- 



ernment completes the work it will dred millions of acres. Of course, 



render arable nearly 6,300,000 acres, the acreage which may be irrigated 



at a cost of a little more than $200,- will depend in a large degree upon 



000,000. the quantity of water which can be 



"To prosecute the work which it stored in the great reservoir systems 

 has undertaken and which lies be- to be established. The best opinion 

 fore it, the government will have in would seem to indicate that it is rea- 

 hand, as heretofore observed, nearly sonably certain that sufficient water 

 forty-one and a half million dollars may be obtained for irrigating at 

 in 1908, an amount sufficient to cover least 50,000,000 of acres. Twenty 

 the first unit of cost of projects au- millions of acres of this tremendous 

 thorized, and for thereafter prosecut- area is yet a part of the public do- 

 ing the work it will have the pro- main. When the whole is brought 

 ceeds derived from the future sales under cultivation by means of irri- 

 ^>f the public domain and the return gations, the wealth of the nation will 

 from the land theretofore irrigated, be increased $5,000,000,000. 



"It was the purpose of the author "This work cannot be accom- 



of the reclamation act that irrigation plished in a day, and it will probably 



undertaken by the national govern- not be done without some mistakes, 



ment should not be entered upon for It will require time, experience, 



the benefit of mere speculators. It scientific skill and a large expendi- 



was, their purpose that the public ture of money to do it. The field is, 



domain and the proceeds arising indeed, a vast one, and in invites our 



from its sale, should be appropriated best endeavor. 



absolutely and entirely for the bene- "While we are concerned particu- 



fat of homeseekers. The law wisely larly with the extension of the irri- 



provides that the limit of area per gation service into the arid and 



entry upon the lands irrigable shall semi-arid regions, I believe in time 



be restricted to what would be rea- it will be largely increased in many 



sonably required for the support of other portions of the country. The 



a family. In order that the entry- waters in many of our rivers and 



man may enjoy the benefit of the streams, outside of the arid and 



law, actual and continued residence semi-arid areas, will be raised and 



on the land is required. spread over many sections where 



"It is obviously the purpose of the crops are occasionally destroyed or 



great measure, and it is one of its reduced in yield in consequence of 



most commendable features, to in- drouth. We can see the limit of our 



sure homes to the greatest number arable areas, but we cannot see the 



of persons, and to bring soil now limit of the demand of our increas- 



sterile under a high state of cultiva- ing population, nor the extent of the 



tion and productiveness for their demand of millions in foreign coun- 



benefit and for the benefit of the en- tries for American food supplies, 



tire country. "One of the great practical ques- 



"I believe that irrigation is only in tions in the future will be how to 

 the preliminary stages of its devel- increase and conserve the produc- 

 opment in the United States. Much tive power of our agricultural re- 

 has been done, it is true. There is, gions. Scientific irrigation on broad 

 however, a vast deal more to be ac- lines will be a factor of increasing 

 complished. There are many mil- future importance in most of the 

 lions of acres still lying within the States and Territories of the Union. 

 arid and semi-arid regions which are "It is important not only to pro- 

 non-productive, and which may, in mote the interests of irrigation, but 

 due time, be irrigated. This area is there is a co-related subject which 



